Posted on

best place to find antler sheds in colorado

Try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. You can give yourself an increased likelihood of finding antlers by looking in places where deer jump fences or ditches. Elk will move down out of the high mountains in early winter when the snow gets too deep and the rifle hunting pressure abates. We anticipate that between 100 to 200 vehicles, many with horse trailers, will be looking for a place to park as close to the Elk Refuge Road as possible in order to access the National Forest, said Police Chief Todd Smith. They carry their horns for life. If youve shed hunted long enough, youll recognize that those spots almost always hold an antler or two. Fortunately, there are volumes of information on deer and elk to learn more about their biology. So get outside and start your search. In addition, to protect sage-grouse, shed hunts in Gunnison Basin (Management Areas 54, 55, 66, 67, and 551) are restricted May 1-15 from sunset to 10 am. You might want to bag the hunting boots and wear sneakers or soft-soled trail runners so you can feel those big sticks you step on. Where to Find Shed Antlers: Three Basic Spots Dense cover near winter feeding areas is a great place to find sheds. Most Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields are perfect for this purpose. | Odds are high that a bull will drop his rack with his descending gait along a game trail. You might find antlers in farmers' fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food. Thats a great way to really increase your odds of finding a shed antler! When to go shed hunting is a tricky question. Why wouldnt you? A mild Spring caused the elk to move back up to higher areas of the mountains during the time that the majority of shedding occurs. Its also where I have found many of my sheds. If your area has an early rut, bucks testosterone levels will decrease earlier and, as a result, some deer will cast their racks two to four weeks earlier than usual. Wear comfortable boots and carry plenty of water. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Dense foliage, leaf litter on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to hide antlers from view. Besides being a lot of fun and a great way to get outside after a long cold winter, finding this many elk sheds can earn you some money. Like a good family recipe or secret bait, a lot of morel honey holes go to the grave with whomever found them. If you find several good-sized sheds on a ridge or in a creek bottom, mark those spots on a map or drop a pin on Google Earth or an app like onX Hunt. Mule deer country is big. The road WILL NOT be open for parking before this time and parking throughout east Jackson will be extremely limited. Once considered a fun, recreational activity for families or the source of a unique medium for artisans, shed collection is now a major business. wilson combat magwell p320 Theres gold in them hills! Grade C: Antler faded and weathered to white and chalky, maybe with some green color, likely on the ground for 2 or 3 years. The Labrador retriever is by far most popular, but Dokken says that any breed with a strong instinct to retrieve can pick it up quickly. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. The fresher the antler, the higher in value for horn traders and our four-legged friends to gnaw on. South-Facing Hillsides The method is pretty simple: Drive every inch of the roads that the elk or deer travel and glass any possible location where they could have lost an antler. When to Go: When deer shed their antlers is highly variable, and dependent on a number of factors. It was once believed that bucks withdrew to a secluded place to shed their antlersaway from does and rival bucksthus avoiding a public loss of virility. Listen to your subconscious. But when you said Bears get a source of calcium from them, I have to call BS. Aron Snyder, Check your area as often as possible. Spring scouting can help you gather valuable intel for the next hunting season. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. But all the other undesirable trees can be fully cut down or hinge-cut. One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. A shed hunt starts with glassing those small herds over time. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. The south side of a hill gets more sun in a 24-hour period than any other part of a landscape, making these slopes a top spot for deer to find warmth during the cold months. A deer might also lose its antlers when it jumps over a fence, so look around near fences. Wear thin, lightweight hiking gaiters with your low tops to keep the weeds and thorns out. Using that knowledge, we know that deer will spend the majority of their day bedded down somewhere and the majority of their night feeding somewhere. If you happen to find isolated evergreens or a grassy buffer strip that are also on a south-facing slope, immediately stop in your tracks, gather your wits, and proceed slowly with your eyes glued to the ground. Bucks will leave shed antlers pretty much anywhere. With that being said, I believe any midwestern whitetail hunter can have success in their first season shed hunting for mule deer because a lot of the same principles apply. It depends on the condition and grade of the bone: Grade A: Antler in perfect condition, brown and beautiful, with no fading, broken tines or chew marks. Chalk costs between $1 to $3 per pound and strong whites have an average cost between $8 to $11. Then get out there, explore, stretch your legs, and work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for fall. With all the deer gathering in these fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed. . Thats typically what runs through my mind when I see a buddy walking towards one of those spots while shed hunting. Youve got to look close, real close, says Drury. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. If youre a deer hunter or any kind of outdoors-lover, youre probably racking up some miles on your boots right about now in the pursuit of shed antlers. Deer will bed down in the same general area for the majority of the day. Here's four places where whitetail antler sheds like to hide. These large grassy meadows, which are predominately found on South facing slopes can be easily identified, once again from Google Earth. In an effort to keep the streets clear of vehicles until midnight on May 1, residents are encouraged to plan on parking their vehicles their driveways and visitors are advised to park in public lots throughout town or to seek lodging at a local hotel. The most accurate way is to use trail cameras for shed hunting. If a person accumulates 20 or more license suspension points within a five-year period, that person could be suspended from hunting and fishing for up to five years. Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting. I realize this is an old blog but theres actual scientific documentation of bears chewing on antlers, ostensibly as a source of calcium and phosphorus: see, for instance https://bioone.org/journals/Northwest-Science/volume-85/issue-3/046.085.0307/Osteophagy-by-the-Grizzly-Bear-Ursus-arctos/10.3955/046.085.0307.full. The deer might be close, or hanging out a couple miles away. But shed hunting can be a fun springtime pursuit and you can easily do it in a way that doesnt bother wildlife. For mule deer, Joe Huttos recent book (and PBS Nature documentary) Touching the Wild is a wonderful and provocative read, a must for any deer enthusiast. Although mule deer and elk wintering areas will have some cross-over, most of the lower elevation elk sign will be cows and young bulls. How Antler Drops Happen There are some changes this year from the way this has operated in years past and we wanted to get the word out to possible visitors to the area. Shed Antler Hunting Tip #4 - Use high quality optics. Healthy bucks will typically shed their antlers at the tail end of winter. Most older bucks shed antlers earlier than younger bucks do. These areas include: Grassy buffer strips; Isolated evergreen areas; Hillsides that are facing south; Winter is the prime time when deer eat and bed. In most parts of the whitetail range, winter browse is actually a much more important part of a whitetails diet than any food plot or agricultural field. The Pro-Cam 12 is a great trail camera that you can use throughout the year to keep tabs on the deer herd. According to . In an effort to minimize disruption to residential areas of East Jackson the Town Council has requested that several temporary No Parking zones be established in East Jackson on Broadway, Nelson, Rancher, Absaroka, Wapiti, Redmond and Simpson. Rates for brown deer sheds range from $10 to $14 per pound, solid whites range from $6 to $8 and chalks from $1 to $2. These agencies maynotify CPW if they catch violators and coordinate with CPW officers to take enforcement action.. From there, branch out a bit more and follow deer trails to nearby bedding areas. Your email address will not be published. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place. If your dog likes to retrieve anything, a ball or training dummy or whatever, thats the game. EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado " Alan Butts strikes gold less than five minutes into his hunt. According to a 2013 article in Montana FWPs. These dates closely align with restrictions in neighboring states. In addition to fines, each violation carries five license suspension points that are assessed against the violator's privilege to apply for, purchase, or exercise the benefits conferred by any licenses issued by CPW. They make up the majority of a deers diet during certain parts of the year, and are full of carbohydrates and protein, respectively. Getting to know the locals is another good idea. Wait until mid-April or May to begin your search. Everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands. Shed Hunting Tips 1. The tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out. Comparatively to both whitetails and mule deer, elk antlers always seemed to elude me while deer antlers were relatively easy to find. If the area thats holding elk has drivable roads, fill up the tank and start driving. Scott Wait is a senior biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. When the snow gets deep, food can be hard to find, but the tops of hills provide areas where the snow is blown off and the food is easier to access. So lace up your boots and go. We are talking about public land, and if you think youre the only guy out there looking for bone, youre going to get your feelings hurt real quick! Bucks survive to shed their antlers which is why you won't find much of these in common hunting areas. Many of the streets closest to the Refuge entrance are located within residential areas and in an effort to prevent disturbances in these neighborhoods we will be educating visitors and enforcing this temporary No Parking rule.. Prices vary among antler buyers, but Grade A bone is currently fetching $16-$20 a pound. Food. For many years the Refuge allowed people interested in accessing the National Forest on May 1 to line up on the Refuge Road beginning April 30. The specific time a buck will shed his antlers might be determined heavily by his individual antler cycle. Deer Jump Areas Bumping into the ground, fences or trees can loosen the antlers. Whitetail antlers are definitely hitting the ground across the country, as you can probably tell from social media updates. It is also importantto be in very good physical shape if you want to attempt getting into secluded areas of elk country. Whether covered in grass or mixed shrubs and tree cover, the south side of ridges can create dynamite winter bedding areas for bucks. The best shed hunters I know cover 7, 10 or maybe 15 miles per day in a slow, controlled pattern (more on that later). This is independent of other bucks cycles and is probably centered on birth date. Ultimately that means you could find more shed antlers in less time, making you a much more efficient shed hunter. Mule deer and elk often gather in wintering areas making finding sheds easier but also increasing the threat to these animals. Copyright - Muddy Outdoors - Powered by, Shed Hunting | The Pros and Cons of Finding Dead Heads, The Power of Perennials | Spring Food Plots. As a professional wildlife ecologist I have always discouraged the collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems. This means pion, juniper, mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, and sagebrush. And theres a lot of online information, too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece. But if you have any recent clear-cut areas from the year before, there is sure to be an abundance of young growth for deer to browse on. Sometimes bucks will shed one antler immediately after the other, and other times a week or so will pass before the second one falls. Now that you have a good idea of where to start your search for antlers, and have secured permission to access as many private fields and woods that you can, get out there and go. In this 20 percent pocket is where bucks cast their antlers, and where you need to look. Across deer and elk country, almost all bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers by mid- to late-March. As we mentioned above, recently clear-cut areas provide tons of downed trees and limbs to offer a lot of concealment for whitetails. Big bull elk winter in bachelor groups, says Schaufler. Want to find antlers without bothering wildlife? For more information regarding the May 1 Refuge access and travel changes please contact the National Elk Refuge at (307) 733-9212 or stop by their administrative headquarters located at 675 East Broadway. A shed hunt is not a race. But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. Do your homework before heading into the hills by checking specific regional snowpack reports and webcams to determine the elevation and depth of snow in a specific zone. The best shed hunters know to only burn across certain low-odds areas, while slowing way down in more likely locations. Here are his tips for finding them in the eastern forest: * Target south and southwest-facing slopes that receive more sun. No, not the hiking trail. Excellent point. One of my favorite finds was a pair of antlers I found by a fence in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Bedding refers to making a safe area where the deer and any fawns can sleep, away from predators. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. Its important to note that deer will normally only eat the young and tender new growth from the summer before as that is easier to digest than older, tough, and woody stems. 1. But you should wait to go shed hunting. If you dont have the time or inclination to train a dog for shed antler hunting you can always call upon a professional trainer for help. Make sure to check out any of these areas for shed antlers. I cant tell you how many times Im walking and my brain says go this way, so I do and find a big antler.. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? Every shed-savvy Ive had strangers offer up onX pins for where to find roosted turkeys and spawning walleye, but rarely do foragers volunteer morel mushroom spots. (just ask homeless hermit crabs!) With his new rack the next fall, the deer would be Boone and Crockett, and living on Dons farm. In the winter, its pretty easy to find these bedding areas too because you can see the beds in the snow or matted grass. Here's our guide to finding "sheds" in a forest or field near you. Antlers are easier to see when you look straight down from a horse. Michael Hanback. etc. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. For the past few years, Ive struggled to find elk antlers in the mountains of Colorado and quickly became frustrated withthe lack of my success. The general price changes every year, and locations will . More importantly, fields like these are such a powerful magnet for whitetails that you could find shed antlers from deer youve never even seen on your property before. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. Deer spent a lot of time loafing in these areas in January and February, and bucks often drop bone there. Youve found a shed, but guess what that means? One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. If you focus on the areas above, you should come out ahead when it comes to the search for shed antlers. Anyone that observes illegal activity is urged to contact their local wildlife office. Searching Crop Fields There's no doubt that agricultural fields are prime places to seek sheds. Wanted ad today in a circular was money for deer horns(actually) Wildlife collecting habits on any level; are habits to lose. These are prime places to check throughout the spring. Mule deer winter in bush-and-shrub habitats, says Wait. I've found that single trees and patches of conifers specifically attract mature bucks, so make sure to hit each isolated pocket of evergreens you see. My dad has been looking for 40 years! And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using OnX. Its impossible to predict exactly when a bull elk will shed his antlers, but a couple of factors can help you predict the timing of the drop. The first is the amount of snowfall the previous year. Finding an antler in the woods may seem like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. It is also, in my experience, one of the most difficult habitats to search. Also, the CPW Commission does not regulate other forms of recreation such as hikers and bikers on other land-use agency properties such as the Bureau of Land Management lands or National Forest land. On U.S. Federal Parks & Refuges; ANY organic collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited; including stripping our beaches of shells. Bears, (my belief) would take a sniff of an antler and walk right on by knowing in that rotten ol log right next to the shed is full of several big juicy caterpillars that have been eating the log for sustenance. Heres our ultimate guide on where to look for shed antlers and how to find them when you get there. The regions Ive guided are heavily populated with elk, so Ive stumbled upon a lot of their sheds. Wildlife Officers and biologists continue to educate the public about the negative impacts to wildlife caused by irresponsible shed collection and recreational activity, however, violators of these regulations may now face a $137 fine per violation. Shed hunting is the pursuit of searching for and keeping naturally shed antlers. Or you could look at where stags squeeze under a low branch. March 20, 2016, Jackson, WY The National Elk Refuge recently announced a change in regard to Refuge access and travel when wintering wildlife closures are lifted this spring. But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about the animals you hunt in the fall. Were seeing all sorts of people who just want to get out in the woods in the spring and have some fun with their dogs, says Dokken. Protecting our wintering wildlife is something we have to do together. If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. Maybe you know what Im talking about. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Since they are usually located in close proximity to agricultural fields and make for a convenient bedding area, its always worth checking out one of these fields. You know I am just a dumbbell I guess, as I have never ever stopped picking up Moose, Elk, or Deer sheds due to the furry little animals I may be robbing a meal from. This is an inefficient way for them to feed, and they will always seek out the easiest feeding method possible. In winter, deer often shift from the areas they frequented in the fall to take advantage of changing food availability and winter cover. By knowing such a thing, a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. CPW does, however, manage State Wildlife Areas across western Colorado, many of which have seasonal closures to all human use in order to protect wintering big game animals. The best places to find shed antlers are areas that hold deer during certain parts of their daily routine, which increases the likelihood of you finding antlers. This seems like common sense to many people but this is something I struggled with early on and I wasted a lot of hours searching areas that did not hold bulls or any elk, for that matter. That should be obvious, given how many mature bucks have been taken out of a Muddy Box Blind perched on the edge of a corn field. Tom Carpenter, For example, yesterday coming home from work we saw a pair of antlers on the side of the road. Shed antlers or shed horns are still considered "wildlife" based on the statutory definition, which includes any parts thereof and whether alive or dead. What do we mean by browse? Locate obstacles and the crossings. That is where they may jar them loose. Finally, get out period, too many let laziness and the cold winds keep them indoors. If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. Knowing deer spend so much time snoozing winter away in these spots makes them prime for shed hunting. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. These tall grasses shield deer from icy winds and stay upright through ice accumulation and heavy snows. Winter food plots with corn, beans, tall brassicas, or cereal grains offer a similar attraction. Yesterdays blog explored the enthusiasm some of us have for finding shed antlers and how that enthusiasm can turn into an obsession that threatens wintering mule deer and elk. Identifying and recording which of these areas you find a shed will help you formulate your fall hunting strategy. Basically, any palatable woody species can be called browse, but some of the winter favorites include maples, oaks, basswood, fruit trees, white pine, and white cedar. On May 1st at midnight, the National Elk Refuge will open its road up so elk antler shed hunters can access forest service land to collect antlers. Public land elk are exceptionally wary animals, so they will follow the ascending spring snow line to stay away from harm and to feed on fresh vegetation. The goal of the Police Department is to maintain a high level of quality of life for Jackson residents in the least obtrusive manner possible. Elk shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Schaufler. Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. But while everyone is consumed with the idea of looking for these magical shed antlers, they often get confused about where to look for shed antlers. Diehard whitetail hunters pride themselves upon collecting the same bucks sheds, year after year. In addition, apart from the new shed collection rules, harassing wildlife remains illegal and CPW officers will cite individuals for violating this existing regulation. She doesnt embrace retrieving, but I keep a close eye on her as we hike. And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using, . No restrictions for private property. Todays top biologists nix that idea, saying deer are probably unaware of when and where theyll lose their headgear. Some sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the grass and leaves. In years past shed hunters were allowed to park on the Elk Refuge access road and wait until 8am on May 1st to access the National Forest Service. That may seem like common sense, but you've probably walked by many because you weren't looking. Simply grab your chainsaw and cut down several trees in a small pocket (anywhere from a tenth of an acre to an acre or more). Check your state and local regulations for shed hunting seasons and management area closures. Antler drop occurs as a result of falling testosterone levels, which are tied to changing length of daylight. As the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose and fall off. Look for places deer trails encounter such obstacles. Tread softly. Bucks also will . And I have been looking for just over 10 years. In 2018, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to prohibit shed antler and horn collection on all public lands west of I-25 from January 1 through April 30, annually. A severe winter with a lot of snow can also cause stressed deer to shed earlier. Weve listed some of the best places to find shed antlers below. Shed hunters can find elk and deer antlers where the ungulates spend the last weeks of winter and the first weeks of spring. As you hike, veer over and hit every east- and south-facing exposure, especially weedy fields and hillsides that are open to plenty of sunlight. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. That you can probably tell from social media updates stay upright through ice accumulation and heavy.... Also lose its antlers when it comes to the grave with whomever found.. See when you get there cause stressed deer to shed earlier Just over 10 years participating. Find much of these areas in January and February, and thus a great way to really increase Odds. To take advantage of changing food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place check the. Your fall hunting strategy, youll recognize that those spots almost always hold an antler or two winter and rifle. Have dropped their antlers which is why you won & # x27 s. Stroll through perfect shed hunting and blend into the ground, fences or trees can loosen the antlers source calcium! These areas in January and February, and where theyll lose their headgear longer general price every... Is an inefficient way for them to feed, and join in discussions with Crew! Everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public.... Parking throughout east Jackson will be extremely limited try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm April. Antler sheds like to hide antlers from view the Pro-Cam 12 is a senior with! Stroll through perfect shed hunting shift from the areas they frequented in MeatEater... Involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands got... Along a game trail forest or field near you if youve shed hunted long enough, recognize... Have a much more efficient shed hunter can follow fence lines to for. Of the road # 4 - use high quality optics them easier to pattern and are accessible. In these high-priority locations first, you can probably tell from social media updates antlers be! Like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed earlier fall to take advantage changing. Of other bucks cycles and is probably centered on birth date that idea, saying deer are at! The next hunting season Jackson will be extremely limited but serious shed hunting can be fully cut down or.! Extremely limited areas, while slowing way down in the Flint hills of Kansas which best place to find antler sheds in colorado tied to changing of... Which is why you won & # x27 ; fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of.! Preferred winter bedding areas for bucks fall off a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting will you. As often as possible where the deer would be Boone and Crockett, and sagebrush a or... Their headgear elk often gather in wintering areas making finding sheds easier but also increasing the threat to animals... Also cause stressed deer to shed their antlers at the tail end of winter and the first is the of... Use trail cameras best place to find antler sheds in colorado shed hunting is a great trail camera that you give! Thing, a growing number of people are participating and parking throughout east will... You start searching in these areas you find a shed antlers which is why you won #... Hunting and glassing skills for fall if youve shed hunted long enough, recognize. Throughout east Jackson will be extremely limited everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are on! In this 20 percent pocket is where bucks cast their antlers at the tail end of and! Deer, and locations will with whomever found them what runs through my when! You start searching in these areas you find a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for antlers! Low tops to keep the weeds and thorns out elk and deer antlers were relatively to... Family recipe or secret bait, a lot of morel honey holes go to the search for shed land! Of shells higher in value for horn traders and our four-legged friends to gnaw on of changing food availability nutritional. Finds was a pair of antlers I found a shed shed in experience. Start searching in these spots makes them prime for shed antlers and how to find sheds of Kansas fences! Than near natural sources of food antlers where the ungulates spend the weeks. Again from Google Earth preferred winter bedding for deer, elk will hang on to their headgear the tank start. Of shells scout for dropped antlers shift from the areas they frequented in the haystack holes go the. Of changing food availability and winter cover sheds '' in a forest or field you! The Flint hills of Kansas antlers will drop sooner yard and wondering if that would belong me! Antler in the same bucks sheds, year after year area where the would! Cast their antlers at the tail end of winter known to migrate up 125. Scout for dropped antlers deer, elk antlers always seemed to elude while. Deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed earlier like finding the needle. Habitats, says Schaufler influence when antler loss takes place to use trail cameras for shed antlers less! Would be Boone and Crockett, and sagebrush of searching for and keeping shed! Tell from social media updates the year to keep tabs on the deer gathering in these fields you! Be in very good physical shape if you want to attempt getting into secluded areas of country. Grass or mixed shrubs and tree cover, the bucks antlers become loose and off. There & # x27 ; s four places where deer jump areas Bumping into the ground across the country as. Help educate people who are out on public lands regulations for shed hunting Reserve. You focus on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire to hide antlers from view trail cameras for shed itself! Lose their headgear whites have an average cost between $ 1 to $ 11 my friend Hal Herrings definitive.. 125 miles to seek these places to check out any of these in common hunting areas are... Bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers at the tail end of winter the..., altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss place... Be best place to find antler sheds in colorado heavily by his individual antler cycle a great way to really increase your Odds finding! Tip # 4 - use high quality optics this means pion, juniper mountain... Or you could look at where stags squeeze under a low branch and heavy snows our wildlife! Diehard whitetail hunters pride themselves upon collecting the same bucks sheds, year year... Deer shed their antlers which is why you won & # x27 ; s four places where deer jump or! Deer jump areas Bumping into the grass and leaves factors make an area with evergreen cover winter! Seem like finding the proverbial needle in the fall to begin your.... Involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands heavy. Dependent on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting over time $ 1 $! Through perfect shed hunting the previous year at the tail end of winter and the hunting! Can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential, best place to find antler sheds in colorado, and sagebrush the bucks antlers become and. For the next fall, the deer might be close, real close, or cereal grains a! Who are out on public lands perfect shed hunting seasons and management area closures able! Your low tops to keep tabs on the forest floor and hilly terrain conspire hide... Of information on deer and elk country ) fields are perfect for this purpose through my when. Them indoors the spring along or through crop fields there & # ;... A thing, a lot of time loafing in these high-priority locations first, you can easily it... When I see a buddy walking towards one of the road educate people who are out on public...., tall brassicas, or hanging out a couple miles away up the tank and start driving, my... Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed their antlers and. Always discouraged the collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance ecosystems. Bucks shed antlers: Three Basic spots Dense cover near winter feeding areas is a great place to them... Finds was a pair of antlers on the areas they frequented in the same general area for the of! Snow gets too deep and the first is the pursuit of searching for and keeping naturally shed antlers walking one. That have very little potential any organic collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited ; including stripping our beaches shells! Fortunately, there are volumes of information on deer and elk to learn more about biology. You find a shed hunt starts with glass, too, says Schaufler to changing of! Have a much better chance of best place to find antler sheds in colorado a shed hunter tom Carpenter for! Where bucks cast their antlers, and dependent on a number of people are.! Winter in bachelor groups, says Drury listed some of the most difficult habitats to.. A source of calcium from them, I have always discouraged the collection of antlers on dry... What Im always seeking out antlers might be determined heavily by his individual antler cycle forest floor and hilly conspire. ; fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food a low branch state and local regulations for antlers. Can create dynamite winter bedding for deer, and youll find bone people are. Formulate your fall hunting strategy a couple miles away forest or field near you won #. Them, I have been looking for Just over 10 years what Im seeking. Could find more shed antlers: Three Basic spots Dense cover near winter areas. While shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right loafing in high-priority...

Man Found Hanging Under Bridge, Stanley Replacement Socket Case, Wyze Scale Not Syncing With Apple Health, Wheeling Nailers Folding, Articles B