MidWest Quarterly Article

Shed Hunting

Winter '09

As we move through late winter and into spring, many hunters once again roam field and forest on a different kind of hunt, a hunt for shed antlers.In the Midwest where deer populations are prolific, shed hunting is a worthwhile, productive and fun late-season pastime.The excitement of finding the very headgear that intimidates even experienced hunters has drawn increasingly more people to take an interest in this activity (along with the fact that there is not much else to do when you live in the middle of nowhere!)Lack of open ground and scattered deer populations can make shed hunting considerably less productive in other parts of the country.

Typically from mid to late February on is an excellent time to start looking for shed antlers.In the Midwest, one has to wait for the spring thaw and the snow to melt in order to see the gleaming white antlers lying in a field, which is usually in early March. The weather conditions also play a major role in when deer drop their antlers.Especially harsh winters can cause deer to shed antlers early because the body is trying to conserve all possible nutrition and energy.

Until recently, I never had much luck finding shed antlers.Maybe it’s because I wasn’t as committed as some who systematically walk a grid-like pattern, or because I didn’t have a dog that would sniff them out and retrieve them like downed birds.Because I did not grow up in “shed hunting country”, I had to learn these secrets from others.Some of the veteran shed hunters have taught me a few tricks that have really improved my success in finding more sheds each season, and these tips I will pass on to you.

First, carry some quality binoculars or a spotting scope with you. These optics allow you to scan hundreds of acres of without having to walk them, making you more efficient and also reducing a lot of useless footwork.Of course, if you prefer the low-fat version you can always leave your binoculars at home. Spend some time scanning crop fields from a high vantage point (in larger fields, the spotting scope may be a better choice). After the snow melts, the white glean of antler is easy to spot against the drab backdrop of a cut crop field.Not all antlers will be found this way, but with practice, those measuring 130 inches or more become quite easy to spot.

Another excellent place to find sheds is on south-facing hillsides. These hillsides are first to receive the warm early morning sun and deer prefer to bed on these hills to help warm up on those cold winter days. Last year a friend and I had spent a good part of an afternoon looking for sheds without much success…until we started looking along a south-facing hillside. It looked like someone had come by with a box of antlers and scattered them around… they were everywhere!These hillsides are especially productive when there is nice dense grass and brush, such as native grass or Foxtail, providing excellent cover for deer to bed.

Another productive place to find sheds is along fence lines, especially a low spot where deer frequently cross. When the deer jump over the fence, the impact jars one or both of the antlers loose and sometimes a matched set of sheds can be found at such a location.

You can also set up a feeder to bring the antlers to you.Set up a barrel feeder on the ground and wrap stiff wire such as old fencing or hog wire around the outside of it.The barrel will have holes near the base to allow the corn to fall out.As the deer approach the barrel and paw to release the corn, they bump their antlers against the barrel and hook their antlers in the wire…enough to detach the antler, leaving it at the base of the feeder.This method might work especially well in areas of dense timber with a lack of open ground where shed hunting is much more difficult.