woolys 2014 shed journal

[Red]

Very nice sheds.that's a hell of a matched set that you found. I was out working in whales and east aurora the other day you really do still have a good bit of snow out there I hope it melts soon for you

[wooly]

Well, I was hoping to have a few new additions to the pile by the end of the weekend, but we ended up getting buried under another foot of slop last night.

We never did get totally melted out last time, but I was seeing some progress out the back window so I shot up the hill to look around a few of the "hot spots".

Not 150yds out the back door I found this little 3pt side laying right smack center of the path I hike whenever I climb up here. I probably stepped right on this fella a few days prior. Also adding two dead antlerless from earlier in the week.

What a miserable season it's been so far... waiting for the next meltdown again!

 

3-28-14

 

 

 

Antlers- 5

Sets- 1

Dead bucks- 4

Dead doe/fawns- 10

 

[sampotter]

Can't find 'em if you don't look, right Wooly? Spring will be here soon....

[wooly]

4-3-14

I had some time to kill today, so I decided I better get another hike in before we get snowed on again!
I shot up to the power lines and did a run down the wooded edges. It didn't take long before I spotted my first antler of the day!

 

 

 

Just a little oldie 4pt so I wasn't overly excited but it would do.

I wasn't planning on hiking long anyhow, so I figured I head for home. I headed out the same way I went in but decided to go around a thicket instead of going through it like I did on the way in. When I got around the side and looked up, I saw this little guy staring back at me!

 

 

 

Now I was pumped and ready to hike on! I shot up to the orchard and soon as I got there I spotted a horn. I had to look closely because it turned out to be two horns ALMOST touching!
Match 6pt! Probably close to one of my favorite set ATL's now ever!

 

 

 

 

From above just as they layed!

 

 

That was it for the day! Still lots of snow in the woods, but the rain on the way should take care of that soon. I need about 10 more hikes like this to salvage the season!

Also adding another dead doe and scooped up another little old skull.
Here's the days haul!

 

 

Antlers- 9

Sets- 2

Dead bucks- 4

Dead doe/fawns- 11

Edited April 4, 2014 by wooly

[crappyice]

Sweet matching set...I bet he dumps those during a snowstorm and they stayed locked under ice untouched! Good deal

Edited April 4, 2014 by crappyice

[sampotter]

Way to go Wooly! Really cool ATL. With that snow on the ground still, it appears you have a full month of prime shed hunting left...

[wooly]

Thanks guys!

I've found  matching antlers touching before, but I've never seen two antlers dropped so perfectly symetrical like that!

[JALA RUT]

Nice...so far I'm still skunked for sheds but heading out for a hike with my wife Sunday 

[Red]

Congrats very nice find

[NFA-ADK]

Very nice!

[ny hunter]

Not a bad day.  Thanks...

[landtracdeerhunter]

Great find wooly.  Why do you think their coming in, this late with no chew on them?

[wooly]

Great find wooly.  Why do you think their coming in, this late with no chew on them?

 

Thanks!

My chew free finds are coming out of the woods edges, orchards, and thickets.

Really not a good squirrel habitat.

Hemlocks, pines, and mature nut tree ridges here were loaded with squirrel this winter, and I think they got to most of the antlers in these areas already.

[wooly]

4-7-14

 

Another quicky hike this afternoon turned up #10!
It's also the mate to #7 making it my 3'rd set!
It wasn't laying only a few feet away from the mate, but it was still not melted out for me to see it then.
I don't know if I'm just getting started, or if I'm too far disgusted to put much more effort into this season right now........ check back later with me on that.

 

Adding another dead doe today.

 

 

 

 

Antlers- 10

Sets- 3

Dead bucks- 4

Dead doe/fawns- 12

 

 

[WNY Bowhunter]

Nice! I've got a few spots that I want to hit yet but hope to wrap the season up over the weekend.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Congrats on hitting double digits. Fine set with really nice color.

 

Came in drenched last evening, 4 miles, only bone were some deer leg bones which will make some nice handles. I'm headed to the areas of the single finds myself, maybe over looked on the first journey. Good luck!

[wooly]

Nice! I've got a few spots that I want to hit yet but hope to wrap the season up over the weekend.

 

That's a big part of my problem this year. Most of my spots have been snowed in since November and just now opening up.

I've got too many hobbies that I enjoy this time of year, and it's hard to fit them all in my free time now with this abbreviated spring.

Most of my hikes have been on home turf so far, and I wont have time to hit some of the other areas unless I'm there for another reason.

This wet, sloppy weather really has them popping, so we'll see if I can re-kindle the burning fire inside,lol!

Anyhow... I do have a few cam pics of the last set of antlers owner, so I'll toss one of those in here too..

 

 

[wooly]

4-14-14

 

I GOT "TUBBY'S" OTHER ANTLER....!!!! (sort of!)

 

I headed out early this morning to go get some turkey pics at the field, where the strutters and gobblers treated me to a great show!
On my way out, I decided to make a big loop through the creekbottom and cut into some thickets that run between the neighbors houses about a mile up the road. Found a little old skull first, and then there was no doubt in my mind I just laid eyes on Tubby's other antler! (the mate to #2 antler in my journal and my goal buck for this shed season)

 

 

 

 

My season was finally complete.... or so I thought,lol
As I was hiking out, something just didn't feel and look right, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
Poor thing was a little water logged and faded from laying in that runoff, so that must have been it!

I got home and couldn't wait to get the pair together again! I ran inside and grabbed his other antler and laid them out for the reunion photos... then it finally hit me,lol!  
Yep, same side antler from last year and darn near identical in size other than a little more mass.

I don't know where the heck he's hiding all those right sides, but it sure would be nice to complete at least one of the sets. (preferably the fresh one)

 

 

 

 

 

Antlers- 11

Sets- 3

Dead bucks- 4

Dead doe/fawns- 12

[WNY Bowhunter]

Nice find!!! It's always awesome to have consecutive years sheds from the same buck.

[Pav2704]

Great find wooly!!

[ny hunter]

Thats very cool same deer same side 2 years in a row..

[landtracdeerhunter]

Darn nice find wooly!  Keep on looking. Those right sides are out their somewhere. Good luck and may the shed force lead you in their direction.

[chiefbkt]

Great finds Wooly!  Hope you kill that buck this year...he's gotta be 4 or 5?

[wooly]

Thanks guys! We're really heading into the home stretch now, so my goals have changed from finding as many as I can, to finding the few I'm really after.

 

Great finds Wooly!  Hope you kill that buck this year...he's gotta be 4 or 5?

 

chifbkt- I got a ton of pics of that buck late last season, but didn't have a tag left to hunt him. Instead, I hunted him with my cameras and did really well at figuring out where he survived the season. Now his last two seasons antlers popping up in these narrow thickets between backyards just confirms he was where I thought he was. I'll definately have a game plan in place for him this year.

 

I guessed he was a 4.5yo during the 2014 season. Now that I have his 2013 antler to compare it to, there's no doubt in my mind he's at least that, and will be 5.5 by this fall.

I've picked up a few consecutive years sheds from other bucks in this age class, and it's really surprising how here they don't seem to "blow up" from one year to the next and instead seem to have very minimal, almost unnoticeable size difference. Without top notch genetics, and an abundance of agricultural fields in the area, the bucks antlers here seem to "level off" at an impressive plateau, without ever reaching the full potential they may in a more ideal/managed area.

So I guess when I hear everyone saying "he'll be a great buck next year"....... well, it's more likely he'll be very similar to what he was last.

[WNY Bowhunter]

You are correct based on my observations...I've seen some bucks that blow up after they hit 3 years old and others that don't really reach the level that you are expecting them too. Good luck with that guy this fall. Just remember that if you kill him you won't be able to find his sheds next spring!