For some, finding an antler shed is just a bonus for hiking off-trail and getting outside. For others, hunting shed antlers can make serious money. Regardless of your motivation, consider this your guide on everything about shed antlers, including how to find them.
- Is it legal to pick up antlers?
- When do deer shed their antlers?
- Why do deer shed their antlers?
- Where do deer shed their antlers?
- Where is the best place to find shed antlers?
- How to find antlers
- Why do deer grow antlers in the first place?
- Why do people look for antlers?
- What can you do with shed antlers?
- How do I score shed antlers?
1. Is it legal to pick up antlers?
Well, that all depends on where you live. Each state has its own rules about when, where, and what you can pick up. Some states let you pick up antlers only in the spring. Some states don’t allow you to keep antlers attached to the skull (deadheads). To comply with the myriad regulations, check your local fish and game website for the rules, which seem to change and get more strict each year.
2. When do deer shed their antlers?
Whitetail deer typically shed their antlers between January and April, although the exact timing can vary depending on factors such as the individual deer’s age, health, and location. Older bucks tend to shed their antlers earlier than younger bucks, and deer in northern regions may shed later than those in southern regions. Shedding is triggered by changes in hormone levels, and once the antlers have been shed, the deer will begin growing a new set in preparation for the next breeding season. The earlier you can get into the hills the better.
3. Why do deer shed their antlers?
Whitetail deer shed their antlers each year as part of their natural life cycle. Once the rut, or breeding season, is over, the antlers have served their purpose and are no longer needed, so the deer shed them. Shedding also allows the deer to conserve energy and resources during winter when food can be scarce. The antlers will grow back in the spring, typically bigger and stronger than the previous year, as the deer prepare for the next fall. The shedding of antlers is a normal and natural process that helps ensure the continued health and survival of the whitetail deer population.
4. Where do deer shed their antlers?
Whitetail deer shed their antlers wherever they happen to be when the shedding process occurs. This can be in a variety of locations, such as in a wooded area, a field, or near a stream. Deer typically spend the winter months in areas where they have access to food and shelter, so antlers are often shed in these areas. However, because antlers can become burdensome as they begin to loosen and fall off, deer may also seek out more open areas or locations with low-hanging branches or bushes to help remove the antlers. Once the antlers are shed, they can be found on the ground where the deer was located when they fell off.
5. Where is the best place to find shed antlers?
The best place to find shed whitetail antlers depends on various factors, such as terrain and food sources. However, here are a few tips to increase your chances of finding shed antlers. Look in areas where deer spend a lot of time, namely near food and cover near fields or wooded areas. Search along travel routes and trails between feeding and bedding areas. Look for areas where trails converge or where deer have to jump or duck under obstacles, such as fences or fallen trees. Fencelines are my personal favorite.
6. How to find antlers
Instead of burning nothing by boot leather, let your eyes do the walking. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to scan hillsides, open areas, and fields. This is especially helpful in finding elk antlers. Shed hunting can require a lot of time and effort, and it may take some time to find your first shed antler. Keep at it and be patient.
7. Why do deer grow antlers in the first place?
Bucks use antlers to compete for and attract does during the breeding season. Antlers are a secondary sexual characteristic, meaning they are a physical trait that helps deer to signal their strength and health to potential mates. Bucks with larger and more impressive antlers are generally seen as more attractive to does and are more likely to be selected as mating partners. To be fair, I have never personally interviewed a doe to corroborate this claim.
Antlers help bucks beat the crap out of each other and keep rival bucks away from a hot doe. Bucks will often engage in physical battles with each other to establish their dominance and gain chances to pass on their seed. Antlers can be used as weapons in these fights, and larger antlers can give a buck an advantage over his rivals. Antlers can also be used by deer to defend themselves against predators, although this is a secondary function. Once the rut is over, the antlers are no longer needed and will be shed, making way for a new set of antlers to grow in preparation for the next breeding season.
8. Why do people look for antlers?
To be clear, most people don’t look for antlers. Most of us stumble upon them while we’re working or playing in the woods. But for those who make it their passion to find these little woodland treasures, the reasons are vast. For some, shed hunting is a hobby or a recreational activity, similar to bird watching or hiking. Others look for shed antlers as a way to decorate their homes or cabins. Shed antlers can be used to make furniture, chandeliers, and other decorative items. They can also be used to make hunting calls, knife handles, or other items. Some people look for shed antlers as a way to supplement their income. Shed antlers can be sold to companies that use them for various purposes, such as dog chews, supplements, or natural decorations.
9. What can you do with shed antlers?
Native Americans used antlers for a variety of tools, but today, antlers are more decoration than utilitarian. Crafty folks make chandeliers, lamps, or wall art. You can also use them to create unique furniture pieces, such as coffee tables or coat racks. Antlers can be used to make grunt calls or for rattling, which can attract deer during hunting season. Most of my antlers end up a decoration in the backyard until the dog finds them. Then they become little brown piles of joy in the spring.
10. How do I score shed antlers?
Some serious shed hunters like to keep score, which means they measure the antlers they find. The North American Shed Hunters Club is an organization that keeps track of the biggest sheds and provides the instructions and score sheets you need to score a shed should you choose to do that. If you happen to find a set on intact antlers still attached to a dead deer, then you can score that deer using the Boone and Crockett scoring system, which you can find here.
