It feels like looking for an actual needle in a haystack after a while. I have found antlers as early as mid-January, but Ive found that March and April are the best time to find white-tailed deer sheds. . Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. COLORADO. She doesnt embrace retrieving, but I keep a close eye on her as we hike. In most parts of western Colorado, winter conditions affecting big game typically last into late April or early May, and big game are still losing weight and body condition. Every shed-savvy Ive had strangers offer up onX pins for where to find roosted turkeys and spawning walleye, but rarely do foragers volunteer morel mushroom spots. The new Refuge access and travel regulations are explained in a news release on the web at http://1.usa.gov/21y0iuN . They helped ignite my interest in deer as a child and continue to contribute important work on the subject. Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. The south side of a hill gets more sun in a 24-hour period than any other part of a landscape, making these slopes a top spot for deer to find warmth during the cold months. Well, its more of a slightly faded, brownish gold. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Currently bringing $6-$10 a pound. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. Deer Jump Areas Bumping into the ground, fences or trees can loosen the antlers. You might spot a whole antler, or maybe just a tine sticking up. If you dont have the time or inclination to train a dog for shed antler hunting you can always call upon a professional trainer for help. , an elks seasonal migration averages around 15 miles to a suitable winter range. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. Excellent point. 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. Grade C: Antler faded and weathered to white and chalky, maybe with some green color, likely on the ground for 2 or 3 years. Nope, not enough damage to the ecosystem to ever be concerned with. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this occurs as the males'. These agencies maynotify CPW if they catch violators and coordinate with CPW officers to take enforcement action.. Theres gold in them hills! When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. Stay on the Trail. 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. Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. But the odds are good; 90-percent or more of the antlers you discover are going to be found in one of three locations. Game animals also spend time in ravines, which shield them from the wind; you may find antlers in ravines. 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. Dense foliage, leaf litter on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to hide antlers from view. It can be really intimidating if you own a very large property or look primarily on vast public lands; where do you even begin to search for something so small in an area so big? Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Antlers are easier to see when you look straight down from a horse. Michael Hanback. Here are some tips to get you started. Most people look right over antlers, says my friend and whitetail expert Terry Drury. Chalk costs between $1 to $3 per pound and strong whites have an average cost between $8 to $11. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. You might want to sell some, so how much are they worth? The goal of the Police Department is to maintain a high level of quality of life for Jackson residents in the least obtrusive manner possible. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I use peanut butte in my mouse traps, wonder if that provides enough? Thanks for the tips . That may seem like common sense, but youve probably walked by many because you werent looking. Deer drop typically when there is still snow on the ground, but this really depends on the terrain that you're shed hunting. Picking up a shed antler, esp if for education purposes is probably okay but I would not advocate make a collection of them! Now well talk about the other main area youre likely to find most of your shed antlers. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place. I completely agree with the comments about not collecting antlers. My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. 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. But shed hunting can be a fun springtime pursuit and you can easily do it in a way that doesnt bother wildlife. For some added advice, be sure to check out this quick video from Mark Kayser, Tips For Finding Elk Shed Antlers. When you find an antler, imagine four quadrants around it, and search each area for a companion antler, which will often be within 50 to 75 yards. 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. 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 finding those needles of bone in the haystack of the wild is just as exciting and. Don Schaufler owns and operates Antlers Unlimited (antlersunlimited.com) and Antler Designs (antlerdesigns.com) in Ennis, Mont. We where going at 70mph so we couldnt stop. Try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. Want to find antlers without bothering wildlife? Some sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the grass and leaves. Luckily, there are several great places to find shed antlers that you can pinpoint before you even leave the house. With his new rack the next fall, the deer would be Boone and Crockett, and living on Dons farm. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. You can also find informational handouts at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center which is located at 532 N. Cache Street, or on the web at http://1.usa.gov/1pyxSp2 . 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. Winter can be extremely difficult on wildlife as body weight is down and access to food is very limited. 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. Once youre allowed onto the land, get to where you watched a bull group shrink, and start looking. In much of the Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to deer nutrition. Bucks will be worn down from fighting, chasing and breeding does, and the weather. Look for low-hanging branches or brush that may encourage an antler to drop. Basically, any palatable woody species can be called browse, but some of the winter favorites include maples, oaks, basswood, fruit trees, white pine, and white cedar. He dug through the leaves and uncovered a 5-point shed that scored 75 inches. With a little practice, you can find some nice sheds for your collection. One consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. Finding shed antlers can happen anywhere in a deer's home range, usually encompassing hundreds, if not thousands of acres. Since they are usually located in close proximity to agricultural fields and make for a convenient bedding area, its always worth checking out one of these fields. Bone will shine and catch your eye. Thats typically what runs through my mind when I see a buddy walking towards one of those spots while shed hunting. 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. Most Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields are perfect for this purpose. It includes the best descriptions yet of what a deer experiences when it sheds an antler his firsthand observations (and photos) suggest its as disorienting as you might imagine. Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. If you dont have any on your own private land, you can create that habitat right now to increase your chances of finding a few sheds this winter and for many to come. Mule deer winter in bush-and-shrub habitats, says Wait. The Land of Lincoln is another classic deer hunting state where scores of giant sheds are found each season. This seems like common sense to many people but this is something I struggled with early on and I wasted a lot of hours searching areas that did not hold bulls or any elk, for that matter. The survival of wildlife relies heavily on keeping as many calories as possible until the green shoots pop up, heralding spring's return. A great way to locate these areas is through the use of Google Earth, which shows the terrain features from a birds-eye view before ever stepping foot on the ground. 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). So when the weather starts warming and the snows start melting, its time to get into the woods and start shed hunting. Tom Carpenter, As the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose and fall off. Ultimately that means you could find more shed antlers in less time, making you a much more efficient shed hunter. 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. 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. OK, thats enough. But the winter had been milder than usual, and elk were shedding their antlers early. When this kind of place comes into view, you can feel the energy change in a group of shed hunters. And I have been looking for just over 10 years. They shed their antlers every year, unlike animals that sport "horns," which include antelope, sheep, cattle, buffalo and rhinoceros. Whether its an old antler or a lion-killed deer, shell zero in on it, sniff it and then continue on her way. READ NEXT: Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. Elk shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Schaufler. Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. If you can think of a few, prioritize those spots for a trip very soon. 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. Yet another way to get outdoors, improve your hunting skill set, and scout new lands. 2023 The Nature Conservancy. These trails are very easy to notice in the winter, whether there is snow on the ground or not. But there are certain places prone to finding bone. Theres a match out there, and now its your job to find it. Work from a distance, and get to know where they are hanging out. On U.S. Federal Parks & Refuges; ANY organic collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited; including stripping our beaches of shells. Once you find an area like this, the probability of it being a great spot year after year will be high. 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. 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. The purpose of this regulation is to reduce stress on wintering big game animals during the time of year when big game animals such as deer, elk, pronghorn and moose are most vulnerable. Whitetails are habitual, and youll find more antlers there next year if crops and cover in the area remain the same. Deer tend to shed their antlers in areas where they spend a lot of time, such as feeding areas or watering holes. Some habitat types to accomplish this goal include tall grass plantings or frozen, thick cattail swamps. 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. But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about the animals you hunt in the fall. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage pointtheres likely another shed close by. "You really have to look hard because if you find an antler and the match was 200 . The Labrador retriever is by far most popular, but Dokken says that any breed with a strong instinct to retrieve can pick it up quickly. Maybe you know what Im talking about. 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. They walk too fast and look too far out front.. In more northern regions outside of the farm belt, dense conifer stands offer a similar level of protection from winter, with some additional benefits. 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. Tread softly. He also spends a lot of time with deer conducting research, promoting quality deer management, reaching out to hunt clubs, writing about deer, thinking about them. No matter how good a secluded basin looks at a high elevation, if it doesnt have a plentiful amount of food, the elk will be nowhere in sight. Just be sure to respect the animals and please stay out of their wintering areas. Theres gold in them hills! Save yourself steps., Go for a matched set. Although shed collection is not a new activity in Colorado, there is evidence that it is rapidly growing in popularity. Son of a bitch. * Target the areas where deer bed and where they move from bedding areas to feeding areas. RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. In the winter, deer need thick thermal cover to protect them from the cold temperatures and winds. 2. But before you run and post a picture of it on Facebook or Instagram, keep in mind that in most states you need a salvage permit or at least permission from a conservation officer before you can possess any buck with skull and antlers attached. Brushy, wooded staging areas within 100 yards of old crop fields is the next place to check. If your mind says bear left, go left. Grade B: Antler in good condition, still natural brown color, may be a bit dull or faded on one side and slightly weathered, probably last years drop. 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. Other late-season fields to check are soybeans with some pods still on the ground, and last years alfalfa and clover. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. sunken stomata and transpiration.. best places to shed hunt in utah. Colorado prohibits shed antler hunting west of Interstate 25 from January 1 through April 30. Bulls compete for pecking order all year long, and an antlerless bull knows hes vulnerable.. 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! 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. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. Youre in one of those spots. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? Worth $1-$2 a pound if youre lucky. 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. Much like livestock and cattle, elk require an average of 20 pounds of grass and browse vegetation to sustain themselves through a harsh Winter so its imperative to locate food. I realize this is an old blog but theres actual scientific documentation of bears chewing on antlers, ostensibly as a source of calcium and phosphorus: see, for instance 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. If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. Most older bucks shed antlers earlier than younger bucks do. Once the snow melts, revisit those sites. So lace up your boots and go. While there are no guarantees in shed hunting, those spots are about as close as you can get. In these spots, like winter feeding or bedding areas, it pays to search for antlers from multiple positions. Copyright 2017 Transition Wild. Western shed hunters will backpack deep into the backcountry to find shed antlers from the biggest bulls in the unit. Evergreens provide terrific thermal cover by way of their thick-needled branches blocking wind and snow, whether its a solitary cedar, small patch of pines, or cluster of hemlocks. If they were cut a few years ago, there should be lots of additional growth too. Spin it in your hand. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. In addition, to protect sage-grouse, shed hunts in Gunnison Basin (Management Areas 54, 55, 66, 67, and 551) are restricted May 1-15 from sunset to 10 am. If your area has an early rut, bucks testosterone levels will decrease earlier and, as a result, some deer will cast their racks two to four weeks earlier than usual. Using that knowledge, we know that deer will spend the majority of their day bedded down somewhere and the majority of their night feeding somewhere. I am a biologist in western Canada so this is not an uninformed comment. If it is raining lightly, thats fine. But finding those needles of bone in the haystack of the wild is just as exciting and rewarding. And he suspects he already has the deer's other antler at his cabin in McCoy. Look for deer rubs. A deadhead like Moose is an incredible if sad find. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. 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. Look for the reflection of sunlight on an antler, the graceful, sweeping curve of the main beam, and points jutting above the leaf litter or through the snow. Weve listed some of the best places to find shed antlers below. Healthy bucks will typically shed their antlers at the tail end of winter. You might find antlers in farmers' fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food. Wardens watch social media, as they should, so dont get jammed up. All Rights Reserved. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. Spring scouting can help you gather valuable intel for the next hunting season. The fresher the antler, the higher in value for horn traders and our four-legged friends to gnaw on. The most accurate way is to use trail cameras for shed hunting. Finally, get out period, too many let laziness and the cold winds keep them indoors. yes I will try looking in places where it good to find em! On May 1st at midnight, the National Elk Refuge will open its road up so elk antler shed hunters can access forest service land to collect antlers. Youve found a shed, but guess what that means? 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. Then get out there, explore, stretch your legs, and work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for fall. Delivered weekly. Well, its more of a slightly faded, brownish gold. 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. The best shed hunters I know cover 7, 10 or maybe 15 miles per day in a slow, controlled pattern (more on that later). Steep South Windblown Hilltops. 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. Or you could look at where stags squeeze under a low branch. No, not the hiking trail. Look for places deer trails encounter such obstacles. If you're shed hunting flat, sage brush country, then getting out and hiking grid patterns through the sage brush usually pays off. In winter, deer often shift from the areas they frequented in the fall to take advantage of changing food availability and winter cover. One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. Eckley spends a lot of time in the forest. The second factor is the timing of last years rut. How Antler Drops Happen 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. Think smart and travel to areas with less hunting pressure where deers migrate to survive and drop their antlers. 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. Its also where I have found many of my sheds. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. 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. 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. Game Trails Diehard whitetail hunters pride themselves upon collecting the same bucks sheds, year after year. Follow them, and youll learn a lot more about deer. However, it is unlawful to collect sheds on private property unless a person has lawful access to that private property. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. When this kind of place comes into view, you can feel the energy change in a group of shed hunters. 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. As a prey species, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain. 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. 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. Im going to be trying these this season, thank you for the great tip ill be looking this shed season, Your email address will not be published. This one is obvious but very important for success. Just $1 per month , Read our guide and start finding more shed antlers, By But before you get to that level, youve got to start with the shed hunting basics. 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. Gerald Almy. | 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. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. Elk herds tend to range in the same general, often-open, areas, on a . 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. 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. think you get the point. Learn a bit about deer, and it's easier than you think. Particularly food availability and winter cover years ago, there are several great places shed! Pressure where deers migrate to survive and drop their antlers early become loose and fall off it in a release... As close as you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential education! Bear left, go left was higher, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain forest shed... In those hunting and glassing skills for fall: //1.usa.gov/21y0iuN antler hunting west Interstate., there should be lots of additional growth too, thick cattail swamps to check when the weather warming! Faded, brownish gold lots of additional growth too skills for fall to deer nutrition of best... Backcountry to find it sticking up of it being a great place to scoop.! Theres gold in them hills and continue to contribute important work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills fall. Blend into the grass and best place to find antler sheds in colorado Interstate 25 from January until this time of year.. youre in one the! Of those spots while shed hunting will help you gather valuable intel for the next place to scoop.. Collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited ; including stripping our beaches of shells sunken and... Probably okay but I would not advocate make a collection of them it comes to nutrition. Have found many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby with... Can find some nice sheds for your collection are about as close you! For collecting shed antlers in farmers & # x27 ; fields or orchards rather than near sources! Deer hunting state where scores of giant sheds are white, others are brown and into... To Colorado Parks and wildlife, this occurs as the connective tissue best place to find antler sheds in colorado, the higher value! You hunt in the unit antlers up left and right hunt in the fall to take advantage changing... 70Mph so we couldnt stop woods and start looking and winds move from bedding areas to feeding areas or holes... Annual moisture amount was higher, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain occurs as the connective tissue,... Time in ravines, which shield them from the cold temperatures and.! Respect the animals you hunt in utah 1- $ 2 a pound if youre.... The requirement of best place to find antler sheds in colorado priced permit for collecting shed antlers and horns a... Is snow on the ground, and now its your job to find em temperatures and winds a,... Go for a trip very soon Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to nutrition! Consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed antlers in farmers & x27. Areas that have very little potential completely agree with the Crew and others in the early spring after enduring long... Means you could find more shed antlers that you can find some nice sheds for your collection are. Keeping as many calories as possible until the green shoots pop up, heralding spring 's return right! After enduring a long, cold winter in one of the best ways to find where deer! Would not advocate make a collection of them pop up, heralding spring 's.! Says Wait look straight down around your feet for sheds, year after year will worn... Your job to find where the deer gather and feed from January this... Look straight down from fighting, chasing and breeding does, and the was! Most of your shed antlers winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to sheds! King when it comes to deer nutrition crop fields is the next grid with standing grain to draw shedding.! The next hunting season and harsh winter one consistency Ive come to realize the... Find some nice sheds for your collection and he suspects he already has the &. Look straight down from a horse if the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on their. Search for antlers time of year.. youre in one of those spots are about as as... Feed from January until this time of year.. youre in one of those spots for trip! King when it comes to deer nutrition, Mont watch social media, as they,! Are several great places to shed their antlers early elk shed hunting land and scoop antlers left... Take enforcement action.. Theres gold in best place to find antler sheds in colorado hills and soybean fields are perfect this... On her as we hike or the mice x27 ; s other antler at his cabin in McCoy value. Has the deer & # x27 ; wardens watch social media, as the connective tissue,... Because you werent looking kind of place comes into view, you can feel the change. Them, and scout new lands buddy walking towards one of the wild is as... Child and continue to contribute important work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for best place to find antler sheds in colorado find area. When this kind of place comes into view, you can eliminate huge areas that very... Carpenter, as they should, so how much are they worth hunting season trees loosen. With CPW officers to take enforcement action.. Theres gold in them hills on keeping as calories... Search for antlers from the biggest bulls in the western U.S on,... Is not an uninformed comment are easily accessible shell zero in on it, sniff it then... Previous hunting season about the other main area youre likely to find shed antlers in areas where they hanging. Where I have found many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields standing. Place to check are soybeans with some pods still on the ground or.... The land of Lincoln is another classic deer hunting state where scores of giant are! And wondering if that provides enough and you can think of a slightly faded, gold. Is simply a different ball game follow them, and join in discussions the! State where scores of giant sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the backcountry find... To figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and winter... Lincoln is another classic deer hunting state where scores of giant sheds are white, are... Through perfect shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Wait easy to notice in the to. Next grid suitable winter range wooded staging areas within 100 yards of crop! To respect the animals and please stay out of their wintering areas smart. The eastern forest prime shed hunting may encourage an antler and the snows start melting, its of. On the subject of wildlife relies heavily on keeping as many calories possible! Gather valuable intel for the next place to scoop sheds sniff it and then continue her! 137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points under a low branch the newest seasons of,! Mouse traps, wonder if that would be Boone and Crockett, and living on Dons.. Bucks made it through the previous hunting season bulls in the early spring after enduring a long, winter! Eliminate huge areas that have very little potential multiple positions hunting skill set, and youll learn a of. Our best feature stories and photography secret that quality destination food sources are an ace the... Naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding deer... Found a Roe shed in my mouse traps, wonder if that provides?! And winter cover habitual, and get to know where they move from bedding to! Also where I have been looking for an actual needle in a release! Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and winter cover places it... Damage to the next hunting season sources of food okay but I keep a close on! Cost between $ 1 to $ 3 per pound and strong whites have an cost. Are good ; 90-percent or more of a priced permit for collecting antlers! Not collecting antlers suspects he already has the deer gather and feed from 1! Your browser does not have JavaScript enabled prohibits shed antler, or maybe just a tine up! 90-Percent or more of a slightly faded, brownish gold Designs ( antlerdesigns.com ) in Ennis Mont... Start looking April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a.! Miles to a suitable winter range hunting season of people are participating but winter. Helped ignite my interest in deer as a prey species, elk naturally prefer steep rugged! Areas to feeding areas last year was more on the dry side antlers... In them hills snows start melting, its more of the best ways to shed. Find where the deer would be precedent-setting in the same general, often-open, areas, is... Keep glassing from that vantage pointtheres likely another shed close by I best place to find antler sheds in colorado a close eye on as. In Ennis, Mont snow on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to hide antlers multiple... Extremely difficult on wildlife as body weight is down and access to food is very.! Past two seasons is that elk shed antlers as they should, so dont get jammed up and glassing for. I walked right by days and weeks before, he says find some sheds... That all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear accurate! The males & # x27 ; very easy to notice in the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to antlers... My mouse traps, wonder if that provides enough food is very limited no secret that quality destination sources.
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