Lots of deer hunters—myself included—complain that they aren’t good at finding sheds. After two of my buddies contacted me this week with more shed-hunting success stories, I have come to a simple, yet profound, conclusion; we are just trying too hard. Want to really start knocking down sheds? Start searching for something else.

As proof, a local buddy found his best shed of the season while doing field work on his farm. And the photo above was sent to me by an Illinois amigo, who found some dandy antlers while he and his wife were out seeking morel mushrooms. I don’t know about other areas of the country, but here in the Midwest the morel season is highly anticipated. Morels are not only delicious, but hunting them is fun. Even better, motivation is easy to come by: Even if you detest eating fungi, you can sell your ‘shrooms for great money (about $10 per pound last spring) to restaurants, grocery stores, or wholesalers.

And of course you will find antlers. Why wouldn’t you? You are in the woods, with your eyes on the ground. You’re taking your time. And most importantly…you’re not looking for the very thing you want to find the most! If we get two more warm days, I am heading for the timber on a morel mission. And I will certainly post any photos of the antlers I don’t intend to find…

We’ve received two letters from readers this week. The first was from Steve Newcomb from Ohio, who reported seeing a buck with antlers in late March. These were hard-horn antlers from last year, and Steve wondered how unusual it was for a buck to still be packing that late in the year.

The answer is an emphatic “kinda”. Though most bucks have shed by late March across whitetail range, there are plenty of exceptions. Easy winters and plentiful food result in unstressed bucks that tend to hold antlers longer. But even when the winter is tough, some bucks are just late shedders. I’ve known several guys who’ve kept captive deer over the years, and they all note that when bucks shed can be a highly individual deal. One buck shed his antlers within 2 days of February 25 every year, regardless of conditions!

Another reader from New York wrote to ask if we knew about a giant whitetail shot last fall in Westchester County. I had not heard of such a buck, but thought I would ask Buck Tracker readers if they had any information. With a long five months until deer season, I am in need of another big deer story fix! Anyone have the scoop on this deer? And of course feel free to share antler-shedding tales and antler growth progress in your area. On a Kansas turkey hunt two weeks ago, I saw a buck sprouting nubs already!

No one loves whitetails—and hunting them—more than me. But I refuse to give deer every month of my year. That is why God made turkey hunting, an addiction shared by many of my fellow whitetail geeks. And what better month for turkey hunters than April, when gobblers are singing and we get to speak at them in strange tongues and, occasionally, shoot one.

The picture above comes from my good friend Brian Lovett after a recent Texas turkey expedition. I’ve been fortunate to chase gobblers in some neat places, but when Texas is hot, it is tough place to beat. Last spring, reports from the Lone Star state revealed a jake population that bordered on the ridiculous...a situation which means that—barring disaster—the next spring’s gobbler hunt would be incredible. Two-year old longbeards typically make up the bulk of a turkey harvest, and when their numbers are high, everything that turkey hunters crave (lots of gobbling, working multiple birds, intense competition among male turkeys) is in place.

As Brian’s photo shows, all those last-year jake reports were been spot-on. This pic reminds me of those old deer camp meat-pole photos of yesteryear, when hunters found game abundant and the shooting spectacular. It puts a smile on my heart, and makes me anxious for the wonderful days of spring ahead! So how’s the gobbler hunting been in your neck of the woods?

Awhile back I posted the winner of the Wisconsin DNR/LaCrosse Tribune annual “ethical hunter” award. Click here if you missed it. Minnesota—which has a similar program—announced its winners recently. Minnesota’s program is co-sponsored by the DNR, the Turn In Poachers (TIP) program and the MN Deer Hunter’s Association (MDHA).

The winner of the adult category was Craig Holmstrom of Red Lake Falls. Holmstrom helped his friend Ray Ganyo—a quadriplegic since a 1981 diving accident—kill a doe during the 2008 season. Holmstrom invited Ganyo to join his hunting party (known as the “Marshall County SWAT Team”) and went out of his way to transport his friend to and from camp. He also convinced a local sports shop to donate a blind for Ganyo to hunt from. Holmstrom placed the blind along a field and accompanied Ganyo, who used a special device to activate his rifle’s trigger, and make a perfect shot on a nice doe. Holmstrom described the event as his best day of deer hunting ever.

The youth award went to Neil Symalla of Cold Spring, a 15-year old who showed tremendous restraint throughout the archery season. Symalla, a second-year hunter,  passed on several marginal shots while waiting for a good one. He never scored. Later, during the rifle season, Symalla was leaving to hunt with his father, who noticed the youngster only had 5 cartridges. Symalla nixed a trip to a sport shop for more ammo, informing his dad that “if I don’t take a running shot, I only need one shell.” Symalla killed a nice buck that day…and has enough shells for four more years!