Restoring any closed widgets or categories. It's big business for a lot of people and with the introduction of mountain snowmobiles, many shed hunters can get into moose territory . Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Look for gentle slopes that face south or west Most years, big mule deer are going to drop their antlers during the last couple weeks of January. Standing corn that was not cut for some reason is a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds. For many years the Refuge allowed people interested in accessing the National Forest on May 1 to line up on the Refuge Road beginning April 30. With that being said, I believe any midwestern whitetail hunter can have success in their first season shed hunting for mule deer because a lot of the same principles apply. You might want to sell some, so how much are they worth? (Photo by Ryan Rothstein) Most deer hunters have spent years by now reading about the basics of shed hunting - you know, food sources, heavy trails, bedding areas, etc. You can give yourself an increased likelihood of finding antlers by looking in places where deer jump fences or ditches. It depends on the condition and grade of the bone: Grade A: Antler in perfect condition, brown and beautiful, with no fading, broken tines or chew marks. Train Your Vision. In winter, deer often shift from the areas they frequented in the fall to take advantage of changing food availability and winter cover. But odds are good that 90 percent or more of the antlers you discover are going to be found in one of three locations: bedding areas, transition corridors, and feeding areas. There are some changes this year from the way this has operated in years past and we wanted to get the word out to possible visitors to the area. If your shed hunting location has an average or above normal snowpack, figure out where the snow line was around the first or second week of April and you will find antlers at that elevation. Matching sets, especially from a large or unique buck, are prized finds but can be notoriously difficult to get your hands on. Any number of things could have caused the bucks demise: hit by a car, lost by a bowhunter last season, Hemorrhagic or even Chronic Wasting Disease. Utah has closed shed antler hunting statewide until April 1. I actually find few antlers in the same area I hunt, its just not the place where the deer spend the winter, says South Dakota shed fanatic Kelly Kirsch, who picks up more than 100 antlers each year. Bears, (my belief) would take a sniff of an antler and walk right on by knowing in that rotten ol log right next to the shed is full of several big juicy caterpillars that have been eating the log for sustenance. I never bypass a location when I watch her stop to investigate. Some sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the grass and leaves. This option will reset the home page of this site. Since no one is going to walk you into a big patch of the finest tasting mushies, youll need to find spots on your own. With just a little basic training, a bird dog can learn to find sheds, and then he can multi-task between retrieving ducks and shed hunting in spring, he says. Eckley spends a lot of time in the forest. The Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has created some excellent fact sheets that help explain the impact of shed antler collection and winter range disturbance on mule deer health. Bowfishing, 50 Fish, 50 States: Cutthroat Connections, Earth Transformed: Mapping of Global Human Modification from 1990 to 2017. Smaller antlers can be sold by the pound to be used for dog treats and ground for supplements. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. And in the spring, he hunts sheds. If your mind says bear left, go left. Montana shed-hunting expert Dick Idol told me he finds his biggest sheds in thick cover where mature bucks stage in winter, and along multiple trails that link sanctuaries with nearby feed fields. They walk too fast and look too far out front.. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images 1. Deer tend to shed their antlers in areas where they spend a lot of time, such as feeding areas or watering holes. Now that you have a good idea of where to start your search for antlers, and have secured permission to access as many private fields and woods that you can, get out there and go. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.gomuddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/best-places-to-find-shed-antlers_Feature.jpg, https://www.gomuddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Muddy_Logo_shadow-Low.png. Dont just casually walk through the area; you need to almost stalk and use your eyes to really scan the ground for any part of an antler. Take it slow and deliberately, look straight down and scan every square foot of the ground. You might find antlers in farmers' fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food. The key thing to remember is that elk typically shed their antlers much later in the Spring than deer, so it is important to pay attention to snow accumulation. I am a biologist in western Canada so this is not an uninformed comment. Gary Lewis / For The BulletinA pair of mule deer bucks on winter. Most Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields are perfect for this purpose. Dense foliage, leaf litter on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to hide antlers from view. I find a few antler sheds is all but my point is there are just too many elk to worry about a mouse getting enough calcium. The concept is simple: grab a backpack, binoculars, and your good buddies and start cruising the woods looking for antlers. The Labrador retriever is by far most popular, but Dokken says that any breed with a strong instinct to retrieve can pick it up quickly. Whitetails essentially do just two things . Previously there were two localized antler collection closures in place, one for public lands in the Gunnison Basin and one for public lands in the Eagle and Roaring Fork Valleys. These tall grasses shield deer from icy winds and stay upright through ice accumulation and heavy snows. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Sometimes bucks will shed one antler immediately after the other, and other times a week or so will pass before the second one falls. Simply walk these corridors from one end to the other, paying particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail. Look for deer rubs. This year the National Elk Refuge Road will open at midnight on May 1st. Deer are adapted to rest during the day and feed throughout the night. This is where the deer will feed. A shed hunt starts with glassing those small herds over time. READ NEXT: Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. Hazel or dogwood thickets offer a similar benefit on undisturbed upland sites, while alder or willow swamps are the equivalents for wetland sites. Mule deer and elk often gather in wintering areas making finding sheds easier but also increasing the threat to these animals. Routes mysteriously converge. Since deer would typically drop their antlers in a feeding area during the night, youd have a great chance at finding a fresh deer antler before anyone else if youre up against other public land shed hunters. As a prey species, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain. Across deer and elk country, almost all bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers by mid- to late-March. These are prime places to check throughout the spring. Don Schaufler owns and operates Antlers Unlimited (antlersunlimited.com) and Antler Designs (antlerdesigns.com) in Ennis, Mont. These regulations protect the health of Colorado's big game herds and other wintering wildlife. Its a warmer-than-average winter in many parts of the country, the snow has mostly melted, and its the perfect time to get out there and check the woods. As bulls drop their antlers, they leave the gang. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. Here are some tips to get you started. If you can find a standing corn or bean field in the winter, you can be sure the deer will travel for miles around to gorge themselves. Spend some time observing deer at other times of year, and youll be well on your way to learning some shed hunting hotspots. Bulls compete for pecking order all year long, and an antlerless bull knows hes vulnerable.. Bedding refers to making a safe area where the deer and any fawns can sleep, away from predators. When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little deeper at the edges of game trails. Grade B: Antler in good condition, still natural brown color, may be a bit dull or faded on one side and slightly weathered, probably last years drop. They shed their antlers every year, unlike animals that sport "horns," which include antelope, sheep, cattle, buffalo and rhinoceros. Older bulls will also shed before younger bulls. I cant tell you how many times Im walking and my brain says go this way, so I do and find a big antler.. Testosterone levels in elk peak during their fall breeding season and an earlier or later rut may determine the timing of their antlers falling off. Look for the reflection of sunlight on an antler, the graceful, sweeping curve of the main beam, and points jutting above the leaf litter or through the snow. A great way to locate these areas is through the use of Google Earth, which shows the terrain features from a birds-eye view before ever stepping foot on the ground. Deer may occasionally shift to bed on the southern edges of spruce plantations so they can soak up the suns warmth while being protected from the norths icy winds. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. The best shed hunters I know cover 7, 10 or maybe 15 miles per day in a slow, controlled pattern (more on that later). You may also find antlers on paths frequented by deer. The average price per pound for brown elk antlers is between $12 and $16. Steep South. Look for places deer trails encounter such obstacles. wilson combat magwell p320 Most deadheads have small to medium-size racks, but each year a few people chance upon a monster. They carry their horns for life. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of mature bulls are going to be found at higher elevations than the smaller bulls and cows. This is an inefficient way for them to feed, and they will always seek out the easiest feeding method possible. Grassy Buffer Strips We will also be working with local visitors bureaus to help get the information to people visiting Colorado. Delivered weekly. My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a secluded basin on a south-facing, grass covered slope. The best places to find shed antlers are areas that hold deer during certain parts of their daily routine, which increases the likelihood of you finding antlers. Yes, porcupines do indeed devour antlers (and other unusual things) but this is a topic for a future blog. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. If a person accumulates 20 or more license suspension points within a five-year period, that person could be suspended from hunting and fishing for up to five years. Mule deer and cow elk will be found closer to roads and human traffic, but dont be fooled by these visuals. Pay special attention if the trail is interrupted by a section of rocks or a cliff where elk would need to lunge their bodies, generating extra force upon landing, and possibly dropping their racks in their tracks. Here's four places where whitetail antler sheds like to hide. If your area has an early rut, bucks testosterone levels will decrease earlier and, as a result, some deer will cast their racks two to four weeks earlier than usual. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? Bring a good binocular and a high-power spotting scope with a window mount on your drive, and youll be even closer to success. Happy shed hunting! Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting. One of the greatest features about OnXMaps is that it shows public and private land ownership, giving you peace of mind when accessing hunting areas. For more information regarding the May 1 Refuge access and travel changes please contact the National Elk Refuge at (307) 733-9212 or stop by their administrative headquarters located at 675 East Broadway. Keep your search humane and. A deadhead like Moose is an incredible if sad find. Bigger bulls and elk in general, prefer seclusion and will not tolerate human interaction, which is why you also find them at higher elevations. The tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out. But before you get to that level, youve got to start with the shed hunting basics. Pick it up. In addition, apart from the new shed collection rules, harassing wildlife remains illegal and CPW officers will cite individuals for violating this existing regulation. Ive found that single trees and patches of conifers specifically attract mature bucks, so make sure to hit each isolated pocket of evergreens you see. Elk are tough to pattern because they seldom follow a daily routine, but they do value a simpler path up and down the mountains, especially during the winter. Any tips too find Fallow deer antlers? Conservation science in action. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this occurs as the males'. People often overlook food plots for shed hunting. Grassy Buffer Strips. With all the deer gathering in these fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed. * Before snow melt, get out in search of tracks. Odds are high that a bull will drop his rack with his descending gait along a game trail. Finding shed antlers in the tangled thick grasses or cattails isnt easy though. These trails are very easy to notice in the winter, whether there is snow on the ground or not. (just ask homeless hermit crabs!) Bone will shine and catch your eye. Identifying and recording which of these areas you find a shed will help you formulate your fall hunting strategy. Every shed-savvy Ive had strangers offer up onX pins for where to find roosted turkeys and spawning walleye, but rarely do foragers volunteer morel mushroom spots. If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. Tom Carpenter, In years past shed hunters were allowed to park on the Elk Refuge access road and wait until 8am on May 1st to access the National Forest Service. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place. Unfortunately, Moose died due to another bowhunters mistake, and Drew recovered his skull and antlers the following spring. The new Refuge access and travel regulations are explained in a news release on the web at http://1.usa.gov/21y0iuN . The pace picks up. Now that weve covered the two dominant sites to find shed antlers, lets look at the last place you can find them. http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3955/046.085.0307, https://bioone.org/journals/Northwest-Science/volume-85/issue-3/046.085.0307/Osteophagy-by-the-Grizzly-Bear-Ursus-arctos/10.3955/046.085.0307.full. The general price changes every year, and locations will . By knowing such a thing, a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers. Deer will often rub their antlers on trees or other objects to shed them. Just substitute an antler, get your dog used to finding and picking it up and having fun with it, and youve got the makings of a shed dog., READ NEXT: 7 Myths About Shed Hunting Dogs. Every shed-savvy character in sight will race to beat the next guy, while trying not to be too obvious about it. If you focus on the areas above, you should come out ahead when it comes to the search for shed antlers. Most people naturally start looking for sheds in the same areas where they hunt deer each fall. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. Removal has an impact on the local ecosystem. Bull elk prefer seclusion at higher elevations during Winter months. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im surprised at this article. The pace picks up. They are often planted with switchgrass, big bluestem, or Indian grass, which are very tall, upright, and clump-forming. He started hunting sheds more than 40 years ago. Stress can result in decreased body condition, increased mortality and decreased fawn/calf survival. Elk will move down out of the high mountains in early winter when the snow gets too deep and the rifle hunting pressure abates. A study in Mississippi found that individual penned bucks usually shed their antlers during the same week each year. My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. This closure applies to public lands in Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67, 551. Ive attached a press release to this email, but please feel free to contact me with any questions that you might have! If youre a deer hunter or any kind of outdoors-lover, youre probably racking up some miles on your boots right about now in the pursuit of shed antlers. He dug through the leaves and uncovered a 5-point shed that scored 75 inches. But before you run and post a picture of it on Facebook or Instagram, keep in mind that in most states you need a salvage permit or at least permission from a conservation officer before you can possess any buck with skull and antlers attached. Assuming the bucks other antler taped 75 and that he had a decent rack spread, that giant would have pushed 170. And theres a lot of online information, too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece. Knowing deer spend so much time snoozing winter away in these spots makes them prime for shed hunting. While it is true that these restrictions may overlap with some hunting seasons, the amount of pressure put on the animals will be limited by the number of hunting license holders. But there are certain places prone to finding bone. Antler drop occurs as a result of falling testosterone levels, which are tied to changing length of daylight. Everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands. When the snow gets deep, food can be hard to find, but the tops of hills provide areas where the snow is blown off and the food is easier to access. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The smooth, shiny antler recently fell off a mule deer, he concludes. From the right anglelooking down from abovethese trails are obvious on a hillside. After a while . Keep your search humane and ethical. Michael Hanback Public land elk are exceptionally wary animals, so they will follow the ascending spring snow line to stay away from harm and to feed on fresh vegetation. These are preferred bedding areas by deer. The fence was not high, so I have no idea why he didnt just jump. Although the CPW Commission decided not to require a permit at its latest meeting, it is an issue it may revisit in the future. "You really have to look hard because if you find an antler and the match was 200 . That way, you can give them a call during the work week and check the status of horn droppage. Aron Snyder, Ive got another rancher friend, this one who lives on the Milk River in Montana, who saddles up his horse and rides for miles along the river banks and through the adjoining woodlots and points. Make sure to check out any of these areas for shed antlers. Rates for brown deer sheds range from $10 to $14 per pound, solid whites range from $6 to $8 and chalks from $1 to $2. Bone will shine and catch your eye. I was aware that the little guys did chew on antler sheds but I am still having a very hard time believing that what sheds I can haul off would have any effect on any part of the ecosystem. Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. Sometimes you'll find sheds in cover so thick you can barely walk through it. Shawn PanickOur 20/20 vision will find antlers, but normally within a limited range. Chalk costs between $1 to $3 per pound and strong whites have an average cost between $8 to $11. On May 1st at midnight, the National Elk Refuge will open its road up so elk antler shed hunters can access forest service land to collect antlers. these trails are obvious on a hillside. Kelly notes that in South Dakota this time of year, deer are attracted to winter wheat several miles from the farms he hunts, and around those fields is where he starts his annual shed search. She enjoys engaging with coyotes more than shed antler hunting, but every time we hike Im amazed at the antlers she digs up buried in inches of forest duff. Antler collectors are encouraged to stage at any of the public parking lots in town including the Home Ranch Lot, the Deloney Lot, the Phil Baux Lot and the Fairgrounds Lot. Nope, not enough damage to the ecosystem to ever be concerned with. They make up the majority of a deers diet during certain parts of the year, and are full of carbohydrates and protein, respectively. It was once believed that bucks withdrew to a secluded place to shed their antlersaway from does and rival bucksthus avoiding a public loss of virility. But shed hunting can be a fun springtime pursuit and you can easily do it in a way that doesnt bother wildlife. Excellent point. Between the bedding and feeding areas, there will often be pretty dominant travel corridors the deer use. Use a good pair of binoculars to scan fields and woods for antlers that normally would have had to been walked up upon. We are encouraging all shed hunters to stage in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area. The cows uncover and kick up fresh antlers from this year, and chalky ones that are a year or two old. When deer feed in ag fields at night theyll often bed down for periods of time, and the adjacent grassy strips offer a prime location for them to take a break. This restriction, applying to both visitors and residents alike, will remain in place until 12:00am on May 1. The purpose of this regulation is to reduce stress on wintering big game animals during the time of year when big game animals such as deer, elk, pronghorn and moose are most vulnerable. RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. Maybe you know what Im talking about. Save yourself steps., Go for a matched set. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. Looking at maps prior to entering an area lets you visualize the terrain without wasting time and energy scouring areas that are unproductive. But when they are harvested each fall, deer need to instead scavenge waste grain on the ground. Matthew L. Miller is director of science communications for The Nature Conservancy and editor of the Cool Green Science blog. Fortunately, there are volumes of information on deer and elk to learn more about their biology. Elk shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Schaufler. Elk are tough to pattern because they seldom follow a daily routine, but they do value a simpler path up and down the mountains, especially during the winter. Bi 09/04/2023 09/04/2023 Game Trails The requirement of a priced permit for collecting shed antlers and horns is a novel concept that would be precedent-setting in the western U.S. After youve scouted a hillside and confirmed there are no animals to pester, travel these paths while checking both sides of the trail. To keep from wandering aimlessly the woods, it helps me to mark off grids with trees, rocks, logs, and other landmarks. High efficiency is critical if youre dealing with huge properties and want to find some deer sheds before the mice, squirrels, and porcupines chew them up or another hunter finds them. Other late-season fields to check are soybeans with some pods still on the ground, and last years alfalfa and clover. PWC Commissioners and members of the public have noted seeing a substantial increase in shed collection around the state, likely due to the substantial profits collectors make from the sale of shed horns and antlers. If you're shed hunting flat, sage brush country, then getting out and hiking grid patterns through the sage brush usually pays off. With a little practice, you can find some nice sheds for your collection. Finding an antler in the woods may seem like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Shed antlers or shed horns are still considered "wildlife" based on the statutory definition, which includes any parts thereof and whether alive or dead. Bucks also will . As a professional wildlife ecologist I have always discouraged the collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems. Bucks drop their racks from late December in the North through March and April in the South. CPW will post signs, send press releases, work with sportspeople's groups and partners, news media, social media and other communication avenues to ensure the public is well informed about this new change. In winter, many bucks feel comfortable feeding and hiding in these gnarly spots, and drop their antlers there. 1. Protecting our wintering wildlife is something we have to do together. Prices vary among antler buyers, but Grade A bone is currently fetching $16-$20 a pound. How Antler Drops Happen These large grassy meadows, which are predominately found on South facing slopes can be easily identified, once again from Google Earth. If you seek out these three locations and are able to fast walk quicker than your buddy, then youll be piling up antlers this year. We have no sheds yet and are going deer hunting tomorrow. As long as theres minimal pressure, bucks bed close to the food sources and keep movement to a minimum during this Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. Frozen cattail swamps offer a similar level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any cold winds. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. Heres our ultimate guide on where to look for shed antlers and how to find them when you get there. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. L. Miller is director of science communications for the Nature Conservancy and editor of the ground blend into the and... Fast and look too far out front.. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald Getty. In search of tracks bulls will have dropped their antlers on paths frequented by deer in decreased body condition increased... Woods May seem like finding the proverbial needle in the winter months making... Two old antler recently fell off a mule deer, and Drew recovered his skull and antlers the spring. The leaves and uncovered a 5-point shed that scored 75 inches antlers in areas where they spend a lot time! 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