2-22-14 adding some more miles!

Struck out this afternoon! Coached a good basketball game this morning, and just kept getting text after text of buddies out picking up antlers. I could not stand it and had to get out and add some miles to the boots. First place was a decent looking spot that had recently been walked by someone else by the evidence of fresh boot prints in the mud! I HATE finding foot prints! This spot produced no antlers, but I did find a dead head little 3 pointer. Could not get to the best side due to the water level in the ditch. Going to have to come in from the other side and take a long walk. Giant south facing slope bordered by a huge crp field.

Second stop of the day is a place that always produces sheds year after year. Never any big antlers, and never very many but always antlers, Today was no different, about half way through the walk I happened across a little fresh 3 point shed. This antler has a lot of meaning to it. The day of my grandmas funeral several years ago I broke away and went shed hunting in this spot to clear my head. Today as I was walking along I was thinking about that and remembering grandma. A blue bird (grandmas favorite bird) got up off a little tree, I watched the bird fly away, looked down and right under that tree was this shed. Love you grandma, next time could you steer me to a 100''!

Another good day!! 2-21-14

Friday found us back at the honey hole, as always it did not let us down. Zoe stole the show for the day with 4 total and the GIANT antler up front! I managed to pick up 3, and my first match set ever of any size laying side by side. Hundreds of antlers laying in my pile and until the last two days I have never found a set side by side. Now I have two sets side by side in two days.They are just starting to fall and the next few weeks should be awesome!

Finally added some sheds to the pile!!!

Yesterday began with much anticipation as it looked like the sheds had finally started to fall. Several recent reports of sheds being found and some trail cam pics to prove of antler on the ground had our anticipation high. The day started off with quickly into the walk with shedhead scooping up a year old cool little two point antler. There was no surprise to me that he struck first and broke the ice. About 2/3 of the way through the first walk Zoe the hero shed dog showed up with her first for the year. A little year old three point shed. Now everyone was on the board but myself. The rest of this walk showed some HARDCORE sign, but gave us no more sheds. 

Walk number two of the day was how do I put it THICK! Like the thickest of thick you have ever seen. The deer sign here was lets say AMAZING! Not very long into the walk I finally broke the ice for the year and also picked up the first freshie for the year!

 Not 5 feet from this one I scooped up number two for the year. This one was fresh as well. I mean almost stinking fresh! This was a cool little antler that had been busted up back in velvet.

The sign in this area was insane and the search continued for more antlers. Not another 20 feet and BAM first match set of the year, laying side by side!!

So I had went from almost twenty miles walked with zero sheds, to four fresh sheds in like 5 min. I was pumped to say the least. Not 200 yards from these last sheds Zoe picked up her second shed for the day. A little fresh 4 point antler. The rest of the walk proved pretty uneventful till the very end. As we were heading back for the truck I spotted a tine sticking up through the grass under some buck brush. Closer inspection showed an OLD antler laying there buried in the ground. I have no idea how long this antler has been laying out there but I would guess at least 5 years if not longer. It is so soft and breaking down it is amazing. It was a pretty good antler back in its prime. 

So we managed to scoop up 8 antlers on the day and it has begun. Heading to the honey hole on Friday and I am hoping for a banner day!!!

Here are all the finds for the day. Shedheads and Zoe's are on the left!

Well the thaw has begun! Still at least 6'' of snow on the ground in most places but it is melting quickly. The walk today was murderous on the old legs. Trudging through crunchy snow is HARDCORE walking. Walked a solid mile and a half stretch today on good south facing slopes just littered with deer beds like the one above. Would zig zag up and down the hill going from bed to bed intersecting some serious trails along the edge of some really thick and big hardwoods. Still no antlers!

To say I am getting disgusted would be the understatement of a lifetime. I am to almost ten miles and still not a single shed to my name. Did find a little 80'' 8 pointer dead to day with two big eagles feeding on it. One BIG mature bald eagle and on immature bald eagle. Very cool sight, should be close enough to the road to be able to take the family to see the eagles.

Just got to figure it is going to be a free for all any day. Warm temps and some rain in the forecast should finish melting the snow. Sure hope when it goes away the antlers start piling up. Starting off to be my worse shed season possibly ever.

Oh well trudge on and keep looking for tines in the grass.

The final scratch to the old antler itch before snowmagedon 2014

With only about two inches on the ground and forecast calling for 7-10 I had to get in a final walk before  being snowed in. Holy cow did I get into some HARDCORE FRESH deer sign. I swear every deer on the whole section was heading to these standing beans. I only had a couple of hours to walk and really only got about 2.7 miles done today. Still no sheds. I jumped 7 deer packing both sides and one was a whopper! Will with out a shadow of a doubt make this a weekly spot! I know for a fact there will be 14 antlers there!

Then we got hammered with a foot of snow! Going to be at least a week before I get back out. The only plus side to this is it should stress the deer and they will shed big time. Looking for some big time hauls when we get back out.

A trip to the honey hole!

Day four for the year was set with much anticipation. We were making the maiden voyage to quite possibly the best spot we have access to. With multiple 80"+ antlers in the past from here every trip in exciting. The day started in a driving sleet and windy as heck. Thankfully that only lasted about an hour into the walk.
7.35 miles today and nothing antler wise to show for it. Did see lots of deer and several bucks packing both sides. Sure wish they would shed! Another day of good recon, getting tired of scouting ready to pack out some antlers!

Day Three in the books Jan 28th

Went to a spot today that was terrible last year!! No deer at all there last year. Sure am glad that we went this year because it was slammed with sign. Tons and tons of rut sign and some, at really hardcore fresh sign. Jumped a bunch of deer today at least 4 bucks and one biggun all still packing. Put about 5 miles in today and only came away with a cool little dead head.

There will with out a doubt be antlers here! Another good day of shed recon in the books.