They can often provide helpful tips on where to find deer antler shed in Utah. Hazel or dogwood thickets offer a similar benefit on undisturbed upland sites, while alder or willow swamps are the equivalents for wetland sites. 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. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. 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. People often overlook food plots for shed hunting. That is where they may jar them loose. * Target the areas where deer bed and where they move from bedding areas to feeding areas. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. Want to find antlers without bothering wildlife? In addition, to further protect the Gunnison sage-grouse, the new regulations include a time-of-day closure in the Gunnison Basin May 1 - 15 from sunset to 10 a.m. 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. Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. Sometimes you'll find sheds in cover so thick you can barely walk through it. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. John and I have watched countless seasons of people hunting for "moose sheds", antlers that are dropped (shed) sometime in January. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images 1. When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little deeper at the edges of game trails. But before you get to that level, youve got to start with the shed hunting basics. Game Trails 3. Shed antlers or shed horns are still considered "wildlife" based on the statutory definition, which includes any parts thereof and whether alive or dead. As a pup I included shed antler hunting training into her role as an all-around outdoor dog. Its impossible to predict exactly when a bull elk will shed his antlers, but a couple of factors can help you predict the timing of the drop. The first is the amount of snowfall the previous year. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. Think smart and travel to areas with less hunting pressure where deers migrate to survive and drop their antlers. Spring scouting can help you gather valuable intel for the next hunting season. Deer Jump Areas Bumping into the ground, fences or trees can loosen the antlers. 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. Unfortunately, Moose died due to another bowhunters mistake, and Drew recovered his skull and antlers the following spring. If your dog likes to retrieve anything, a ball or training dummy or whatever, thats the game. Below are a few tips to help shorten your elk shed hunting learning curve and to get you on the fast track to finding brown gold! Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. As the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose and fall off. We where going at 70mph so we couldnt stop. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. The survival of wildlife relies heavily on keeping as many calories as possible until the green shoots pop up, heralding spring's return. Youre in one of those spots. Follow them, and youll learn a lot more about deer. And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using OnX. But all the other undesirable trees can be fully cut down or hinge-cut. Also, the CPW Commission does not regulate other forms of recreation such as hikers and bikers on other land-use agency properties such as the Bureau of Land Management lands or National Forest land. In much of the Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to deer nutrition. As you walk, look, think and get a feel for the lay of the land, says Kirsch, who is one of the most accomplished shed hunters I know. The CPW Commission chose not to include private lands in its decision to enact a shed antler collection closure in Colorado. The terrain is tough, the air is thin and the distance is far, but If you are willing to put in the work, shed antler success will follow. We have no sheds yet and are going deer hunting tomorrow. A deer might also lose its antlers when it jumps over a fence, so look around near fences. Theres gold in them hills! You might spot a whole antler, or maybe just a tine sticking up. Whitetails essentially do just two things . In winter when a buck's antlers are dropping, his life revolves around finding the best quality food to replenish his body after the peak rut period. A severe winter with a lot of snow can also cause stressed deer to shed earlier. Shed antlers are an important part of the ecosystem, providing a source of calcium to small breeding mammals such as mice and squirrels and even larger mammals such as bears (http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3955/046.085.0307). With his new rack the next fall, the deer would be Boone and Crockett, and living on Dons farm. CPW does, however, manage State Wildlife Areas across western Colorado, many of which have seasonal closures to all human use in order to protect wintering big game animals. A mild Spring caused the elk to move back up to higher areas of the mountains during the time that the majority of shedding occurs. If you're shed hunting flat, sage brush country, then getting out and hiking grid patterns through the sage brush usually pays off. That may seem like common sense, but youve probably walked by many because you werent looking. These sheds will be easy pickings and you want to get to these first. Say you find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. 11. Yes, porcupines do indeed devour antlers (and other unusual things) but this is a topic for a future blog. 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. I use peanut butte in my mouse traps, wonder if that provides enough? 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. Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. Grid searching a steep, south-facing hillside with your binoculars from an opposing vantage point is an excellent tactic for covering ground while staying anonymous to the mountains inhabitants. Maybe you know what Im talking about. This is an inefficient way for them to feed, and they will always seek out the easiest feeding method possible. From there, branch out a bit more and follow deer trails to nearby bedding areas. Western shed hunters will backpack deep into the backcountry to find shed antlers from the biggest bulls in the unit. That may seem like common sense, but you've probably walked by many because you weren't looking. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Delivered weekly. With all the deer gathering in these fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed. 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. Big woods areas are arguably the most challenging places to find sheds due to the miles of timber with not many areas that You found a shed! To keep from wandering aimlessly the woods, it helps me to mark off grids with trees, rocks, logs, and other landmarks. Try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. And thanks for the reference! 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. Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage pointtheres likely another shed close by. You might find antlers in farmers' fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food. Well, its more of a slightly faded, brownish gold. These agencies maynotify CPW if they catch violators and coordinate with CPW officers to take enforcement action.. Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. In areas of extreme snowfall and harsh winter conditions, even the herd bulls will get pushed down to lower elevations out of necessity to survive. We are encouraging all shed hunters to stage in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area. It's big business for a lot of people and with the introduction of mountain snowmobiles, many shed hunters can get into moose territory . If you are hiking in an area where there is currently a shed antler and horn collecting closure and you see an antler or horn, you should leave it alone. Although shed collection is not a new activity in Colorado, there is evidence that it is rapidly growing in popularity. Focus instead on these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need to look more thoroughly. These are prime places to check throughout the spring. Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. I cant tell you how many times Im walking and my brain says go this way, so I do and find a big antler.. Delivered weekly. I concur with Susan (although I am not biologist). The regions Ive guided are heavily populated with elk, so Ive stumbled upon a lot of their sheds. 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. This option will reset the home page of this site. 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. 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. Following a flash of white into a swath of sage brush near McCoy, he discovers an antler under a juniper tree. Bone will shine and catch your eye. The cows uncover and kick up fresh antlers from this year, and chalky ones that are a year or two old. Listen to your subconscious. 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. Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. Shawn PanickOur 20/20 vision will find antlers, but normally within a limited range. Get out early, you don't want to find a half chewed antler or even worse the tracks and imprint of a shed recently picked up by a trespasser in your favorite spot. Big bull elk winter in bachelor groups, says Schaufler. Food. 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. wilson combat magwell p320 When to Go: When deer shed their antlers is highly variable, and dependent on a number of factors. Elk herds tend to range in the same general, often-open, areas, on a . READ NEXT: Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. This is my favorite place to look: A scrubby, overgrown field with some browse, berries, locust trees (deer love the pods), and the like. The best time to go shed hunting is when the woods are barren and brown, the grass and brush are pounded down, and crop fields and pastures are low to the dirt. Here are some tips to get you started. Bring a good binocular and a high-power spotting scope with a window mount on your drive, and youll be even closer to success. Standing corn that was not cut for some reason is a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds. And theres a lot of online information, too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece. Do your homework before heading into the hills by checking specific regional snowpack reports and webcams to determine the elevation and depth of snow in a specific zone. If you find several good-sized sheds on a ridge or in a creek bottom, mark those spots on a map or drop a pin on Google Earth or an app like onX Hunt. Whether covered in grass or mixed shrubs and tree cover, the south side of ridges can create dynamite winter bedding areas for bucks. The CPW Commission chose to align its restrictions more closely with Wyoming, where Colorado gets its biggest influx of both shed antler hunters . Finding shed antlers in the tangled thick grasses or cattails isnt easy though. But finding those needles of bone in the haystack of the wild is just as exciting and rewarding. Mule deer and cow elk will be found closer to roads and human traffic, but dont be fooled by these visuals. Learn Deer: As with any nature-based activity, youll be more successful and have more fun if you know the biology, habits and ecosystem of the creatures that live there. 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. These are preferred bedding areas by deer. 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. One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. It is also, in my experience, one of the most difficult habitats to search. (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. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. They are crepuscular animals, meaning they excel at dawn and dusk (i.e., low-light situations), but their eyes are adapted to see well throughout the night too. So when the weather starts warming and the snows start melting, its time to get into the woods and start shed hunting. Keep your search humane and. Finding the most well-used areas for both activities will lead to antlers, and grassy buffer strips can offer the best of both worlds. The entire purpose of my blog is to document my findings as I embrace a new lifestyle in a much more extreme terrain and environment. Make sure to check out any of these areas for shed antlers. Just make sure its still frozen before you venture out into the swamp. The pace picks up. The second factor is the timing of last years rut. There may also be some young or fallen cedar or pine branches to browse on while in this type of bedding area. Identifying and recording which of these areas you find a shed will help you formulate your fall hunting strategy. If they were cut a few years ago, there should be lots of additional growth too. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage point. How Antler Drops Happen "In all deer species, antlers are biological 'luxuries.' Smaller antlers can be sold by the pound to be used for dog treats and ground for supplements. Shed antler hunters focus their efforts on specific areas where big game are wintering with a very high likelihood of disturbing and displacing those animals. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. By keeping this information in mind, it will help you locate potential feeding areas that elk will utilize on a regular basis. These regulations protect the health of Colorado's big game herds and other wintering wildlife. Older bulls will also shed before younger bulls. Hello This closure applies to public lands in Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67, 551. Some sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the grass and leaves. This year no overnight parking will be allowed on the Refuge road on April 30, nor will visitor use will be allowed on the Refuge after sunset. These large grassy meadows, which are predominately found on South facing slopes can be easily identified, once again from Google Earth. If it is raining lightly, that's fine. 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. This years drop and picked up within a few weeks or months. As an elk hunting guide for almost half of my life, Ive cultivated this land into my office. 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. But when they are harvested each fall, deer need to instead scavenge waste grain on the ground. Like a good family recipe or secret bait, a lot of morel honey holes go to the grave with whomever found them. 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. But there are certain places prone to finding bone. They are often planted with switchgrass, big bluestem, or Indian grass, which are very tall, upright, and clump-forming. Collection and Possession of Shed Antlers, To read the closure regulations, refer to #002(O), Antler and Horn Collection, within the. Deer are adapted to have reduced metabolisms in the winter, and their digestive tracts even adapt to include the microorganisms to efficiently digest fibrous browse. 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. While you might be able to find young growth areas on your property, they will likely be scattered around and hard to pinpoint a specific location. 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. 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. In 2018, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to prohibit shed antler and horn collection on all public lands west of I-25 from January 1 through April 30, annually. Hes also a long-time mule deer chaser and shed hunter. If your mind says bear left, go left. More importantly, fields like these are such a powerful magnet for whitetails that you could find shed antlers from deer youve never even seen on your property before. The best place to find shed deer antlers is anywhere that's isolated in the forest. Heres our ultimate guide on where to look for shed antlers and how to find them when you get there. Restoring any closed widgets or categories. Comparatively to both whitetails and mule deer, elk antlers always seemed to elude me while deer antlers were relatively easy to find. RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy. Gerald Almy. Thats a great way to really increase your odds of finding a shed antler! 4. Usually, bull elk shed their antlers beginning in mid-to-late March later than any other North American cervid, and months after the rut, when the antlers served their role in battling competitors for cows to mate with. The problem with these closures was that it was moving the antler collection pressure to other areas of the state with important winter range habitats. Mule deer winter in bush-and-shrub habitats, says Wait. If you dont have any fields, you can also try supplemental feeders. One consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. Son of a bitch. According to a 2013 article in Montana FWPs Montana Outdoors, an elks seasonal migration averages around 15 miles to a suitable winter range. The specific time a buck will shed his antlers might be determined heavily by his individual antler cycle. The deer might be close, or hanging out a couple miles away. That being said, youll want to wait to check out any bedding areas for shed antlers until you know that bucks have dropped them, simply because you can chase them to a neighboring property before theyre ready. Deer are adapted to rest during the day and feed throughout the night. And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using, . OnXMaps shows you exactly where public and private land boundaries are located and allow you mark spots and utilize different overlays much like a handheld GPS. | 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. Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. Lets start with feeding areas, which many people adamantly claim is the best place to find a shed antler. But while everyone is consumed with the idea of looking for these magical shed antlers, they often get confused about where to look for shed antlers. Bone will shine and catch your eye. Here's four places where whitetail antler sheds like to hide. Tom Carpenter, This one is obvious but very important for success. Take a look through and see if any places come to mind on the land you shed hunt. Stay on the Trail. Sheds are white gold, prized jewels of the buck you've . Matthew L. Miller is director of science communications for The Nature Conservancy and editor of the Cool Green Science blog. Thanks for the tips . If you want to start having serious success with elk sheds, locate the ultimate elk wintering area; A secluded basin, with an abundance of food at high-elevation. Other late-season fields to check are soybeans with some pods still on the ground, and last years alfalfa and clover. If you can think of a few, prioritize those spots for a trip very soon. The fence was not high, so I have no idea why he didnt just jump. The new Refuge access and travel regulations are explained in a news release on the web at http://1.usa.gov/21y0iuN . Wyoming prohibits the collection of shed antlers and horns from January 1 through April 30 on public lands west of the Continental Divide. Ask a local wildlife biologist or game warden for help. You know I am just a dumbbell I guess, as I have never ever stopped picking up Moose, Elk, or Deer sheds due to the furry little animals I may be robbing a meal from. It makes sense then that deer are more likely to shed antlers in one of these two areas since thats simply where they spend most of their time. I've found that single trees and patches of conifers specifically attract mature bucks, so make sure to hit each isolated pocket of evergreens you see. Look in a wooded area that was recently grazed by a herd of cattle. Marvel at the pearly bases, the cedar-stained beams, the slick curving tines. This past Winter, snowfall was heavy in December, January, and February but March and April were mild with very little accumulation. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. Snow Line These trails are very easy to notice in the winter, whether there is snow on the ground or not. Yesterdays blog explored the enthusiasm some of us have for finding shed antlers and how that enthusiasm can turn into an obsession that threatens wintering mule deer and elk. 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. You might want to sell some, so how much are they worth? To avoid re-walking an area, do a walk-stop-and-circle search instead: Stop every 50 yards or so and do a 360-degree look around, to take advantage of new viewpoints. This restriction, applying to both visitors and residents alike, will remain in place until 12:00am on May 1. Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting. Shed Antler Hunting Tip #4 - Use high quality optics. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive The Colorado Beginner Elk Hunting Guide for FREE. You can train your family pet, say a Lab or golden retriever you keep in the house, to hunt sheds. 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. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. Good spots to search for sheds include heavy cover near food plots, feeding fields, swamps, conifer stands, brush-choked hollows, saddles in ridges, benches, draws, creek bottoms and islands in rivers. 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. 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. 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. Youve got to look close, real close, says Drury. Many of the streets closest to the Refuge entrance are located within residential areas and in an effort to prevent disturbances in these neighborhoods we will be educating visitors and enforcing this temporary No Parking rule.. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. 1. Parking in the Town of Jackson near the entrance to the Elk Refuge on April 30 will be extremely limited. Wait until mid-April or May to begin your search. If youve shed hunted long enough, youll recognize that those spots almost always hold an antler or two. But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about the animals you hunt in the fall. Maybe you know what Im talking about. The fresher the antler, the higher in value for horn traders and our four-legged friends to gnaw on. Any grassy crop field edge is a must-search for antlers. Spend some time observing deer at other times of year, and youll be well on your way to learning some shed hunting hotspots. * In the eastern forest, get out quickly before things green up before the critters devour them (porcupines and rodents can consume them quickly). 2. Now that weve covered the two dominant sites to find shed antlers, lets look at the last place you can find them. Michael Hanback , an elks seasonal migration averages around 15 miles to a suitable winter range. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. . My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. One of my favorite finds was a pair of antlers I found by a fence in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Then it would be off to that berry patch, the river to fish, that road kill or that kill the cougar buried for later etc. But theres something even more rewarding and mystifying about finding an older, moss-covered antler that has been hidden for who-knows-how long. Keep your search humane and ethical. Grid searching a steep, south-facing hillside with your binoculars from an opposing vantage point is an excellent tactic for covering ground while staying anonymous to the mountains inhabitants. COLORADO. May have a chip or slight broken tine. Or you could look at where stags squeeze under a low branch. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. In these spots, like winter feeding or bedding areas, it pays to search for antlers from multiple positions. 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.