Antler Hunting - When, Where And How?

Antler hunting can be fun for the whole family, a good way to get some exercise, a way to spend a day in the field with your dog in the off season and can be an opportunity to find a record breaking profitable shed.

Each summer, big game animals such as elk, deer and moose grow new antlers prior to the breeding season (autumn). These antlers are shed (or fall off) during late winter or early spring.

When are antlers shed? Mule deer shed usually shed their antlers in January and February. Elk usually shed their antlers in February or March, and they usually shed at higher elevation, but both species can retain antlers into April.

So where is the best place for antler hunting? Well where do the deer, elk and moose spend the most time during the late winter/early Spring when they would be shedding their antlers?

Mule deer usually use open sagebrush areas where the snow is not very deep. Elk usually use South-facing slopes and feeding areas. Moose usually stay in riparian areas.

When antler hunting, you should also concentrate along areas where animals cross fences, creeks, ditches and gullies, because many antlers are jarred loose when the animals jump over these obstacles.

Finding the best (or most) antlers can become competitive. The early bird gets the worm and finder's keepers. In addition, antler shed will quickly start to dry and crack in the sun and rodents chew on them to get calcium and other minerals, so the sooner a shed is found, it is likely to be in better condition. But the best time to find antlers may be the absolute worse time to disturb the animals.

Some people actually chase animals or even entire herds with snowmobiles or 4-wheelers in an effort to "shake" some antlers loose. Obviously, no true sportsperson would do such a thing, but there are people that either don't know or don't care that this kind of stress can actually threaten the animal's lives, all just for antler hunting.

Animals are in their lowest condition, with the lowest fat reserves just prior to green-up in the spring. In addition, the females are heavy with calves or fawns, and stress can cause them to loose calves, or produce calves that have lower chances of survival. Animals in good condition can probably stand another stress or two, but for animals on the edge, one more disturbance could be the final straw.

This is obviously more of an issue in Western States than other areas. You could walk into a woodlot in the South, East or Midwest, and maybe chase a few deer out of that woodlot across a field into another woodlot. But if you stick your head over a ridge in the mountains of the West, you may cause an entire herd to run over the next ridge miles away.

So get outdoors, enjoy antler hunting with your friends and family, but remember to respect the wildlife first and foremost. Give them plenty of space, stay away from known feeding and resting areas, do not chase animals and stay on the trail if using ATVs or other 4-wheel drive vehicles.