By Greg Wagner and Brian Peterson
Maybe you’re a hunter. Maybe you’re not.
But, there’s a unique form of hunting you will enjoy. It is a challenging and rewarding pastime that makes for an excellent family outdoor activity this time of year.
It is deer shed or cast (scientific term) antler hunting.
Beginning in late December and continuing through April, white-tailed and mule deer shed their antlers for regrowth purposes in Nebraska. Most deer drop their antlers in March.
Based on white-tailed deer cast antler collections and camera trap research conducted by Brian Peterson and colleagues at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) approximately 35% of bucks cast by the end of February, and 80% or more cast by the end of March, and all are cast by the end of April.
Wondering about cast mule deer and elk antlers? According to Luke Meduna, Nebraska’s Big Game Program Manager, the best months to hunt for the antlers of mule deer bucks and bull elk in western Nebraska are March and April. Meduna says, in most cases, “muley” bucks and bull elk in the west do not shed before March 1.
Some folks ask, “Does Nebraska law really allow a person to pick up, possess, buy, sell, or barter with, antlers that have been shed or cast by deer and elk?” The answer to that question is: Yes. Also, acquiring shed antlers on Nebraska Game and Parks Commission owned and managed properties is allowed.
So what’s it like on a shed antler hunt? Some compare a shed deer antler hunting session to an Easter egg hunt, but on a larger scale for better prizes and without all the candy, of course.
The objective of shed hunting is to slowly hike through the woods or fields in search of these hidden prizes — casted antlers! As you might expect, an antler lying on the ground or in brush isn’t necessarily easy to spot, especially if it’s small and it has been there a while or if there is a lot of grassy cover or deep snow. Their whitish-gray color can blend with cover on the ground. Sometimes, you’ll find a shed deer antler in the strangest of places. Also, each dropped antler is different and has one-of-a-kind characteristics much like snowflakes further lending to the intrigue of the hunt. Interestingly, you’ll find that some have even been gnawed by mice, squirrels, foxes and porcupines.
Finding deer antler sheds has become a very popular hobby for hunters and non-hunters alike. The rewards of a shed antler hunt are many. The antlers found in the wild can be used for everything from pure collecting purposes to dog chews to making crafts such as picture frames, knife handles, coat racks and chandeliers. Shed antlers may also be shared with others who may not have access to nature. The antlers can even be scored by the North American Shed Hunter’s Club.
But, shed hunting as it is called, is really so much more than those things. It goes deeper. This kind of hunting stimulates the emotional connection we humans have to the natural world. It is about wonder and awe. It makes you wonder if there is a thick, tall, wide set of antlers with many points glimmering in the sunlight amid the snow cover or leaf matter of a forest floor. The awe enters the picture the moment you locate, handle and examine one of these hard, weathered pieces of material containing variety of minerals passed from soil to plants and condensed into blood-nourished bone.
You then have directly connected with nature’s handiwork. For passionate shed hunters, it is an emotional rush when you find an antler in the woods, along the edge of an agricultural field or fence line on a pasture or grassland prairie. And, locating a matching set of shed antlers is like finding a pair of gold nuggets!
Shed hunting forces you to know and connect with the land. You’re constantly, closely surveying the countryside. You see a variety of wildlife species in the process, many different birds. You’re looking intently for signs made by deer. You’re specifically looking for fresh deer tracks, droppings and beds which are obvious indicators that you may be near some antler gold.
Coming across rubbed trees or dirt scrapes made by bucks along deer trails is cause for additional excitement and will certainly prompt you to keep moving throughout an area in the hopes that an antler is laying on the ground not far away.
Shed deer antler hunting really is a simple outdoor pursuit, It doesn’t take much to do. You need to have permission from landowners to go on their properties, a partner (for safety), an Android or iPhone (for map apps), the proper clothing, a decent pair of binoculars (to glass at extended distances). A backpack may be used to carry shed antlers with the tips facing outward away from your body for safety purposes. Hunting for antlers is not a fitness race either, and should be done with a slower, more deliberate, leisurely pace so as not to walk past them.
There is also something about just being in the woods in late winter and early spring. You can walk into a wooded location, sit on a log and glass for the tines of antlers without hearing hardly any noises, except possibly for the wind whistling through the trees and your partner checking on your location. The solitude alone though is worth an antler hunt!
Searching for antlers develops skills for hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts. After a few trips, you gain an understanding of particular areas. You learn the use of habitat by wildlife, and the patterns of deer and other wild animals related to weather. You learn what white-tailed deer have for a winter diet that will also help on future, late season hunts. You learn that deer are creatures of habit — going to the same proximity to spend the winter every year. You also learn that shed antlers offer a snapshot of what particular bucks or what caliber of bucks survived the hunting seasons and are living in a given tract of land for next year’s seasons.
For youth, shed deer antler hunting represents awesomeness. It is a nice change of pace, different scenery and good energy release. Kids naturally have the components needed to become successful shed antler hunters. They are low to the ground and curious, love to play games, enjoy finding treasure, get excited to be in a wilderness setting and possess a lot of energy. The more young people become interested in outdoor activities like shed antler hunting the longer they will carry their enthusiasm and appreciation for nature and memories of their adventures with them.
New Research Highlights
- At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, based on a long-term dataset, we were only able to match up, or find the antler pair for 13% of shed antlers collected.
- 50% of all pairs found, were found within 10 meters.
- 75% of all pairs found, were found within 100 meters.
- The chances of finding both sides of a pair outside of 100 meters drops off significantly.
- We found double the antler pairs of older deer than yearlings, likely due to their size and visibility.
- Key identifiers of an antler pair include the size, shape and depth of the shed antlers pedicle (like a fingerprint). Other consistent symmetric characteristics include the antler circumference as you move from base to tip.
- Poor identifiers of an antler pair include number of points and length of tines.
Tips & Tricks
Don’t overlook staging areas. While good areas to search for shed deer antlers are feeding, traveling and bedding areas, often overlooked are the staging areas. These are the areas just off the primary food source where the deer linger before entering the field. They’re also the places deer rest between small feeding sessions throughout the night.
Avoid the snow. While we can only shed hunt when time allows, just like sunny days, when the landscape is covered in snow searching efficiency can be compromised by snow cover that can cause distractions and eye fatigue. Sometimes it is better to wait until it has melted. If snow remains, search the areas away from the snowpack, as those areas are more exposed to the sun and warmth and where the deer are more likely to be than in the snowy, more shaded areas.
Don’t start searching too early. Bumping deer off a property prior to shedding can decrease your opportunity to find a target buck’s antler sheds.
Find the zone. If your goal is to find a lot of sheds, you should focus on identifying the shedding zone. These areas tend to change year by year depending on the availability of winter food sources. Bucks tend to bachelor up in late winter, where you find one shed, you will likely find more. Slow down, and concentrate on that area about the size of a football field.
Brian Peterson is a biologist at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and coordinates the M.S Biology Online Program. His research focus is white-tailed deer antler metrics. He is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman.