Knack for Shed Hunting

Dad and I headed up to camp this past weekend with two main goals:

1. Diagnose and fix the hot water tank

2. Shed hunt.

We were successful on 1/2 of those, and we didn’t take any hot showers.

Despite the forecast calling for rain for pretty much the duration of the weekend, we made the drive up to camp with clear skies on Friday night.

We headed off to the wilderness Saturday around 9:30 AM and hiked down to the creek, not sure how high it would be with the recent rain. Luckily, we didn’t have any problem crossing. Dad was planning to head up the Jeep Trail Valley and I was going up the First Finger, on the Jeep Trail Valley side, as I had success there two weekends ago.

I made it about 150 yards from where I found my first shed on my last trip, not yet to where I found the second, when I spotted a white antler on the ground about 20 yards away.

I immediately radioed my dad that I got one, and when I walked over and picked it up, some added excitement ensued. It was a very long 5 point left side, and looked very familiar to the 5 point side I found two weeks ago.

We were both super pumped that I found an antler, already making the trip a huge success. Dad mentioned that I seemed to be an “antler finding machine.” I wasn’t sure how or when I became one, but I sure was enjoying it.

Soon after finding the first shed of the day, I passed a small trail camera pointed into the Jeep Trail Valley. I thought it might provide a laugh to the owner, so I walked by with antler in one hand while waving with the other. It also made me think of this past season, when I had a trail camera stolen on PA public land.

When I saw the camera, I had no urge to take it. If anything, I was happy to see someone else enjoying the big woods that I do. I think that as hunters and anglers, we need to stick together, rather than find reasons for divisions. Regardless, I hope that someone sees my picture on there and heck who knows: maybe they’ll read this post and it will come full circle.

Dad and I continued up the valley where I found more balloons (3 on the day) than sheds. We ate lunch at one of our popular spots before searching the entire Second and Third Fingers as well. While on the backside of the Second Finger with my dad up on top, we were talking back and forth saying it sure would be nice to find one more.

“Got one!” I radioed to him.

I happened to be looking about 15 yards in front of me when I saw the 4 point right side; points down to the ground. Another good find!

“You really have a knack for this thing” he said, and I was starting to think he may be right.

We continued on through the woods, and joined up to make our push out. All in all the rain only came for two approximately 10 minute long spurts. We got lucky.

We talked a lot about the current events we are living through, and how the world has changed from just a few weeks ago. The Coronavirus has been spreading and we have had to spend added time indoors because of it. We both agreed that this was a nice break from everything.

Getting out and enjoying what God has created was a great way to spend the weekend and a great way to reset from the stressful weeks prior. While the world around us has changed due to the virus, the woods hadn’t. Everything was still as it always was, and will be for many many years to come.

I am enjoying shed hunting more and more each time I go. I would like to think that just the added time in the woods is the main reason, but I’d be lying if I said the success I have had hasn’t helped. I can’t wait to look for more of that white gold.

We spent the evening by the campfire reflecting on our day in the woods, and I snapped a cool picture of our finds.