February is one of my favorite months.

Shed season has begun.

Several deer have been in the pasture with only one side of antlers attached. They fell off somewhere- in the pasture, the ravine, the forest? This is the month my hounds and I like to go out looking for the “sheds.”

Bucks drop their antlers after the rut, mating season. No longer needed as sparring for dominance or protection of their harem, the heavy armor falls away. These thick sheds become nutrients for many other forest animals— raccoons, skunks, and rodents are building their bodies for spring arrivals.

Hunting for sheds is an excuse for me. Hiking is our passion, but the weather has kept the pups and me indoors.

Our footsteps will take us across the muddy south pasture to the cattle gate, where I’ll part the barbed wire just enough to squeeze myself between the gap. The dogs will run ahead. I’ll manage a slippery game trail down to the ravine.
Indian Creek will be flowing even if the surface is frozen. I’ll have the camera phone ready. There are always shots to capture on this hike.

We usually come across fallen animals. Some may have been killed by mountain lions, a pack of coyotes, a failed rifle shot, or an un-retrieved arrow. Injured, the deer frequently come to the creek area where they try to recover. Unfortunately, many succumb to their wounds.

What will we find this morning? I’ll wear the coat with dried mud on its backside, already soiled from my wintery escapades, slipping and falling on the clay-like ooze. My trekking poles await their grab. I head out the door.

There is still a bit of snow and ice left from our last storm, but the temperatures have risen just enough to tease me outside.

We head out the door.
February air slaps my face; I pull the woolen scarf tightly, flip my hood, then shove my hands into knitted gloves.

This will be a good hike.
A scavenger hunt for me and the dogs.