sampotter's 2013-14 Shed Journal

[sampotter]

Well, with all the reports of bucks shedding early, I've been out a couple of times, as much scouting for wintering areas as shed hunting I guess. Yesterday I went on an urban shed hunt. I saw a bunch of deer (no bucks) and some pretty impressive rubs. I also managed to find a matched set - of used condoms. Hmmm- the things you find in the woods. I left them there for someone else to find.

I also found and old hobo campsite complete with burned canned food cans and tent stakes in the ground. It looked like it hadn't been visited in 20+ years.

[wooly]

Looking forward to following along again this season Sam!

Good luck and stay safe out there!

Don't hang them deadheads too high in the trees..... I don't wanna have to climb for them!

[sampotter]

Ha- someone was safe anyhow! I'm not sure I'm going back there- so much garbage...

[sampotter]

Here's some pictures to go with my wanderings so far...

A pretty nice suburban buck bed:

I don’t think this boy likes his tags:

Nice rub on the edge of an apartment complex lawn:

Another nice suburban rub:

A deadhead button buck:

An old hobo campsite:

A nice suburban pinch point:

This sight made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I spied the blue tarp and instantly thought of all the Meth Lab stories I’ve heard. I carefully circled it looking for footprints in the snow; there were none so I moved in for a closer look. It was hard to tell what exactly the spot was used for. Probably just some kids messing around.

Rock “sniper’s nest” overlooking the blue tarp spot. There were several of these.

I don’t know how someone got this sign into this spot. It was almost 20’ long!

I would have taken more pictures but it was raining all day so I didn’t want to get my camera out too often.

[wooly]

I found an entire village of those tarp structures, plywood walls, rock bunkers, and tire towers on one ridge of my hiking grounds.

I was expecting to be abducted by a colony of "bush babes" any minute, but it turned out to be some kids paintball course!  Bring on the antlers!

My camera didn't come out today either.... we 're having a mini blizzard here today.

[Terry]

I am interested in that buck bed. How hard was it to get to?

[sampotter]

I am interested in that buck bed. How hard was it to get to?

As easy as it looks in the picture. It is in a no hunting zone though which is probably why a buck could feel comfortable there. Funny how close to people deer will live if they never get shot at...

[sampotter]

1/11/14

Nice Rubs:

A pretty decent deadhead:

His battle scars…

Dead Doe:

I had to put the SLR camera away because of the rain, so here is some video…

Miles: 22.1

Sheds: 1

WT: 0

Moose: 1

Dead Bucks: 3

Dead antlerless: 2

Mylar balloons: 1

[Terry]

That's a nice buck, good find. The balloon thing always ticks me off. I have found dozens over the years.

[sampotter]

1/12/14

I found this antler tine next to a mock scrape I made 2 years ago…

It dawned on me that I might know what deer this tine belonged to… a buck I passed during bow season that my Dad later shot during gun:

I chuckled when I saw this well-used bed. [insert caption here]

A few generations of bucks have rubbed this tree…

I really do think this is a legitimate rub:

Still no sheds except for the moose palm I picked up in September.

Miles: 26.2

Sheds: 1

WT: 0

Moose: 1

Antler pieces: 1

Dead Bucks: 3

Dead antlerless: 2

Mylar balloons: 1

[Cabin Fever]

Cool pics Sam! Makes for an interesting hike too I bet!

[sampotter]

It's fun snapping pictures of interesting things that you would forget otherwise...

[ny hunter]

Nice pics thanks for posting..

[wooly]

Well Sam, that broken tine has gotta count for something.... that's an awesome find and a sweet match up to your dads buck!

I know I would count that one in my antler totals and be pretty darn proud of it!

Real nice deadhead too! He'll make a nice meal for the Buck Boiler! Good luck this weekend if you make it out.

[sampotter]

1/17/14

I did some more suburban shed hunting. I found this dead 6 pointer right off the bat and was able to use the new hack saw I bought just 10 minutes prior:

Some nice rubs:

A dead doe not far from the road:

Hey now! Looky here, looky here! An oldy moldy but I’ll take it for my 1st (while actually shed hunting) for 2013-14! I managed to break off the one tine in the thick buckthorn and am NOT going back in that mess looking for it.

Lastly, a peculiar rub very close to the ground:

Stats as of 1/17/14:

Miles: 30.6

Sheds: 2

WT: 1

Moose: 1

Antler pieces: 1

Dead Bucks: 4

Dead antlerless: 3

Mylar balloons: 1

[Nomad]

I like the Mylar ballon count! Those things are all over where I hunt,I must be under a direct flight path of ballon launchers. Your walking along and go what the heck is the blue shinny thing oh ya another ballon, and they last forever it seems.

[sampotter]

It seems like for every 2 sheds I find one balloon but I never kept track, so we'll see if that is fairly accurate. I see them EVERYWHERE, including the Adirondacks.

[wooly]

He's on the board!!!

Congrats on #1 for the season Sam!

We don't throw any back, so that's a keeper! Try not to find so many deadheads would ya!

[sampotter]

I've carried a lot uglier shards of antler out of the woods...

[sampotter]

1/24/14

I went out for a relatively short 4 mile scouting hike. Too much snow to do much serious shed hunting.

Some bedding and feeding activity in a CRP field:

Cat:

More feeding activity:

Bingo! First freshie of the year! I actually kicked the tip of one of the tines of this antler. Out of habit, I looked down hoping I’d felt an antler like I always do, and for once it actually was!

[sampotter]

This alfalfa field is getting pounded by the deer:

I want to find the sheds of the buck that rubbed this tree! (I wear a 13)

Shaggy rub:

Nearly every bed I found had a big ball of burdock in it:

Stats as of 1/24/14:

Miles: 34.6

Sheds: 3

-----WT: 2

-----Moose: 1

Antler pieces: 1

Dead Bucks: 4

Dead antlerless: 3

Mylar balloons: 1

[wooly]

With that much sign around, it's just a matter of time before you're hauling out a pack full of racks!

You running any cams in that area?

[sampotter]

I am now. I can't wait for the snow to melt off so I can get back into that CRP.

[Red]

Congrats very nice find

[ny hunter]

congrats!!!! nice find..