GRONG Report post Posted March 4, 2007 My friend Gail and I went out yesterday to the same ol canyon that we pulled those sheds out of a couple weeks ago to look around a little and glass for elk or antlers. The day turned out better than either of us hoped. We sat on the edge of the canyon glassing for a long time when I spotted a shed laying in the manzanita brush on the opposite side. After about 10 minutes Gail glassed up the match to it about 20 yards away laying in a rockslide. All we could see was the top end of that one but it convinced us we needed to find a way off the cliffs and get down in there cause it looked like a heck of a set. After about an hour or so we finally found a little tight chute thru the redrocks where we could shimmy down. Here is the one Gail glassed up, as it lay. And this one is to show how steep it was where the antler was laying. I'm pretty sure that the bull was walking along the elk path on the ledge above when he lost the antler and it rolled down the cliff a ways, cause the other antler was on top the ledge. Very nice 6x7 set, I'm guessing it's pushing close to 350" We found a couple others on the way down the canyon and here's one I glassed up about 3 weeks ago that I finally got to. And then Gail walked up on this cool find a little ways farther down! Here's Gail with the days finds. I think in all we found around 9 sheds and carried out 4. Had to leave the nice rack cause it woulda been super tough fighting that thing out of the canyon through all that brush. We finally got out of the canyon after dark and made it to the quads. Hope you all enjoy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted March 4, 2007 Awesome! and gorgeous looking country too. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted March 4, 2007 It looks like that bull was shot and then fell over backwards and died that way. I have never thought about hitting those deep canyons when looking for sheds, but I guess it would be worth it from now on. It amazing how many big elk are using that area. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rimhunter Report post Posted March 4, 2007 That is way to cool Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Them are some awesome pic's! Hey Josh...in the last pic of your friend, that shed at his foot on the left looks eligible for the "freaks" category. Am I seein' things or did that bull have a tweaked pedicle? Love the post, keep em' coming! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Way to get it done Josh keep up the good work and keep posting pics they are awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRONG Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Them are some awesome pic's! Hey Josh...in the last pic of your friend, that shed at his foot on the left looks eligible for the "freaks" category. Am I seein' things or did that bull have a tweaked pedicle? Love the post, keep em' coming! JIM> Ya Jim it does have one of those damaged pedicles, good eye! I used to have a big pile of them here at the house but last year I finally sold them all cause I realized that they weren't all that uncommon. They're still pretty neat though don't get me wrong. "It looks like that bull was shot and then fell over backwards and died that way. I have never thought about hitting those deep canyons when looking for sheds, but I guess it would be worth it from now on. It amazing how many big elk are using that area. David" David, actually I think some hiker had found it previously and propped it up that way. They probably realized the same dellima that we faced, trying to get that thing out of there. From all the elk we've seen in there in the past month, which is only about 6-8, and we haven't seen anything better than a nice 5x6 and none that look like they'll shed anytime in March that's for sure. I'm pretty sure that nice set I'm holding was shed about 2 years ago. They're kinda chalky on the up side of the antler but still in pretty good shape. Luckily they weren't shed in thick brush otherwise the rodents woulda chewed the crap out of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azhuntnut Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Josh, Can you get an idea of when they will drop just by seeing there horns while they are still carrying them? I planned on taking a trip up near Flagstaff during the week of the 10th, but might postpone from what you are saying. I love the whales tail on that shed. David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortpants Report post Posted March 5, 2007 As always, a good read and wonderful pics! Thanks Josh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwoGuns Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Josh, you are a truly a mountain goat. Sweet pics. I don't know when you find time to do all that hiking, seems like i see you cruisin through town in your truck from sun-up to sun-down. don't you have a family? Your wife must be a good one to let you escape to the woods as much as you do. Great lion pic on the other page also. Darren Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRONG Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Josh, Can you get an idea of when they will drop just by seeing there horns while they are still carrying them? I planned on taking a trip up near Flagstaff during the week of the 10th, but might postpone from what you are saying. I love the whales tail on that shed. David Ya Dave I've got a pretty good idea. I've been buying antlers and picking them up for many many years now and small to medium bulls drop into April. I can't tell you when a particular bull will drop but generally the same size bulls drop in the same time frame. I've seen 340" bulls still packin around April 1st too and that blew me away cause they're usually dropped by mid March it seems. The absolute BEST time to go shed hunting is late April cause 90% of the elk have dropped by then. People get so darned greedy that they want to be the first one to find the brown horns and I totally understand it but if everyone left them alone till then EVERYONE would find more antlers. Back in the earlier 90's when horn hunting was just getting pretty popular I could still leave the wintering herds of bulls alone. I got into a good area on April 14th and picked up 16 browns and 1 year old shed in one day!! I had to make 3 trips to the truck packing them out but it was well worth it! Now had I been in there every weekend busting brush and bumping elk constantly I can almost guarantee I wouldn't have found 1/2 of those antlers. Wish I could still count on that kind of stuff but there's just to many people out there nowadays. I just do what I can now. Darren, if I'm lucky I can only get out one day a week now as my business has totally taken off and with the family it makes it tough. I'm not complaining though as I wouldn't have it any other way. Hope you get out and find a few this spring. Thanks for all the comments! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter4life Report post Posted March 5, 2007 Those are great finds in some awesome looking country!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted March 5, 2007 As always great story, great horns, and great pics. Keep em coming Josh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted March 5, 2007 *sob* I wish I lived closer to elk country... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
