The Secret to Finding More Sheds

The sight of greening grass pretty much means the end of shed antler season for me. With it I have found a good hand-full of nice sized antlers and some great ideas of where to look next year. I put a lot of miles on my boots every year looking for sheds and really enjoy it for a couple of reasons: 1) to search a hunting area for next years prospects while scouting the land. 2) Or to just look for antlers in highly populated deer areas. 90% of the antlers that I find are in areas that I don’t hunt or where hunting isn’t allowed though. Some of the greatest hunting areas just don’t have the habitat that will hold bucks late in the year.

I start my season by trying to keep tabs on the bucks in Dec. and Jan. The rut is long gone and the bucks become more pattern-able by seeking food sources, looking to replenish for the long winter ahead. I start looking for core bedding areas and food sources. Place cameras in highly populated areas and note the dates when you start getting pictures of bucks that have shed. I have learned that it pays to completely scour a spot if you know that there were bucks in the area. If it is your first time out, be patient and thorough. If possible, start with an aerial and make a plan to methodically cover the entire piece. If the buck was in your area you should be able to find his antlers, and if you find one then slow your search down to look for the matching antler which is usually within 300 yards. The bigger bucks tend to drop earlier and usually closer together than bucks that are 2.5 years old or younger.

Does weather factor into finding more shed antlers? With out a doubt!! The obvious situation would be with the amount of snow. I also throw an average sized antler on the south facing side of my yard in the winter as a snow gauge…if it buried then there is no point in looking. Too much snow makes for a pointless search but in some cases I prefer to have a 2-3 inch snow cover. This will eliminate a million little sticks that look like antlers. The less obvious one is clouds or sun. The most ideal day late in the season is a cloudy day after a rain. All of the leaves are matted down and there are less of the shadows that make scanning through the brush nearly impossible. On a good cloudy day it’s as if you can look right through the brush to the ground.

I also can’t stress enough to gain access before you hike. Shed antler hunting has become quite popular and permission is required just as if you were going to go bow hunting on the property. Ask before you go and start a good rapport with the owner, it may lead to a great hunting spot in the fall.

My total for the year is 14 sheds including 2 match sets. Most were 4pt sides with a few bigger and a few smaller. I always wish it were more but that will have to do until next year. My boots are worn out and it is time to start fishing! Good luck hunting and feel free to share your finds here on IN-DEPTH OUTDOORS, we always like to see a good antler!