Searching for shed antlers is an excellent way to scout for next season. Although you will be looking for “white gold” among leaves and branches, be on the lookout for rubs and scrapes from last year. Also, don’t be surprised if you find fresh rutting signs in February and March. While turkey hunting in mid-April, I encountered a cedar tree rubbed bare with fresh pieces of bark on the ground. This buck held its antlers and displayed signs of its dominance into April.
Read the Regulations
Eastern hunters may be surprised to learn that some Western states have seasons for shed hunting. Large elk and mule deer antlers are valuable. Humans entering wintering areas where big game animals have exhausted most of their energy can threaten their survival and make them more vulnerable to predators. Even in Eastern habitats, be mindful of your deer herd’s health. Does are in the final months of pregnancy and have had to dodge coyotes, bobcats, and emerging black bear populations.
The Perfect Ice Breaker
Jeff Harrison, the man holding the two sheds in the lead photo, taught me this trick. If there is a farm or ranch that you want to hunt but are nervous about asking permission, ask the landowner if you can hunt sheds. You may gain permission and learn the property’s true potential even if the land is posted. Likewise, if you know of suburban estates with big buck potential, knock on the homeowner’s door and ask to hunt sheds. For urbanites, having a small antler may help them know what you are talking about. You can thank them and return a month later to ask and search again with the potential of hunting in the fall, now that you have been acquainted. Check out this video if you need a little motivation to brave the cold weather.
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