Finding Goliath's Shed

It’s go-time! Shed season is here, and we all know the usual tricks for shed hunting.

But I’m about to share 3 less obvious tips. They’re the difference in finding your next set of freshies vs another hunter or squirrels snagging them first. Here we go…

1. Hunt sheds like you hunt bucks.

This means serious scouting. Do your homework and know where the bucks are living this time of year. This is a transitional time for bucks, so they may not be easy to turn up.

First, check late season food sources near where their rut range was. If that's unproductive then they've most likely headed back to their summer hideout or nearby food source.

Don’t slack on your trail cameras. Dead batteries mean missed intel. We check our cellular cameras daily so we know exactly when a target buck has dropped.

Also, keep feeding. If you’re in a state that allows baiting, keep your feeders loaded up. Late-winter feeding keeps bucks close and boosts your chances they’ll drop antlers right nearby.

2. Check transition areas between bedding & food sources.

Here’s where you score big: Check the trails connecting thick bedding cover and winter food sources like privet, woody browse, or cut corn.

You want to spend your time where the bucks spend their time—in/around bedding, near a food source, and in the transition zones in between. I’ve found lots of sheds in fields and field edges.

3. Be thorough with grid-searching.

After you’ve done your scouting, it’s time to thoroughly search the area you think a buck has dropped. But don’t wander randomly—grid search high-value areas with the tracker tool on your hunting app.

Don’t forget: Every few minutes, stop, pull out the binos, and scan carefully. Treat this just like a hunt—put down your phone and lock in.

Your tracker tool will show you if you've missed any areas. And be sure to save your track after each session so you can pick up where you left off.

[FYI Spartan Forge is our go-to for hunting maps and intel. Use promo code seekone for 20% off. We’ve also got a sweet deal on the Moultrie Edge 2 two-pack cameras.]

Good luck out there! Remember, targeting a mature whitetail is year-round work.

Shed hunting gives you the perfect excuse to learn the terrain better while picking up some bone. Mark fresh sign while you're at it—that intel will pay off during the season.

We’ll see you in the woods.