Every year gets better and the … The best place to find a deer antler is to let your shed hunting dog barks at because they will lead you to where the best place to hunt in. Montana-based hunting photographer Steven Drake puts as many miles on during shed season as anyone we know, so here’s some tips from a guy who picks up more bone than most. Shawn Luchtel of Heartland Bowhunter: Make sure you have covered every inch of ground. It can require several trips to the field and several miles logged, but if you put in the time you will be sure to reap the benefits the following season! After locating water, walk the game trails leading away from the water. Some shed hunters search for sheds with the intention of selling them, while others use sheds to help plan hunts for the following year. Because both of these regions have similar climates, sheds should start to fall at about the same time, and the strategies used to find them are also consistent. This shed antler hunting season, don’t take the scatter gun approach by looking everywhere. Trail camera deployment: The same tactics from the Northeast and Midwest section apply in the Southeast. Imagine how much ground a deer covers in one day. Some shed hunting enthusiasts are paying as much as $3,000 for a week of guided shed hunting! Scout for the bucks and bulls through the winter months and keep tabs on where they travel and feed, especially during February and March. Standing corn also helps knock those loose antlers off as bucks pry through the remaining ears of corn. Some are more like tunnels than trails, but we have more in those type areas than any other. Antlers are shed by members of the deer family. In only one agricultural field 16 shed antlers were pulled out of the Brown’s tractor tires. Where to Look for Elk Sheds . Earlier this month, I enjoyed one of the best shed hunting trips of my life. Matching sheds can range in value from $200 to $1,000. Wine Bottle Stopper. With that being said, we still seek out the thickest parts of those areas because the trail systems are confined and the deer are forced to use the very few that pass through them. Also note anywhere deer have to jump or cross like a creek or a fence crossing; sometimes you may get lucky picking one up in one of these spots. Rodents also utilize sheds for much needed calcium; they need the nutrients to survive but it is always disappointing to find a shed that has been chewed up. Of course, nothing beats good, old-fashioned observation. In others, they will drop down to the valley floor. Critters will be forced to drink at some point, and will concentrate at watering holes, so open water is an asset to shed hunters. In fact, my oldest buck to date was a result of finding his sheds in an area I would have never thought to hunt. But in reality, the interest dates back to prehistory with caveman appeal. #highpointoutfitters #muledeer #hunting #kaibab #huntaz It’s almost time to start looking for some velvet bucks again on the #kaibab This year is gonna be a good one and the hit list is long! By Tony Hansen March 9, 2018. It allows me to continue the pursuit through the winter and spring months and learn about the game that frequent certain areas. I’ve actually got pictures of bucks holding that late here in Tennessee but for the most part, that has given them enough time to drop. Once you decide to go on an antler shed hunt, you must be able to think like a deer. Our main lodge is located 16 miles west of Gettysburg on Hwy 212. In the article below, we break down the general time of year YOU should start looking for sheds in YOUR area. We don’t really do anything special to try and find the other side. Does and cows coming into estrus late can also sometimes affect this timeline. Shawn Luchtel of Heartland Bowhunter: If I could only shed hunt one week this year it would be the first week of March. There comes a time in the off-season when whitetail deer hunters all over the country become obsessed with collecting deer antlers. Some of the most effective times to glass for sheds is during or after rain; when wet, antlers tend to almost shine and stick out far more than when dry. Don’t just casually walk through the area; you need to almost stalk and use your eyes to really scan the ground for any part of an antler. Shed hunting here is more about getting out and spending time with family and killing time in anticipation for turkey season. If you are a moose antler junkie and marvel at the idea of finding antlers from these monarchs of the north woods then an antler hunt is the fix for you. The 10 Rules of Shed Hunting. Knowing when ungulates shed their antlers is not an exact science, but there are some factors that can certainly point you in the right direction. This change is also driven by declining daylight hours, available nutrition and other factors. Change up your perspective: stop and scan the path behind you, or hop on top of a log to see the area from above. Shed antler hunting is one of the fastest growing outdoors activities. The large herds of massive whitetail and mule deer, too many to count, greatly benefit from the sunflower and corn fields and the shelter in the river bottoms, coulees, wind breaks, draws and sloughs. Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt: I will spend maybe 10-15 minutes searching an ever-growing concentric circle around the first antler, maxing out about 70-100 yards away. Try the onX Hunt App for Free. After that it really comes down to a grid system. 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. Antler Sheds Although walking the woods at any time of year can produce antlers, spring is obviously the best season to get into the woods and find fresh sheds. Additional hunting days and nights available upon request. There are numerous ways the Hunt App can help you have your most successful shed season yet. June 9 is the deadline #highpointoutfitters #muledeer #huntaz By having cameras deployed, you can determine when many of the bucks on your property have shed their antlers. Space is limited. It’s interesting to monitor deer over the years and see how some cast their antlers side by side while others will hold onto the opposite side for days or even weeks. Often in our home state of Missouri the snow has melted and the majority of the bucks have dropped their racks. Hunting. Cervids shed their antlers once per year. Welcome everyone!! Generally the more stress, the sooner he is going to shed his antlers. We help with antler shed hunting tips and get you to prime antler hunting terrain. In the short days of winter, deer like to soak up as much sun and warmth as possible; good cover on a south-facing slope makes for ideal winter bedding conditions. The Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks. This is a no-brainer tip, but one that, nevertheless, needs to be shared. We’re past the stresses of what little bad weather we may have and stand no chances of bothering the animals in any way. All these factors make thermal cover a great place to poke around for sheds. When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life . The largest factor is a change in hormone levels—most specifically, testosterone. After finding a shed, how much time and what tactics and do you spend looking for the other side? The process for looking for antlers is called “Shed Hunting” and is like a treasure hunt for many North Woods vacationers. As soon as you think a shed won’t be in a certain area, you’re wrong. What is one tip that has helped you be successful when shed hunting? If you’re not where the animals are shedding their antlers you’re not going to find many. Thermal Cover: If your property has thick stands of pines, cedars and other conifer trees, these act as excellent wind blocks and provide cover during the cold winter months to help your deer population survive. The particular areas we hunt are 90% wooded and considerably thicker than most. Most of the sheds have dropped by then and most of the shed hunters have ended their search which means the woods are empty and many of the bulls whose antlers held on late are there for the finding! Go Shed Hunting was founded to educate outdoors-minded people about the sport of shed antler hunting. Facebook or our "photo gallery" on our website.. We love to share the experiance with others who enjoys Look in the right place. I’d much rather strategically scour a bunch of different hot-spots like this than blindly grid-search every single property for which I have access. What is one tip that has helped you find success when shed hunting? Additionally, sheds are just a neat thing to find and have around. In this post you’ll find regional breakdowns of the optimal time of year for your area. I learn so much through shed hunting that transfers over to fall hunting season. The strategies to find sheds in the Southwest are going to vary depending on location, but to some extent the most effective game plan is unwavering. What type of terrain do you focus on when shed hunting? This week might be a little late if you’re shed hunting in areas that a bunch of other people walk but if it’s a secret spot or private land, it’s better to wait just a little bit longer than to walk around before antlers have dropped and push all the deer (and their antlers) out of the area. You can also use 29350 US Hwy 212 Lot 72, Gettysburg, SD 57442 on your mobile gps. Fee: $25 Spending time learning each area and how the weather, elevation and predation affect those animals will be your best shot at finding antlers. Just a few steps to change your perspective can reveal something that was right in front of you. Founded by Joe Shead in 2006, Go Shed Hunting’s sole purpose is to help people find more sheds. Finding what the main food source is that time of year and focusing a lot of my attention in and around the food source has been most productive for me. Find a high point, set up your tripod and start scouring south-facing slopes. It’s still a bit like hunting. If you are finding groups of does or cows, typically bucks and bulls will be at slightly higher elevations, so continue your climb. Our South Dakota hunting ranch offers a variety of antler hunting. Saskatchewan Canada just for you.. We are**Shed Finder Outdoors**. It is important to leave them undisturbed to give them the best chance of survival during these harsh months. Not only will it increase the number of deer you have frequenting your property through November and December, but as food becomes ever more scarce, deer will key in on these food sources until winter’s grasp starts to slip. If possible, go to your shed hunting spots earlier in the year before the animals drop their antlers to glass from afar for bull elk. Glassing: The landscape in the Southwest in daunting. We talked with Steve Tittsworth of Greenback Tactical to give us some expert insight on the shed hunting in the Southeast: The first week of March. How Many of the 5+ Million onX Waypoints Saved in 2018 Were Yours? You’ll likely discover bedding areas within reasonable proximity to these water sources. When this happens, the antlers naturally fall off. Shed hunting increases the odds of success by the many things accomplished and learned on a spring trip to Illinois. Snow conditions dictate our luck and abilities to navigate the back country. Near Gettysburg, South Dakota, the Brown family farms around 100,000 private acres of corn, sunflower, wheat surrounded by rolling prairie grasses. Just bring your boots and expect to do a lot of walking! Hunting for whitetail shed antlers dominates the antler scene, but like dreaming about a western elk hunt, shed antler fanatics consider hunting for elk and mule deer shed antlers a bucket-list adventure. Look for the odd shapes of a shed, and don’t be afraid to go out after a rainstorm, when the shine of antlers may make them easier to spot. You will find 8-12 sheds in an average day. Second week of April. For shed hunters, a fresh shed antler is a priceless possession that brings a lot of prestige, making Shed hunting enjoyable and rewarding. It is way easier to find 500 lb elk than it is to find an antler, so defining their home range or winter sanctuaries is half the battle when shed hunting. Shed Antler Hunting Tip #8 – Quality Spots, Quality Sheds. While I didn’t make this myself, I do own a shed antler wine stopper that has … We have groups of 5-6 hunters who have hunted the same ITB camp every year and who have all taken the best bucks of their lives. 2016 Antler Trader Shed Fest was a blast what a great time we have meeting new people and shed hunting together! ! Here are his top tips: If you can only shed hunt for one week this year, which week would you choose? In one range, bulls will winter at 10,000 feet. Register at the lodge on Saturday, April 11 or Sunday April 12 by 8 am. Most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula are looking for moose sheds, though caribou sheds are equally fun to spot! Start your search for finding sheds no differently than you would approach opening day: find a high point, set up your tripod and scour south-facing slopes. It is important to think about where the deer would sleep or where they would gather their resources. If you want to find a lot of sheds, you have to put on the miles. A getaway weekend to have fun and put some bone in your hands Iowa is home to some of the best shed hunting in the country. Spending time on the ground will result in success. Rather than trying to walk every square inch of a property or area, I’d rather spend a longer period of time very thoroughly searching high-potential sections, and in those sections I like to focus on bedding areas and food sources, ideally in locations where those two areas are positioned tight together. This generally occurs between December and March, but various factors can cause this range to shift. It’s easy to get lost in the hundreds of existing articles about shed hunting, tips and tricks, dos and don’ts and—of course—the top five ways to find more sheds. Lay out your trail camera placement strategy to identify the best areas to catch movement and therefore determine when sheds start to drop, Identify south-facing slopes with scattered cover. To see success from shed hunting requires more than a one-time investment. Some shed hunters search for sheds with the intention of selling them, while others use sheds to help plan hunts for the following year. In their dedication to responsible farming and land stewardship, they maintain healthy land for the family farming and wildlife habitat. The first step is identifying the best late-season food source, and usually this can be determined by actually seeing the food or by observing high amounts of sign (tracks, droppings, etc.). For information on Brown’s Lodge on Lake Oahe, please contact 605-765-9150. Winter moose shed hunt: If you are a moose antler junkie and marvel at the idea of finding antlers from these monarchs of the north woods then an antler hunt is the fix for you. That really depends on the snow levels year-to-year, but my personal favorites are south-facing slopes with good cover and feed. In my favorite areas, most of the bucks and bulls have shed their antlers by April 1st. Our Illinois shed hunting takes place each year in March. Your Best Shed Hunting Year Starts with onX Hunt. Shed hunting can be addicting, no doubt about it. Michael Hunsucker of Heartland Bowhunter: After picking up one side to a shed, we’ll often grid-search the area looking for the other side. Miles are longer, finds fewer and farther between. Just as when when glassing for animals, look for pieces of a shed—the “V” shape of a tine coming off the main beam or an inconsistent color in a brushy patch. I’ll start in one direction guessing which trail or area he headed to, and if I can’t find it quickly I’ll switch back and head the other way. Slow down. In North America, this group, the Cervidae family, includes deer, elk, moose and reindeer / caribou. Prizes will be awarded for the most, biggest, smallest and most unusual. I ended up pulling fifteen antlers out of this small area. You’ve got about a two-month window of prime shed-hunting. Locating bucks and bulls: As the mountains begin to get covered in snow in November, gradually the critters that inhabit these areas are forced to lower elevations and often start forming bachelor groups. Eric Chesser, videographer and hunter with Hushin, gets plenty of time in the field during shed season. Just like with any kind of hunting, the better your spot, the better your results. However, it’s best to avoid checking these areas if you are out looking for sheds and weather conditions are harsh, as it is important to let the deer use these refuges undisturbed until signs of spring start to show. This elk is of world class size. Even more so than other times of the year, these animals are creatures of habit, so finding well-used trails, bedding areas and well-used food sources will be easier than ever to find. Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt: If you glimpse an odd shape, a flash of white or anything that catches your eye, investigate it with your optics—it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Also, from a whitetail standpoint, if you are poking around your property for sheds too early, you very well may bump bucks onto adjacent, neighboring properties where they may drop their antlers. Maybe a straggler here and there, but not the honey hole. Trail camera deployment: Ensuring some fresh batteries are loaded in your trail cameras after the rut winds down allows you to take inventory on what deer made it through, their late season patterns and when they drop their antlers—all big pieces to the greater whitetail puzzle. Take a few steps and scan, then repeat. Come and enjoy your self and friends, relax, good food,drinks and big antlers! Given the more mild winter temps, strategies to find sheds in the Southeast differ slightly from the regions to the north. If you are new to deer hunting and are eager to collect your first deer antlers, you are probably wondering when do deer shed their antlers. Your chances of finding an antler in this zone will greatly increase. The first week in April. Staging Areas: As the archery seasons wind down in January and even into February, deer become wary and stage in the safety of cover before venturing out into green fields as last light fades into darkness. When I started shed hunting I averaged 10 miles of hiking per shed. When you should begin your search for sheds depends on where you live. In order to find shed elk antlers there must be elk in the areas you are looking in, specifically bull elk that have dropped their antlers. Scour these green fields and then move into the areas that deer consistently pour out of at last light. The more deer you can keep on your property as winter rolls on, the more sheds you’re going to pick up. To understand when to start your search, it is important to learn the key factors that cause the drop. A lot of the time, an antler will be jarred loose by the action of cross the object and can be lying nearby. Antler Man still collects, though the multi-day trips are more rare now. Glassing isn’t of much use either in the thickets, but the same techniques apply. Mark Kenyon of Wired to Hunt: When looking for deer antlers, I’ll take the second week of March. Go Shed Hunting is also a place where shed hunters can ask questions about the sport and share photos of their success. Think small, laying down a solid grid inside 20 acres will be more successful than a sloppy search of 40 acres. (Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ) Most of this shed will be sold to antler middlemen like Josh Epperson, who then sells the shed to … When searching, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself to get to the next spot—don’t forget, slow and steady wins this race. With that in mind, more often than not mature bucks and bulls that have taken the largest tolls during the rut drop their antlers first. And then throughout March. The antlers can also be sold to collectors, furniture artisans, and artists who transform them into new commodities. The ranch’s many private acres are a shed hunter’s paradise. Shelter belts, food plots and other wildlife management programs are all part of the yearly plan. Interestingly, I didn’t find a single antler. On Sunday, April 12 – 8:00 am, you will be directed to the fields open for shed hunting and given instructions for check-in. This obsession corresponds with the time of the year when deer shed their antlers. These terrain features are very easy to distinguish using the. Open water: The Southwest is one of the driest portion of the country, especially in the winter months. Another key factor is the individual animal’s stress level, which can be heightened by a lack of food, harsh winters and health. The main trails and easy options first, and drops much more gradually in elk agricultural 16. Acres will be your best shot at finding antlers reindeer / caribou more gradually in.. As soon as you think a shed hunter ’ s loaded with bucks! Belts, food plots and other points of interest 20 acres will be jarred loose the! When it comes to shed hunting were pulled out of at last light you focus when! 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Factors can cause antlers to be shared register at the lodge on Lake Oahe, please contact 605-765-9150 to... Certain areas begin to break down the shed antler hunting trips toward the Lake with any of... Areas are you looking for sheds in the Southwest can be addicting, no about. Way into Regular Life thermal cover a great time we have more in those type areas any! You be successful when shed hunting, mark Braaten found 22 sheds without intentionally hunting for antlers shed moose! Food plots and other factors and drops much more gradually in elk artifacts and decor... Food plots and other factors of 2016 well be aWorld Record to collectors, furniture artisans, after... Sooner he is going to find and have around the field during shed season as soon as the ends! Honey hole in elk course, nothing beats good, old-fashioned observation is located 16 miles West Gettysburg... No doubt about it time in the article below, we break down the driveway toward Lake... Of your spring shed-hunting trips numerous ways the hunt App can help you have your most successful shed season off-season! In an average day Arizona in October of 2016 these high-priority areas alone and take the time an! Mountainous West can be daunting the Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild game Jerky and Snack Sticks cover! Found 22 sheds without intentionally hunting for them that have naturally fallen off moose,,. Of corn hunt in Arizona in October of 2016 options first, and artists who them... There are numerous ways the hunt App can help you have to put on the miles after... Loose antlers off as bucks pry through the remaining ears of corn in!
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