- Medalist Apparel
- LaCrosse Alpha Burly Boots
- Leupold Katmai Binoculars 8x32mm
- Leatherman Vista Multi-Tool
This time of year, I'll do almost anything to ward off cabin fever and I'm always anxious to get out in the woods and scour the ground for shed antlers. I'm certainly no expert, but I usually manage to find a few every spring. Plus, it gives me a great opportunity to scout for turkeys and check out some of the bedding areas and big buck sanctuaries that I try to avoid during the fall.
The first places I usually check out are where the deer have been doing most of their feeding. Sometimes these spots are very different from the food sources they rely on during the fall. However this winter, it seemed like the deer in my area were still hitting the oaks in search of the acorns buried under the snow. And once all of that snow melted, I hoped that a few of those ivory antler tips would be easy to spot!
I keep a close eye on my trail cameras to see when the majority of bucks have lost their antlers. This year, it seemed like plently of bucks were still carrying their racks in early March. Still, there were a few hot spots I couldn't resist checking out, and I got lucky on one of my early outtings. I found my first shed of the year in a stand of pines that is bordered by plenty of oak trees.
Knowing that bucks sometimes shed both of their antlers in the same spot, I spent extra time looking around the location of my lucky find. At first, I didn't think the matching antler was nearby, but then something white caught my eye. It was the base of a small piece of antler that had been broken off sometime the previous year.
I was almost in shock when I realized just how small the broken antler was! There was probably no way I ever would have found it if it had not been lying near the first anlter. It was a milestone in my shed hunting career, because not only had I found two antlers in one evening, but I found a matching set!
Some of you might be a little skeptical as to whether the two antlers actually came from the same buck. I was too, but sorting through some old trail camera photos eliminated any doubt in my mind. This buck was definitely a regular in my area and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of rack he grows this year.
Hiking around the forest in the springtime is always a great experience and I love carrying my camera along and capturing some of the unique sights I usually see. Searching for sheds requires a pace quite a bit slower than my usual speed, so sometimes I notice things that I would probably otherwise pass by.
Part of the purpose for my spring wanderings is to keep track of the local flocks of turkeys in anticipation of gobbler season. Warm sunny mornings seem to be the best for hearing gobbles and we've been fortunate to have several of them this month. I never like to get too close to the birds for fear of pressuring them prior to my hunts, and I never do any calling before season. However on my last scouting trip, a little luck and a big camera lens allowed me to capture a couple photos of some local toms who were putting on quite a show!
There are a few youngsters in the neighborhood who will be experiencing their first turkey hunts this spring. I can't wait to tag along and see if we can call a few of those wily old birds into range! Good luck to everyone with your springtime scouting. Stay Wired!
