IA Born Report post Posted February 18, 2016 One year elk hunting I walked off red butte in 9 with a full pack of antlers. I've been back a couple times and there is nothing but quad tracks all over that hill and all over the rest of 9. Around Skinner ridge used to be good for antlers but again, recently I've found nothing but quad tracks. This year I'm going to hit the thickest steepest nastiest places in 5bN that I know in hopes of finding some decent antlers. If you need some company, let me know. I'm in Flag and always looking to get out. I promised my daughter we'd work hard to get her on her first shed this year, too. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azshedgirl Report post Posted February 19, 2016 I can't stress enough getting away from quad roads. Fence lines usually get picked up by ranchers right away as well. In my experience, park where it doesn't look like a "shed" zone and hike 2 miles in. In all my years shed hunting I've only found 3-4 near a road. Good luck! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rageinthesage Report post Posted February 19, 2016 I can't stress enough getting away from quad roads. Fence lines usually get picked up by ranchers right away as well. In my experience, park where it doesn't look like a "shed" zone and hike 2 miles in. In all my years shed hunting I've only found 3-4 near a road. Good luck! You have crappy luck, some of my biggest sheds have been laying on, near, or in plain view from a road. Everybody has different luck I guess. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azshedgirl Report post Posted February 19, 2016 Awesome for you!!! I wish it were that easy for me. I guess each unit is different. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwoOneEight Photography Report post Posted February 19, 2016 Thank you all for your pointers and time 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
core2 Report post Posted February 20, 2016 Put in miles. If I find a shed, I clear out the whole area around it doing a grid search until I find the partner or any other sheds. If you hike enough, you will find something. I've also discovered that people in AZ don't seem to like to hike at elevation or up mountains because that is where I find sheds. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JustinB Report post Posted February 21, 2016 Thick thick ugly nasty. A place you don't want to be. That where the sheds are… They are also in the flats, on the benches, in the bottoms and up on top. But the key is thick ugly nasty in areas that elk winter. If elk are not wintering there then your never going to find them. Th smaller bulls will often drop in those transition zones as they shed later and have already begun to move back up. Don't let quads get you down. I find horns every year laying in or within 10 feet of quad tracks. Often they are hard whites. I walk the same areas over and over. From one night to the next anything can drop. Over the year seems like the formula is about 5 miles of walking for a horn. If you have not found one yet don't go back to the truck. keep on walking. I will walk into camp in the dark before accepting getting skunked for the day. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
core2 Report post Posted February 21, 2016 I am at 5-7 miles per horn so that is good to hear. That is often just picking a random area I think looks good and going. This season I have a couple spots that produced for me last year which I think will get the mileage way down. If I didn't live in the valley I could stalk the bulls. If you are serious about shed hunting, going and doing some glassing right now is the way to go. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
core2 Report post Posted February 21, 2016 Prime Tine Antlers out of NM is already stalking this forest monster for his sheds. Pic from a few days ago. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JustinB Report post Posted February 24, 2016 I know personally that 9 and 5B get pounded just as hard. 5BN has some idiot on a dirt bike driving through all the meadows almost daily. He's been doing it for years. I know that idiot… he actually lost his bike there 2 years ago. hunter found it this past fall. leaned it against a tree and couldn't ever locate it again (so he bought another). there are some locals that hit it every morning from march-the end of may. They clean it pretty good. They know the area and have worked it for the past 30 years or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reezenhunter Report post Posted February 25, 2016 My buddy found a set the other day nice and brown Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
208muley Report post Posted February 25, 2016 I have filled truck beds in June and July when no one is out there or at least vey few. Go where the quads can't! Idiots drive them things everywhere they can, so bulls get pushed into nasty areas again. Turn in the off-roaders when you find em and good luck. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigrig Report post Posted March 25, 2016 slopes and bedding/feeding areas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThomC Report post Posted March 26, 2016 Sheds are easy to get. Home depot, a few 2x4 and some 4x8 sheets of paneling, a little screw and you are good to go. What are you going to do with all of those sheds? PS on a different subject I found a 4x4 mulie antler in the desert today. I put it in my shed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted March 26, 2016 I can't put up a shed .I'm living at a Buddy's place.. I am gonna go find some tho...........BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
