Shed Hunting in CT

[dirtguy]

Some of you in some parts of the country are finding sheds already.  When is a good time to start looking here in CT?

[Guru]

now

[Stick n' String]

By this time of year the deer will have virtually all lost their horns, regardless of where you live. I am traveling to my property to shed hunt this weekend (in Central Texas). Trail cam pictures showed a few deer starting to drop through late January and none of the bucks currently have their horns. This process took about three weeks from start to finish.

[bridog]

The snow totally stopped us up here in Minnesota, Most dropped before a bunch of extra white crap...  er I mean snow.  No I mean crap, it's been a long winter...

[mrpenguin]

Dirtguy... where are you in CT??

[Sean B]

Now's a good time, esp with some older snow on the ground.  Walk some heavy trails, you'll usually stumble across a few.

[Stinger]

Deer in Northern Virginia are still wearing their headgear in my neighborhood.

[shadman]

Saw two last week here in MN with their racks yet. I've seen them as late as the end of March. Also found sheds in early January. I guess they're all different even in the same area.

[Guru]

By this time of year most have shed, but there's always some that hold them late'

I was in TX last week and there was a bunch of fresh and old sheds found. Also a lot of good bucks still with antlers....

[Sean B]

I've been checking the deer at night while on patrol, and I haven't seen any that still had bone on their head.  The latest that I've ever seen one here in NY, was about mid March.  It was a real wide 8.  The earliest that I've noticed was a car vs. deer accident that I handled on Dec. 2, 2002.  The antlers could have been knocked off, but I couldn't find them.  There didn't seen to be any injury to the pedicles.

[Elk77]

Depends on the amount of does vs bucks in the area. If there were does still in heat later then usally the bucks are still running around chasing does and so there for there antlers would still be attached to there head.

[dirtguy]

Mr. Penguin,

I'm in Ivoryton.  How 'bout you?

[dirtguy]

Thanks for all the responses.

I'm going shed hunting on Sunday.  There were some pretty nice rubs on the land I hunt but they were from a buck I never saw.  I hope to find his rack and learn a little more about him for next year.

[ron w]

I have seen deer still with horns as late as St. Patricks day. I have never had great luck finding them but when I have its been when the snow was all gone. But that maybe different in your area.Where I'm looking there are small numbers of deer.I spend time looking where I know they have spent time in the wintering yards.

[parick]

ive only found one shed in my life and i have been hunting in CT for a long time there is more does than buck alot more does than bucks at least in near andover and coventry so ur lucky to even fill out ur buck tag

[Jeff Romans]

Based on all of these responses it's sounds like there is no better time than the present.

[Izzy]

Every deer is an individual.They will shed depending on nutrition as well as environmental factors.

[dirtguy]

Parick,

I'd have to agree with you.  I see a lot more does than bucks too.  My work keeps me outside a lot and I find sheds by accident.  I started trad hunting 2 years ago and figure shed hunting is a good way to learn more and keep me walking the land

[parick]

the only shed i found was well setting up my turkey blind it was a big 8 point antler the mice didnt eat at it or nothin i was very suprised

[dirtguy]

Update.

I've put in some hours and miles the past two weekends and found no sheds.  But I have found FRESH RUBS.  Does this mean what I think?  Still some breeding going on?

While my son and I were out looking, we saw lots of good stuff:

A barred owl, and barred owl tracks in the snow at a kill site

A fisher cat kill site - it sat on top of a log and ate a chipmunk and pooped

Deer beds in the snow

Tracks of a large buck

Tons of other deer tracks

No sheds, but lots of fun