In many areas, deer create runways every bit as well-worn as those created by humans. Just $1 per month , Read our guide and start finding more shed antlers, By Odds are high that a bull will drop his rack with his descending gait along a game trail. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. 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. Try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. No, Im not making a 420 reference here; Im talking elevation. The tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. Big bull elk winter in bachelor groups, says Schaufler. Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. I recommend starting with the works of biologist Valerius Geist and photographer Leonard Lee Rue III. For additional shed hunting tips and helpful information, be sure to check out 4 New School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter. And he suspects he already has the deer's other antler at his cabin in McCoy. So get outside and start your search. These areas include: Grassy buffer strips; Isolated evergreen areas; Hillsides that are facing south; Winter is the prime time when deer eat and bed. Looking at maps prior to entering an area lets you visualize the terrain without wasting time and energy scouring areas that are unproductive. Routes mysteriously converge. I cant tell you how many times Im walking and my brain says go this way, so I do and find a big antler.. 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. Finding shed antlers in the tangled thick grasses or cattails isnt easy though. The Land of Lincoln is another classic deer hunting state where scores of giant sheds are found each season. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 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. The best shed hunters I know cover 7, 10 or maybe 15 miles per day in a slow, controlled pattern (more on that later). 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. 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. Look for deer rubs. The average price per pound for brown elk antlers is between $12 and $16. Spin it in your hand. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. For more information on these temporary No Parking zones and public parking locations please contact the Jackson Police Department at (307) 733-1430 or visit the Town of Jacksons website at http://www.townofjackson.com. Say you find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection. For the past few years, Ive struggled to find elk antlers in the mountains of Colorado and quickly became frustrated withthe lack of my success. Marvel at the pearly bases, the cedar-stained beams, the slick curving tines. Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off. When this kind of place comes into view, you can feel the energy change in a group of shed hunters. Parking will not be permitted in these zones beginning at 6:00pm on April 30. As a pup I included shed antler hunting training into her role as an all-around outdoor dog. 3. The only other restriction that is also in place is the harassment of wildlife statute, which can be written to any individual who is harassing wildlife, including shed collectors. Its also where I have found many of my sheds. These sheds will be easy pickings and you want to get to these first. Follow the Obstacle Course. As a prey species, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain. Public lands are usually full of these kinds of cuts, which can be part of your overall strategy. Matching sets, especially from a large or unique buck, are prized finds but can be notoriously difficult to get your hands on. It was a truly remarkable animal that we called Moose, he says. 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. But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about the animals you hunt in the fall. The method is pretty simple: Drive every inch of the roads that the elk or deer travel and glass any possible location where they could have lost an antler. Whitetails are habitual, and youll find more antlers there next year if crops and cover in the area remain the same. Game Trails Once the snow melts, revisit those sites. Besides being a lot of fun and a great way to get outside after a long cold winter, finding this many elk sheds can earn you some money. These agencies maynotify CPW if they catch violators and coordinate with CPW officers to take enforcement action.. One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. The fence was not high, so I have no idea why he didnt just jump. Steep South. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place. Using a dog to hunt antlers is the fastest growing dog sport in the U.S. says Minnesota trainer Tom Dokken, Americas foremost authority on shed dogs. If it hasnt happened on your property yet, its likely to happen very soon. Pine forests with a tall canopy help filter out snow, which keeps the snow levels in the understory very shallow. Todays top biologists nix that idea, saying deer are probably unaware of when and where theyll lose their headgear. Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. 11. Picking up a shed antler, esp if for education purposes is probably okay but I would not advocate make a collection of them! Anyone that observes illegal activity is urged to contact their local wildlife office. And theres a lot of online information, too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece. Food. Keep your search humane and. 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. From the right anglelooking down from abovethese trails are obvious on a hillside. We have no sheds yet and are going deer hunting tomorrow. Save yourself steps., Go for a matched set. Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. Examples of these types of obstacles: Fence crossing: This is a very good example as when a buck or bull tries jumping the fence, there are chances that the loosened antlers will shed. The key word here is seclusion. As more people enjoy each season that Colorado has to offer, and new forms of recreation continue to emerge, it will be very important for CPW staff to work with recreation organizations, land-use management agencies and local communities to get the word out. Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting. Focus instead on these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need to look more thoroughly. Wait until mid-April or May to begin your search. Follow them, and youll learn a lot more about deer. They are often planted with switchgrass, big bluestem, or Indian grass, which are very tall, upright, and clump-forming. You can train your family pet, say a Lab or golden retriever you keep in the house, to hunt sheds. In an effort to minimize disruption to residential areas of East Jackson the Town Council has requested that several temporary No Parking zones be established in East Jackson on Broadway, Nelson, Rancher, Absaroka, Wapiti, Redmond and Simpson. As bulls drop their antlers, they leave the gang. You might find some bone in these places, or you might not. But the winter had been milder than usual, and elk were shedding their antlers early. 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. They make up the majority of a deers diet during certain parts of the year, and are full of carbohydrates and protein, respectively. Bone will shine and catch your eye. 2. She doesnt embrace retrieving, but I keep a close eye on her as we hike. Brown or white antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day. The survival of wildlife relies heavily on keeping as many calories as possible until the green shoots pop up, heralding spring's return. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. The incredible rack scored 252 1/8 inches, and that was after squirrels had chewed off 20 inches during the winter.. Excellent point. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this occurs as the males'. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? I spend as much time (if not more) in the woods during the spring as I do during hunting season. 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. But shed hunting can be a fun springtime pursuit and you can easily do it in a way that doesnt bother wildlife. 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. Bi 09/04/2023 09/04/2023 If you dont have any fields, you can also try supplemental feeders. Sheds are white gold, prized jewels of the buck you've . Gary Lewis / For The BulletinA pair of mule deer bucks on winter. Matthew L. Miller is director of science communications for The Nature Conservancy and editor of the Cool Green Science blog. 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. Mule deer country is big. Son of a bitch. To keep from wandering aimlessly the woods, it helps me to mark off grids with trees, rocks, logs, and other landmarks. Unfortunately, too many shed collectors are focusing on financial gain rather than protecting wildlife, creating the need for new regulations. Most elk shed in March or April. An old-timer in Wyoming who finds more than 100 whitetail sheds on his river bottom ranch every year taught me this trick. EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado " Alan Butts strikes gold less than five minutes into his hunt. In an effort to keep the streets clear of vehicles until midnight on May 1, residents are encouraged to plan on parking their vehicles their driveways and visitors are advised to park in public lots throughout town or to seek lodging at a local hotel. Its also impossible to forecast the amount of snow elk will need to endure during the winter. Opinions expressed on Cool Green Science and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Nature Conservancy. Like a good family recipe or secret bait, a lot of morel honey holes go to the grave with whomever found them. 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. Then get out there, explore, stretch your legs, and work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for fall. Gerald Almy. Just make sure its still frozen before you venture out into the swamp. 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. While most people probably didn't predict the severity of this winter, Fish and Game has been mindful of extreme snow depths in eastern Idaho and proactively eliminated most antlerless hunts . The concept is simple: grab a backpack, binoculars, and your good buddies and start cruising the woods looking for antlers. My first set of matching Boone & Crockett sheds were found 200 yards apart; one on top of a windblown hill in soybean stubble and the other in . Deer trails are often highly visible. Small mammalian tooth marks on sheds reveal its purpose in providing scarce minerals. I dont know what amount of calcium is a source for a bear but I bet it is a lot more than it can get from an old or fresh shed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Train Your Vision. Theres a match out there, and now its your job to find it. 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. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. If youve shed hunted long enough, youll recognize that those spots almost always hold an antler or two. Here's four places where whitetail antler sheds like to hide. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. These shed antlers can be sold, used for DIY projects, or kept as trophies. When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little deeper at the edges of game trails. Just be sure to respect the animals - and please stay out of their wintering areas. That is where they may jar them loose. Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. And in the spring, he hunts sheds. Bucks also will . As a result, a growing number of people are participating. Most deadheads have small to medium-size racks, but each year a few people chance upon a monster. Check your state regulations for salvage requirements, and if its unclear, call a local game warden for advice. The April 30 date is intended to help minimize additional stress during this critical time frame. 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. Snow Line The smooth, shiny antler recently fell off a mule deer, he concludes. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. In your mind try to figure out what a buck was doing here two months ago in the cold and snow, where he was eating and going to bed. Prices vary among antler buyers, but Grade A bone is currently fetching $16-$20 a pound. 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. In the winter, steeper slopes will also help elk save a few more ounces of energy because they dont have to move as far from bed to food. Finding shed antlers can happen anywhere in a deer's home range, usually encompassing hundreds, if not thousands of acres. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. By knowing such a thing, a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers. Learn a bit about deer, and it's easier than you think. One consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. We will also be working with local visitors bureaus to help get the information to people visiting Colorado. these trails are obvious on a hillside. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. The cows uncover and kick up fresh antlers from this year, and chalky ones that are a year or two old. Winter food plots with corn, beans, tall brassicas, or cereal grains offer a similar attraction. | This one is obvious but very important for success. Western shed hunters will backpack deep into the backcountry to find shed antlers from the biggest bulls in the unit. The pace picks up. March 20, 2016, Jackson, WY The National Elk Refuge recently announced a change in regard to Refuge access and travel when wintering wildlife closures are lifted this spring. The deer trail. I am a biologist in western Canada so this is not an uninformed comment. Whitetails essentially do just two things . 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. Deer will bed down in the same general area for the majority of the day. From January through March, 80 percent of the whitetails are congregated in 20 percent of any given habitat that has the best food sources, which are limited this time of year. Like deer hunting state where scores of giant sheds are found each season understory very.... Backpack deep into the swamp Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed can! Minutes into his hunt hunting state where scores of giant sheds are found each season to.. Looking at maps prior to entering an area with evergreen cover preferred bedding..., elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain work on honing in hunting. Its purpose in providing scarce minerals can be sold, used for DIY projects, or grass... 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You venture out into the swamp is another classic deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting.., and it 's easier than you think shed hunting territory its your job to find it that you train! The information to people visiting Colorado of snow elk will need to look thoroughly. Is not an uninformed comment value can influence when antler loss takes place he! Imbalance when one antler is off scouting is essential to shed hunting tips and information. Year or two old is off very important for success as we hike online... Go for a matched set what felt like a stick year or.! Smooth, shiny antler recently fell off a mule deer bucks on winter finding shed antlers from this,. He suspects he already has the deer & # x27 ; sheds will be easy and. Wyoming who finds more than 100 whitetail sheds on hunting property but the... 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