Shed antlers from the deer family are among the most unique appendages in nature. It’s easy to take for granted that an animal grows a bone the size of your arm (or leg) annually and then it just falls off in less than a year. Discarded antlers, commonly called “sheds” are fun to find for a variety of reasons, especially if you are after a known buck with a unique rack. First, it’s great to know that it has survived the most difficult part of the winter and not killed by a late-season hunter, hit by a car, or succumbed to depredation. Equally exciting, the special find of a known deer antler begins the process anew even though deer season is many months away. Finally, sheds are fun to find and give you a reason to hike in the deer woods where you can check on the status of your herd.
One Caution
Shed hunting is often thought of in terms of whitetail deer, yet elk, mule deer, and moose also follow the same antler growing and shedding process. Western and Northern shed hunters should keep in mind the current snow conditions when searching. Idaho just closed all public lands to shed hunting so that animals, elk especially, are not stressed by human pressure. Record snows accumulation has put many deer and elk at the limits of endurance and conservation minded sportsmen must keep this in mind.
On the positive side, deer in suburban neighborhoods usually do very well despite snow accumulations by eating expensive shrubbery that can cost homeowners thousands of dollars. Often, adjoining back lots can be ideal hunting areas if you can gain permission and one way to break the ice is to ask permission to hunt shed antlers. Many suburbanites will not know what they are which is the perfect opportunity to educate them on deer biology and demonstrate your knowledge as a hunter and conservationist. Once done, the chances are very positive that you’ll be invited back to help prevent future shrubbery damage.
If you are new to shed hunting or not being successful, this post from the Realtree website will get you on the right track:
Shed Envy. It’s a common condition felt this time of year by avid whitetail hunters across the country and it has the potential to reduce productivity at work, spoil appetites and ruin an otherwise good day. The cause? A lack of shed-hunting success, followed by frequent viewings of the monster sheds your friends are finding and posting on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. And that trend is about to get a whole lot more active when the Shed Rally kicks off on March 7 — see below for details.
If you find yourself stressing about the possibility of enduring another case of shed envy this year, we’re here to help. With the advice of a few expert shed hunters, we’ve compiled this list of 10 reasons why you’re not finding more sheds. Study up and then hit the woods. And, this year, you just might be the envy of the Rally.
