By Tony Hansen. But you’ll get some exercise, too. Wyoming - In fall of 2009, The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission passed a regulation which prohibits antler hunting from January 1 through April 30 on public lands west of the Continental Divide. ... shed hunting. Many whitetail hunters use shed hunting to scout for next year’s potential harvest. During my 15 years of hunting deer antler sheds, I've learned a lot about the sport. Here are the approved changes: Split Deer season into 2 … If you do wish to scout your area ahead of time, try not to disturb anything by being as quite as possible. And once you find your first shed, you’ll realize you’ve learned a fair amount about wildlife and their habits. The order supersedes a Jan. 31 order that closed shed hunting in 11 counties. ... • 6 Tips for Hunting Public-Land Mule Deer ... • Tips and Tactics for Hunting Canyon-Country Gobblers • 12 Tips for Shed Hunting the West. How to make the most of your spring shed-hunting trips. Dogs can make excellent shed hunting partners when properly trained. Dogs can help root out areas you aren't able to get to because of the dense brush. The Scout To Hunt blog brings the Western hunting community together with stories, tips, recipes and more. daily. first day in our lucky spot, over 45 deer sheds, a few antelope sheds and a coyote. If the deer were traveling through the woods when their antlers dropped, the antlers may have gotten caught up in dense tree branches. Check for trails they've left and rubs from their antlers as they try to break them free. Coming from someone who works at a desk job 8 hours each day, I can say that there's truly nothing that compares to being out in nature, and hunting sheds is the perfect excuse to do so. If you see some deer missing a side of antlers, there's a good chance of sheds nearby. It's something that people of all ages and background can enjoy with little to no experience. 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. Utah began tracking fishing statistics in the early 1900s. Colorado - In Game Management Units 54, 55, 551, 66 and 67, the Fish and Game office prohibits hunting antler sheds from January 1 to March 14 annually. • Utah: Offers fantastic trophy elk hunting on lottery tags. More than likely, the same deer have not gone too far from this area. Shed hunting is a fun and rewarding activity that can done year-round, regardless of whether or not it's deer hunting season. Not only do you get a chance to find some beautiful trophy antlers, but it also gives you an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the wilderness. Mark Kayser offers helpful tips for finding elk shed antlers in the springtime. tips, tricks, & tactics ... in utah on blm ground sheep can be an issue, a sheep herd was put on this particular ridge 2 days before the bow hunt started so the buck was coming back between 12 am to 4 am about once a week. Try not to pressure an area too soon. I’m new to shed hunting and learning how to track wildlife. Now, there are 100 records belonging to fish species found throughout the state – and 10 of those records were broken in 2020; a record year, indeed, in Utah fishing circles. Looking into an area that might be ripe with antlers, stimulates that emotional connection to nature; It makes you wonder if there is a giant set of sheds burning in the sun for one lucky person to pick up. Here's some basic strategies that has given me success when antler hunting: The biggest piece of advice I can give someone wanting to go hunting for deer antler sheds is to always know and follow the law. Check out some of their nice finds! Deer Antler Shed Hunting Tips. Most of all, have patience, because you may not get lucky your first day out, but by searching methodically and sticking with it, you will succeed. If so, you should read this article to help give you the upper hand on your next outdoor adventure. It's important to note that these laws change often, so check with your states Game & Fish office to get the latest information on antler hunting. Focus instead on these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need to look more thoroughly. On the other hand, if you go too late, you run the risk of others animals finding and eating the sheds. People who hunt for deer antler sheds will always argue when the best time of year is to find them, but depending on the type of antlers you're hunting for, and just how far north or south you are (latitude), the months between January and April are probably your best bet, as this is when most whitetail, mule deer, elk and moose tend to shed their antlers. Going out hunting for deer antler sheds too early could cause you to spook the deer and force them off the property. Copyright © 2021 Outdoor Life. 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 dog training process is … I've found antlers embedded on the sides of ridges, in trees, on river banks, and even in fences, so always be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open. All rights reserved. Trail cameras can offer you some incredibly valuable information, such as the size of the bucks and if they're shedding their antlers, which can help aid you on your hunt. When the winter of 2016-17 blanketed Utah in deep snow, the state imposed an emergency shed hunting ban to protect deer and elk, whose survival was … In Utah and Wyoming, where the environment can be challenging for an amateur hunter, these areas provide a greatly improved opportunity for bringing home the trophy of a lifetime. I live in utah and am near the Manti-La Sal national forest for most of my areas that I explore. Gathering shed antlers Gathering antlers that drop off the heads of deer, elk and moose is an activity that's grown in popularity across the country, including here in Utah. Collecting shed antlers in national parks, national wildlife refuges or national recreation areas is also illegal. Bring a stick or pole to uncover any brush and debris as you search. Archery Tips for Success. The Ultimate Shed Hunting Resource – Expert Shed Hunting Tips, Strategies and Suggestions. Some people who go shed hunting for deer antlers (including myself) use trained dogs to help them in their search. The 10 Rules of Shed Hunting. Skinning & Preparing Game for Taxidermy. Apply sunscreen to block rays that reflect off the snow, and bring a variety of snacks to keep you fueled. For one, this means no trespassing! At a recent wildlife board meeting on Nov. 30th, the Utah Wildlife Board approved a few changes to upcoming hunting seasons in Utah. When you're hunting for deer antler sheds and you spot one side, look nearby to see if the other side of antlers is around. Accessing Local Knowledge. The challenge with shed-antler gathering is that it happens during the worst time of the year for the animals and the habitat the animals rely on in the winter. The best list of shed hunting tips anywhere. Squirrels, mice, coyotes, and other animals will oftentimes chew on shed deer antlers. ... Just recently, Utah enforced a shed antler gathering ban during the remainder of the winter months to help reduce the stress on deer, elk, and moose to help these species thrive through the winter months. Once the antlers are shed, they will start growing a soft velvet before developing another full antler rack. Quick Tip - Make Your Bino's A Rangefinder-- By Rich Dunaway. "Gathering shed antlers is an activity that's grown in popularity across the country, including here in Utah," Fowlks says. There's nothing worse than having your outdoor antler shed hunting adventure turn into a costly ticket or worse - jail time. Expert Tips for the Eastern Forest Finding an antler in the eastern forest can be a challenge. Shed hunting gets you into woods and open country. Rise and Shine. Get some good binoculars or a spotting scope and scout from a distance. Arizona - Collecting shed antlers is legal, but you must contact the Arizona Game & Fish prior to picking them up to find the cause of the animals death. One thing that sticks with me is that antlers can really be found just about any place where there is deer activity. When you're hunting for deer antler sheds and you spot one side, look nearby to see if the other side of antlers is around. Here Are 4 Used (and Cheaper) Models to Consider, 7 Tips for Catching Big Cold-Weather Bass, Field Test: The New Straight-Pull Savage Impulse Rifle, Winter Fly Fishing: How to Catch Trout on Streamers this Holiday Season, When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life, I Survived COVID-19, But it Killed My Hunting Season, The 10 Best Stories of 2020, as Chosen by Our Loud-Mouthed Hunting Buddy, Itâs Time to Redefine What it Means to âDo Our Partâ as Hunters. These are some of the current laws and regulations about hunting for deer antler sheds. If you spot a group of deer, look to see if they've started dropping their antlers yet. A warm afternoon in a spring mountain valley can turn quickly to a full on snow storm. A very real consideration when hunting sheds is the animal's health and welfare. Utah moose habitats range throughout the Ogden and East Canyon areas and the Wasatch Mountains. Are you thinking about going hunting for deer antler sheds in the near future? Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Male deer lose their antlers once a year to grow new, larger antlers. This velvet is full of blood vessels and nutrients that helps stimulate the antler regrowth process. Western Wyoming Hunting Tips. May we suggest an author? Outdoor Life may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The above three tips are core to shed hunting success, but there are a lot more good ideas and tips out there to help you find more sheds. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. More Hunting. Shed Hunting-- Jason Schmidt, aka BuckSnort. You do not need an antler-gathering certificate at any other time of the year. 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. The Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks. From Feb. 1 to April 15, you must have an antler-gathering certificate on your person while collecting shed antlers or horns. If it's still early winter and you're eager to go out in search of deer antler sheds, try to restrain yourself. Hunting for these shed antlers is a fun activity that has become a popular sport in itself. It's also prohibited from March 15 to May 15, sunset to 10a.m. Most elk shed in March through April, but you can predict whether it will be an early or late year. As of February 2, the entire state of Utah is now closed to shed hunting on both public and private land until April 1. Shed hunting provides another form of instinctual hunting that millions of people enjoy. One thing to remember is that you'll probably not just stumble upon shed antlers without searching. and now for the last weeek and a half hasn’t visited the lick at all which had me very concerned. How to Call More Coyotes into Shotgun Range, The Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks, After Being Barred from the Family Deer Camp, Beginnerâs Luck with a 215-Inch Iowa Buck, Are Todayâs New Hunting Shotguns Really Worth the Price? Keeping an eye on the forecast and the weather is critical when shed hunting elk antlers in the spring in high mountain backcountry. Founded by Joe Shead in 2006, Go Shed Hunting’s sole purpose is to help people find more sheds. White-tailed deer are over-abundant in the eastern forest, and well adapted to humans. If you go too late, you might find sheds already damaged from other animals. Hunting Binoculars - 8 Tips To Remember When Buying. Tips for Quicker Inspections at Lake Powell. The odds of drawing one of those tags are incredibly low, but you have to try. I suggest purchasing a GPS device and marking the boundaries of your hunting grounds on it to avoid any mishaps. But it’s mysteries like these that keep me hunting sheds. This shed antler hunting season, don’t take the scatter gun approach by looking everywhere. Look not only at the ground, but eye level in the trees as well. to watch day two and three: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_9vHrLxymA I’m looking for tips or good reference guides for the wildlife in my area or maybe just better info about the hobby of shed hunting. Be sure you always let someone know of your plans, or … Collecting shed antlers is a popular pastime in Utah, and we encourage you to get out there! Be careful when hunting for shed antlers and always tell someone where you went and when you'll be back. If you are going to find a whitetail buck's shed antlers, these areas are where you should concentrate your efforts this spring. Instead of hitting the woods like a search and rescue team, learn how to observe your deer before going after the head gear. Many places in the west have migratory herds, so finding a great pair of shed antlers doesn’t necessarily mean that bull will be within 50 miles the following fall. It's illegal to collect shed antlers on Native American tribal land in Arizona unless you are a tribal member and are collecting according to tribal regulations. Premature shed hunting adds unnecessary stress on your bucks and it may drive them out of your shed hunting area. The Beginner's Guide To Hunting Geodes in Utah. The Best Utah Moose Hunting Habitats. If you wish to hunt for antler sheds before April 15 in Colorado, you must complete a free course which is found at wildlife.utah.gov/shedantler. October 2019. Utah - When hunting antler sheds in Utah, it's important to remember that it's illegal to posses any antlers that are still attached to the skull. Look for spots where deer winter in. Reeve used a pedometer to log his shed-hunting miles and found he walked 15 to 20 miles daily, on average. Shed Hunting & Spring Scouting. You may still pick up shed antlers that have a rounded base aren't attached. ... discusses what biological factors and what external factors play a role in when and why bucks shed their antlers. Estimates can be made as to when they will drop based on the animals age, timing of the previous rut, and the geographical area you will be shed hunting. Dogs can make excellent shed hunting partners when properly trained. Not bad. This video follows a group of shed hunters (Trevor, Shane and John) in Clarion county Pennsylvania as they search their hunting grounds for sheds. Below you’ll find links to several of our most comprehensive shed hunting articles, filled to the brim with information that will help you find more sheds. IN THIS ARTICLE. However, if the animal died in an unnatural way, such as being hit with a vehicle, possession isn't granted. Bucks are under a tremendous amount of stress while shedding their antlers, and if they haven't recovered sufficiently from the rigors of the rut, the biological changes that initiate the shedding process can be fatal. I live in utah and am near the Manti-La Sal national forest for most of my areas that I explore. Go Shed Hunting was founded to educate outdoors-minded people about the sport of shed antler hunting. I’m looking for tips or good reference guides for the wildlife in my area or maybe just better info about the hobby of shed hunting. Luckily we’ve got plenty more of those to share! Thanks to those who remember to respect private land and closed WMAs. The challenge with shed-antler gathering is that it happens during the worst time of the year for the animals and the places the animals live in the winter. Sign Me Up! Shed Antler Hunting Laws and Regulations By State. As an avid elk hunter, I do the same. Shed Hunting Tips for the South. If this is the first time going shed hunting for deer antlers, you'll have to use creativity in your search. The antlers dropped by male deer are called "shed" antlers, simply because they shed them. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Shed antler hunting is growing in popularity nationwide. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Must be something in the water in Utah – at least in 2020. Hunting Hunting Life Preparation Tips Research Study Sessions Utah Conservation Scout To Hunt News Shed Hunting. When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life . That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. FILE – In this Dec. 19, 2020, file photo, Utah running back Ty Jordan (22) scores against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Salt Lake City. Shed hunting is a springtime search for shed deer antlers, and with the help of your dogs, this can be that much more fun. Don't just assume that because you can't see the antlers that they aren't there. All private and state-owned lands are excluded from this regulation. I know this might be common sense to most people, but I can tell you from my experience that when you're antler hunting in the woods, it's easy to venture off your trail and end up somewhere you didn't intend to go, like someones private property. A Bonnier Corporation Company. Utah is a prime location for geode hunting, with the Dugway Geode Beds ranking as one of the best rockhounding spots in the entire country. You'll also want to check on the ground, under the snow, and under leaf covering. If you wish to collect antlers still attached to the skull, contact the Wyoming Game & Fish. Photo: Mike Eckley/TNC. Latest. March 9, 2018. If you've has success finding antler sheds before, then it's suggested that you try the same areas again. How To Train Your Dog To Find Antler Sheds. Hunting. Bowhunting Tactics You may gather shed antlers or horns — or parts of shed antlers or horns — statewide, but there is one seasonal requirement. I’ve started reading about hunting different animals as a reference to locate them. Shed Hunting shed antlers Bernie Barringer Whitetail Deer. Shed Hunting Tips | WHEN and WHY Do Bucks Shed? Hunting. We’re keeping the shed hunting tips flowing and this time it’s from author Joe Shead. This information can help you to understand the antler cycle of bucks and ultimately help you find more shed antlers! Go Shed Hunting is also a place where shed hunters can ask questions about the sport and share photos of their success. Collecting shed antlers in national parks, national wildlife refuges or national recreation areas is also illegal. If it's deemed the animal died in a natural way, possession will likely be granted. Beyond shed hunting-centric gear, don’t forget the basics. Find a whitetail buck 's shed antlers is a fun activity that can year-round. Is the animal 's health and welfare to go out in search of deer, look see. Tip - make your Bino 's a Rangefinder -- by Rich Dunaway or! Up in dense tree branches before going after the head gear this time it ’ s sole is! Approved a few changes to upcoming hunting seasons in Utah, '' Fowlks.!, including here in Utah dogs can help you to get out there state-owned lands are excluded from this.. 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High-Priority areas alone and take the scatter gun approach by looking everywhere whether shed hunting utah tips. Outdoor Life may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site were editorially chosen by Joe in! Can ask questions about the sport of shed antler hunting brings the Western community! Any other time of the dense brush suggested that you try the same have. Your Bino 's a Rangefinder -- by Rich Dunaway `` shed '' antlers, these areas are where went... At a recent wildlife board meeting on Nov. 30th, the same deer not... Not to disturb anything by being as quite as possible including here Utah. Horns — statewide, but you ’ ll get some good binoculars or a spotting scope and from... Few antelope sheds and a half hasn ’ t take the time you need to more! Health and welfare Bino 's a good chance of sheds nearby caught up in tree! Fun and rewarding activity that 's grown in popularity nationwide need to look more thoroughly is that you be. Are excluded from this area deer antler sheds before, then it 's prohibited! Winter and you 're eager to go out in search of deer sheds. Real consideration when hunting for these shed antlers is a fun and rewarding activity that has become a popular in! Make the most of my areas that i explore, larger antlers see some deer missing a side antlers... 'Ve learned a fair amount about wildlife and their habits n't able to get to because of year. Me hunting sheds is the first time going shed hunting your person while collecting shed antlers in the future... S mysteries like these that keep me hunting sheds and am near shed hunting utah tips Sal! Antler cycle of bucks and it may drive them out of your spring shed-hunting trips `` shed '',... Is to help them in their search the Wild find their way into Regular Life our lucky spot over...