Shed Hunting: A Spring Ticket to a Great Fall Hunt

Few things spark a hunter’s imagination more than finding a huge, shed antler.  It’s a signal that a mature buck or bull survived the winter and may be in the same area next hunting season.  Barring an invasion of predators or a massive spring snowstorm, you can begin the scouting process in late spring and, with a bit of luck, locate an even larger bull or buck in the fall.

Scouting Suburban Areas

In suburban areas, shed hunting can land a special hunting spot.  Jeff Harrison, the man holding the sheds in the lead photo, used shed hunting as a means of securing new hunting properties.  He searched for large suburban home sites that abutted a creek, park, or wooded sanctuary where deer were likely to congregate and bed.  He carried a small antler and knocked on the homeowner’s door asking if he could search the back of their property for shed deer antlers.  Often, suburban dwellers don’t know that deer lose their antlers which usually resulted in a friendly chat.  Once permission was granted, Harrison searched the wooded areas and stopped to thank the landowner, especially if antlers were found.  This led to a friendly conversation about the ability to hunt the home’s back section in the fall.  Since a deer herd can eat $1,000 of shrubbery in a single night, he often was welcomed to help control the population.

Is it Legal?

As innocent as finding a shed antler seems, it may be illegal to collect them on certain public and Federal lands.  If you will be searching a park or state game lands, don’t risk getting a citation that can spoil your future hunting privileges.  Always check pertinent regulations first. Also, in Western regions, shed hunting is illegal at certain times of the year due to animal health concerns.  Deer and elk can be at the point of starvation by spring and allowing shed hunters into their habitat can cause their demise.

10 Shed Hunting Tips