Finding a shed before the critters get to chewing on it is the trick. My buddy while NH deer hunting opened the truck door and put a dent in it from a tree. We parked it at the exit spot for a drive of 3 guys and drove around to the starting point, leaving a 90 year old at the stand which turned out to be his last hunt. We pushed from the other side, the old timer did not get a shot. I broke out of the woods to the truck before the others and had found a nice neat shed from what would have been a ten pointer during that drive.
Since the area was empty, I grabbed a stick with a fork at the end and made deer tracks across the open ground at a distance that would simulate a running deer. I ended them at the truck right where the dent was in the door. I hung the shed on the rear view mirror and returned to the woods. I waited till I heard the yelling and walked out looking surprised. My buddy knew what I did and gave me the shed back.