Millie the shed dog scores!
Rob Schroeder sent in this shot of his lab puppie, Millie, with her first shed find.
Schroeder, who lives in Botetourt County, has been training Millie since she was a wee puppy. He carries a GPS during his walks with her and said they covered 23 miles before she found this.
That may sound like not a good average. But those of us who hunt sheds know the reality of this game. It is as much about exercise and having fun outdoors as it is about finding lots of antlers. If it were we’d give up.
My shed season got off to a great start (though I was finding year-old drops) but it’s been tough since. I haven’t been carrying a GPS but I suspect I’ve put in 10 miles on my recent trips and I haven’t found a single shed. I’m searching fairly small woodlots, too, where the deer are pretty concentrated.
Schroeder reported trying a shed trap like the ones I am trying. He’s had no success with those, and I haven’t either. In fact, I’ve talked to two other guys who have tried them and succeeded only in feeding crows, squirrels and does. Oh, well. Worth a try.
I am hearing reports of plenty of bucks still carrying headgear. I think the next few weeks should be the best, before things really start growing in the spring.
Congrats to Millie and Rob, and I’m sure this isn’t going to be the team’s final find.
March 6, 2013 - 1:08 PM
Mark,
I enjoyed reading your column on shed hunting a couple weeks ago. I’ve been shed hunting this year and have found 13 sheds so far. Only three have been from this year. Not all bucks have dropped their sheds as I have seen bucks carrying their antlers a week ago. I would post pictures but don’t know how to do it on here. Good luck shed hunting!!
Great looking critter. Lucky dude!
Congrats on the good shed finds so far, Keith. I have to post shots. If you email me a couple I will put them up.
How about finding those on bucks?! In the past few days late night I’ve seen some small and one large antler bucks still sporting head gear much of which are apart of the urban Deer population.
Have any of you guys seen bucks still sporting antlers?
Amatuer: I had a nice buck sprint out across the road in front of me on the way home from work last night. He still had a rack, though thankfully he was not close enough to my car for me to get a good enough look to determine the size! It was big enough for me to make it out at a comfortable distance.
All of this “still had a rack” stuff is telling me a couple things. One, the best shed hunting is yet to come. And, two, there is still a lot of breeding/rutting going on in December, and probably even January, because the antlers holding on is directly related to testosterone.
Mark, I once saw a buck in late May with a set of “cow” horns (long single point antlers) still attached. They had turned bleached-bone white, which is why I saw him moving in heavy cover. I guess they were just better attached than normal and had died on his head.
I do think they are still breeding. I have seen a few fresh scrapes while shed hunting.
I was on my way into work this evening and saw a nice 8 pointer standing on the top of the retention pond that is located just south of Cycle Systems off I-581. His antlers too were bone white whihc is why I spotted him so easily.
Mark & Rob
I have also seen the actual mating ritual in progress with three smaller bucks with our urban deer population late night on my way home from work. the most recent was last Friday night the 1st. Just off the side of the road besides Blacksburg Golf course.
This will ensure a healthy urban deer population.
That’s 3 smaller 4 to 6 point spike like bucks. In a general heard of does numbering about 10 to 12. Give or take antlerless buck.
I had always heard that dropping of antlers was due to new growth pushing them off. Testosterone levels makes sense especailly if they are still breeding.
I watched a set oif twins this summer take till early October to lose their spots. Late arrivals mean late breeding.
Mark,
I can’t find your email address to send you some shed pics?
Keith,
It’s mark.taylor@roanoke.com.
Looking forward to seeing your sheds. I haven’t been out in a couple weeks.