Shed Antler Crazy
Jordan Redeker
With the aroma of spring weather in the air this week, one cannot help but look forward to the change in seasons. This is especially true if you have lived anywhere in the Upper Midwest this winter where record snow falls have blanketed the landscape and sub zero temperatures have kept outdoor recreation to a minimum. A glimpse of spring has definitely gotten me excited for one of my favorite spring activities, shed hunting. Many people who know me believe I have more than a passion for shed hunting, I have an addiction!
Although most do not call the practice of picking up shed antlers a sport, it is however gaining rapid popularity. For any dedicated hunter, the season doesn’t end at the close of the late bow season. Shed hunting is merely another piece of the puzzle to the art of hunting. It is a great way to get back into the outdoors and see what kind of bucks made it through the long winter. This sport, however, is not for the faint of heart and not everyone who goes out is going to find a shed antler. Many of the people I talk to say they never seem to find a shed and that it is a waste of time, but if you take advantage of a few of the tips I am going to provide, I think you will greatly increase your odds and begin to enjoy the sport of shed hunting.
To find a shed you have to know where the deer have been, and this may require some late season scouting to know the deer are herding up for the winter. Knowing this, you should concentrate your efforts on where they are feeding, where they are bedding, and the trails between the two. Wandering aimlessly around in the woods will do you no good! I also caution against walking only the deer trails as more often than not sheds will be located off the main trails and in thicker areas of cover. Developing a grid pattern over an area will significantly increase your odds of finding one of these fallen gems. I have also found over the years that a deer will choose a spot to bed that is in the sunlight, away from the wind. This is often located on south facing slopes so keying in on these areas can be very beneficial as well.
I would say the biggest hint I can offer a “greenhorn” shed hunter or anyone who is interested in “hiking with a purpose” as some call it, is to put on as many miles in the woods as you can! The more you walk the better your odds; it’s as simple as that. I will start walking in the beginning of January and continue through the first part of April. I have become shed antler crazy and look forward to the beginning of another great shedding season! Take the time to get out and do some walking this spring, you will not regret it Happy shed hunting to all!
5 comments:
I myself have never gone shed hunting or been truly inspired to go out and look for them. I am a avid hunter and enjoy bow (early and late) season along with the gun season but the urge to get out and look for sheds never really interested me. To me hiking through the woods is great in the spring time but I don't need the added incentives to be out there. I'm not saying that when I'm out there and would happen to come across a really nice alter that I wouldn't pick it up and maybe keep it, if it is truly amazing. However I think that leaving the sheds for small animals such as squirrels and rabbits to chew on is more beneficial to them than to me.
It was great to see your success, Jordan. I haven't found any yet this spring, but my best places are tag alder runs along the swamp, and a little white pine thicket where they bed.
Shed hunting isn't for everyone. A lot of hunters don't seem to show much enthusiasm for this sport either but it is getting much more popular...I, myself, enjoy finding out which bucks are still in the area and getting a good idea of what to look forward to the next season. Its just another good scouting tool I use.
I will sometimes leave an antler in the woods if it is already chewed up but it would be pretty hard for me to leave anything else laying in the woods!
Shed hunting has also become a passion of mine. I enjoy spending the extra time in the woods, and getting more aquainted to the areas I hunt. I like to take the opppurtunity to travel through areas that I leave alone during the regular hunting season. I personally have never left a shed in the woods, however i have a nice collection going at our hunting cabin. I also enjoy going through the sheds from previous years just as reminders of seasons past.
Josh I would urge you to give it a try. before i started shed hunting about 5 years ago I felt the same way. However once I found that first shed I was hooked! It is a thrill to me to handle somthing that was carried around the woods for over half a year, and that no other person has ever touched!
I have several friends that get crazy about shed hunting also. Personally I go maybe once or twice a year just to get outside and be active, but thats about it. A couple of my buddies have found over 50 sheds each this year alone. To each their own I guess. I have found out that shed hunting usually overlaps with some of the best ice fishing times that Wisconsin has to over. To me, I would rather spend my time chasing fish than looking for bone, but I do get a little envious when I go to someone's house that has a pile of antlers to look at!
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