If you really want to k
now the kind of deer your property has on it, try finding sheds. Though whitetails can drop their horns as early as January, most deer in Texas lose them in March. So now is the prime time for shed hunting. It doesn’t just entail walking around your ranch looking at the ground in every direction. There are some concrete ways to put yourself in the right areas. First, wherever the deer spend most of their time, especially at night, is often the best place to look. Next, with the recent rains, try looking in big fields where clover and various forbs are growing.
Sheds are one of the coolest things about whitetail deer; they grow antlers very similar in size and shape to the year before, only bigger. Characteristics like beam length, tine length, kicker tines, and beading will typically bae the same from year-to-year. If you want to know how big your deer were the year before, find some sheds. You can trace deer from year to year and track their growth. They also make great decorations and crafts (knife handles, lamps or hat racks). Or you could use them to practice taxidermy.
Another great benefit to shed hunting is getting to see your land up close and personal. Walking through fields, draws and brush can oftentimes help you more than anything in scouting for next season. So if you’re missing being at the deer lease or you’re out turkey hunting, keep your eyes open for a great whitetail shed!
