Work from a distance, and get to know where they are hanging out. But there are certain places prone to finding bone. If it hasnt happened on your property yet, its likely to happen very soon. 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. Just make sure its still frozen before you venture out into the swamp. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. As long as theres minimal pressure, bucks bed close to the food sources and keep movement to a minimum during this Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. 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. 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. Picking up a shed antler, esp if for education purposes is probably okay but I would not advocate make a collection of them! Finding an antler in the woods may seem like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Any number of things could have caused the bucks demise: hit by a car, lost by a bowhunter last season, Hemorrhagic or even Chronic Wasting Disease. (just ask homeless hermit crabs!) According to a 2013 article in Montana FWPs. Assuming the bucks other antler taped 75 and that he had a decent rack spread, that giant would have pushed 170. 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. There is no way for a CPW officer to differentiate between you and someone who entered the area for the purpose of shed collecting. 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! As a general rule of thumb, the majority of mature bulls are going to be found at higher elevations than the smaller bulls and cows. For instance, Wyoming prohibits the collection of shed antlers and horns from January 1 through April 30 on public lands west of the Continental Divide. Elk will shed close to 6 months after the peak of the rut. The average price per pound for brown elk antlers is between $12 and $16. A study in Mississippi found that individual penned bucks usually shed their antlers during the same week each year. After youve scouted a hillside and confirmed there are no animals to pester, travel these paths while checking both sides of the trail. Searching Crop Fields There's no doubt that agricultural fields are prime places to seek sheds. Thats typically what runs through my mind when I see a buddy walking towards one of those spots while shed hunting. The cows uncover and kick up fresh antlers from this year, and chalky ones that are a year or two old. Bigger bulls and elk in general, prefer seclusion and will not tolerate human interaction, which is why you also find them at higher elevations. We have no sheds yet and are going deer hunting tomorrow. READ NEXT: Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. Many areas restrict access until elk are off their winter range. They are crepuscular animals, meaning they excel at dawn and dusk (i.e., low-light situations), but their eyes are adapted to see well throughout the night too. All Rights Reserved. This one is obvious but very important for success. Winter gives mule deer enough stress the way it is.. The CPW Commission chose not to include private lands in its decision to enact a shed antler collection closure in Colorado. As a result, a growing number of people are participating. Aron Snyder, Check your area as often as possible. My first set of matching Boone & Crockett sheds were found 200 yards apart; one on top of a windblown hill in soybean stubble and the other in . A shed hunt starts with glassing those small herds over time. Matching sets, especially from a large or unique buck, are prized finds but can be notoriously difficult to get your hands on. Everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands. You might spot a whole antler, or maybe just a tine sticking up. Below are a few tips to help shorten your elk shed hunting learning curve and to get you on the fast track to finding brown gold! You could find a shed anywhere in a buck's home range. That may seem like common sense, but you've probably walked by many because you weren't looking. Published on February 10, 2015 - Updated on October 3, 2018. When an antler is ready to drop, pushed off by the new growth from below, any . Tread softly. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Pick it up. sunken stomata and transpiration.. best places to shed hunt in utah. It feels like looking for an actual needle in a haystack after a while. Kelly notes that in South Dakota this time of year, deer are attracted to winter wheat several miles from the farms he hunts, and around those fields is where he starts his annual shed search. Small mammalian tooth marks on sheds reveal its purpose in providing scarce minerals. 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. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. Youre in one of those spots. Excellent point. The road WILL NOT be open for parking before this time and parking throughout east Jackson will be extremely limited. Removal has an impact on the local ecosystem. Knowing deer spend so much time snoozing winter away in these spots makes them prime for shed hunting. 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. As we mentioned above, recently clear-cut areas provide tons of downed trees and limbs to offer a lot of concealment for whitetails. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage pointtheres likely another shed close by. Its not only fun, but great exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for days. Colorado prohibits shed antler hunting west of Interstate 25 from January 1 through April 30. | The tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out. According to . If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. Elk herds tend to range in the same general, often-open, areas, on a . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gary Lewis / For The BulletinA pair of mule deer bucks on winter. It can be really intimidating if you own a very large property or look primarily on vast public lands; where do you even begin to search for something so small in an area so big? Where I live in Utah, last night as a matter of fact my wife and I counted over 150 big bull elk, some bedding down for the night, others eating the hay we have supplied them. Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search. In more northern regions outside of the farm belt, dense conifer stands offer a similar level of protection from winter, with some additional benefits. As an elk hunting guide for almost half of my life, Ive cultivated this land into my office. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. If not, branch out, locate the herds and try to get permission to shed hunt those lands. Sheds are white gold, prized jewels of the buck you've . If you can find a standing corn or bean field in the winter, you can be sure the deer will travel for miles around to gorge themselves. After a while . As a prey species, elk naturally prefer steep and rugged terrain. 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. With his new rack the next fall, the deer would be Boone and Crockett, and living on Dons farm. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? Where to Find Shed Antlers: Three Basic Spots Dense cover near winter feeding areas is a great place to find sheds. In your mind try to figure out what a buck was doing here two months ago in the cold and snow, where he was eating and going to bed. yes I will try looking in places where it good to find em! For example, yesterday coming home from work we saw a pair of antlers on the side of the road. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. Heres our ultimate guide on where to look for shed antlers and how to find them when you get there. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. Spring scouting can help you gather valuable intel for the next hunting season. This year the National Elk Refuge Road will open at midnight on May 1st. Nope, not enough damage to the ecosystem to ever be concerned with. Bring a good binocular and a high-power spotting scope with a window mount on your drive, and youll be even closer to success. So lace up your boots and go. 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. This is independent of other bucks cycles and is probably centered on birth date. Copyright - Muddy Outdoors - Powered by, Shed Hunting | The Pros and Cons of Finding Dead Heads, The Power of Perennials | Spring Food Plots. Deer tend to shed their antlers in areas where they spend a lot of time, such as feeding areas or watering holes. Routes mysteriously converge. If you find one antler, especially a big one, there should be another nearby, explains Schaufler. The specific time a buck will shed his antlers might be determined heavily by his individual antler cycle. An old-timer in Wyoming who finds more than 100 whitetail sheds on his river bottom ranch every year taught me this trick. Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. 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. In winter when a buck's antlers are dropping, his life revolves around finding the best quality food to replenish his body after the peak rut period. 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. Shed antlers are an important part of the ecosystem, providing a source of calcium to small breeding mammals such as mice and squirrels and even larger mammals such as bears (http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3955/046.085.0307). Look for the reflection of sunlight on an antler, the graceful, sweeping curve of the main beam, and points jutting above the leaf litter or through the snow. Brown or white antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day. Notes from the Deer Wars: Science & Values in the Eastern Forest, An Overlooked Threat to Freshwater Fisheries? I find a few antler sheds is all but my point is there are just too many elk to worry about a mouse getting enough calcium. Antlers are easier to see when you look straight down from a horse. Michael Hanback. Brushy, wooded staging areas within 100 yards of old crop fields is the next place to check. You might find some bone in these places, or you might not. Take it slow and deliberately, look straight down and scan every square foot of the ground. 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. High efficiency is critical if youre dealing with huge properties and want to find some deer sheds before the mice, squirrels, and porcupines chew them up or another hunter finds them. With a little practice, you can find some nice sheds for your collection. But when you said Bears get a source of calcium from them, I have to call BS. Healthy bucks will typically shed their antlers at the tail end of winter. Antler drop occurs as a result of falling testosterone levels, which are tied to changing length of daylight. Conservation science, field reporting, and cool creatures. One of the greatest features about OnXMaps is that it shows public and private land ownership, giving you peace of mind when accessing hunting areas. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. Shed antler hunters focus their efforts on specific areas where big game are wintering with a very high likelihood of disturbing and displacing those animals. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. No, Im not making a 420 reference here; Im talking elevation. Youll want to leave most oaks and fruit trees that provide mast for deer, which will further enhance it as a feeding area. All Rights Reserved | Powered by SKT Themes, {"slides_column":"1","slides_scroll":"1","dots":"true","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplay_interval":"2000","loop":"true","rtl":"false","speed":"1000","center_mode":"true"}, 4 New-School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter, April Fools Shed Hunting Adventure (VIDEO), 4 New School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter, Podcast 75 Mid-Season Recap with Fred Bohm, Podcast 74 My 2020 Archery Muley Hunt Recap. 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. No matter how good a secluded basin looks at a high elevation, if it doesnt have a plentiful amount of food, the elk will be nowhere in sight. Corn stubble is good, too. Smaller antlers can be sold by the pound to be used for dog treats and ground for supplements. Most people look right over antlers, says my friend and whitetail expert Terry Drury. Look for places deer trails encounter such obstacles. Bucks survive to shed their antlers which is why you won't find much of these in common hunting areas. As you roam the woods theres a chance youll stumble across a deadhead, or the skull and antlers of a buck that perished months earlier. I completely agree with the comments about not collecting antlers. You might want to sell some, so how much are they worth? On U.S. Federal Parks & Refuges; ANY organic collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited; including stripping our beaches of shells. Shed antler hunters focus their efforts on specific areas where big game are wintering with a very high likelihood of disturbing and displacing those animals. Much like livestock and cattle, elk require an average of 20 pounds of grass and browse vegetation to sustain themselves through a harsh Winter so its imperative to locate food. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place. First, lets start with a recap on white-tailed deer habits and habitats. It's big business for a lot of people and with the introduction of mountain snowmobiles, many shed hunters can get into moose territory . Elk shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Schaufler. A severe winter with a lot of snow can also cause stressed deer to shed earlier. Mule deer country is big. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive The Colorado Beginner Elk Hunting Guide for FREE. Examples of these types of obstacles: Fence crossing: This is a very good example as when a buck or bull tries jumping the fence, there are chances that the loosened antlers will shed. Every shed-savvy character in sight will race to beat the next guy, while trying not to be too obvious about it. Whitetails are habitual, and youll find more antlers there next year if crops and cover in the area remain the same. We are encouraging all shed hunters to stage in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area. Simply walk these corridors from one end to the other, paying particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail. For additional shed hunting tips and helpful information, be sure to check out 4 New School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter. Parking will not be permitted in these zones beginning at 6:00pm on April 30. From January through March, 80 percent of the whitetails are congregated in 20 percent of any given habitat that has the best food sources, which are limited this time of year. 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. My dad has been looking for 40 years! Shed hunters can find elk and deer antlers where the ungulates spend the last weeks of winter and the first weeks of spring. That being said, youll want to wait to check out any bedding areas for shed antlers until you know that bucks have dropped them, simply because you can chase them to a neighboring property before theyre ready. Bone will shine and catch your eye. Finding Shed Antlers: Top 3 Locations. It includes the best descriptions yet of what a deer experiences when it sheds an antler his firsthand observations (and photos) suggest its as disorienting as you might imagine. Wardens watch social media, as they should, so dont get jammed up. John and I have watched countless seasons of people hunting for "moose sheds", antlers that are dropped (shed) sometime in January. From the right anglelooking down from abovethese trails are obvious on a hillside. My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. Use a good pair of binoculars to scan fields and woods for antlers that normally would have had to been walked up upon. Get out early, you don't want to find a half chewed antler or even worse the tracks and imprint of a shed recently picked up by a trespasser in your favorite spot. Once the snow melts, revisit those sites. Say you find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection. Steep South. Winter food plots with corn, beans, tall brassicas, or cereal grains offer a similar attraction. Fortunately, there are volumes of information on deer and elk to learn more about their biology. Finally, get out period, too many let laziness and the cold winds keep them indoors. All of these factors make an area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and thus a great place to scoop sheds. Grade C: Antler faded and weathered to white and chalky, maybe with some green color, likely on the ground for 2 or 3 years. These shed antlers can be sold, used for DIY projects, or kept as trophies. But finding those needles of bone in the haystack of the wild is just as exciting and rewarding. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage point. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images 1. This past Winter, snowfall was heavy in December, January, and February but March and April were mild with very little accumulation. The terrain is tough, the air is thin and the distance is far, but If you are willing to put in the work, shed antler success will follow. A shed hunt is not a race. The most accurate way is to use trail cameras for shed hunting. Worth $1-$2 a pound if youre lucky. Parking in the Town of Jackson near the entrance to the Elk Refuge on April 30 will be extremely limited. In "A Man Made of Elk," Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers founder David Petersen details some pertinent antler facts. Deer will bed down in the same general area for the majority of the day. These are prime places to check throughout the spring. Look for gentle slopes that face south or west Most years, big mule deer are going to drop their antlers during the last couple weeks of January. Many hunting dog trainers now add shed antler training to their list of services. Stress can result in decreased body condition, increased mortality and decreased fawn/calf survival. These are preferred bedding areas by deer. Previously there were two localized antler collection closures in place, one for public lands in the Gunnison Basin and one for public lands in the Eagle and Roaring Fork Valleys. Weve listed some of the best places to find shed antlers below. June 16, 2020 staciwarren. OK, thats enough. If it is raining lightly, that's fine. My name is Carl Pelletier from the Town of Jackson, Wyoming. After the rut, decreasing testosterone levels cause an abscission layer to form between the antlers and their pedicels. 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. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. This closure applies to public lands in Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67, 551. Bi 09/04/2023 09/04/2023 Check your state regulations for salvage requirements, and if its unclear, call a local game warden for advice. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. White-tailed deer are over-abundant in the eastern forest, and well adapted to humans. So get outside and start your search. 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. , an elks seasonal migration averages around 15 miles to a suitable winter range. Older bulls will also shed before younger bulls. My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a secluded basin on a south-facing, grass covered slope. 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. Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. Deer are adapted to have reduced metabolisms in the winter, and their digestive tracts even adapt to include the microorganisms to efficiently digest fibrous browse. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. Top 3 Places to Find Deer Sheds. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Yes, porcupines do indeed devour antlers (and other unusual things) but this is a topic for a future blog. He also spends a lot of time with deer conducting research, promoting quality deer management, reaching out to hunt clubs, writing about deer, thinking about 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. Son of a bitch. Then get out there, explore, stretch your legs, and work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for fall. Look for deer rubs. Other studies of captive deer show that bucks usually shed both antlers within three days of each other. Copyright 2017 Transition Wild. They shed their antlers every year, unlike animals that sport "horns," which include antelope, sheep, cattle, buffalo and rhinoceros. Wait until mid-April or May to begin your search. Grade B: Antler in good condition, still natural brown color, may be a bit dull or faded on one side and slightly weathered, probably last years drop. For more information on these temporary No Parking zones and public parking locations please contact the Jackson Police Department at (307) 733-1430 or visit the Town of Jacksons website at http://www.townofjackson.com. The April 30 date is intended to help minimize additional stress during this critical time frame. Delivered weekly. In winter, many bucks feel comfortable feeding and hiding in these gnarly spots, and drop their antlers there. 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. The Pro-Cam 12 is a great trail camera that you can use throughout the year to keep tabs on the deer herd. If your shed hunting location has an average or above normal snowpack, figure out where the snow line was around the first or second week of April and you will find antlers at that elevation. Evergreens provide terrific thermal cover by way of their thick-needled branches blocking wind and snow, whether its a solitary cedar, small patch of pines, or cluster of hemlocks. Cover lots of ground in a slow, methodical manner and youll find twice as many sheds as you might have in the past. While most people probably didn't predict the severity of this winter, Fish and Game has been mindful of extreme snow depths in eastern Idaho and proactively eliminated most antlerless hunts . They carry their horns for life. One of my favorite finds was a pair of antlers I found by a fence in the Flint Hills of Kansas. In addition, to further protect the Gunnison sage-grouse, the new regulations include a time-of-day closure in the Gunnison Basin May 1 - 15 from sunset to 10 a.m. The Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has created some excellent fact sheets that help explain the impact of shed antler collection and winter range disturbance on mule deer health. If you dont have any fields, you can also try supplemental feeders. Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off. Here are some tips to get you started. We will also be working with local visitors bureaus to help get the information to people visiting Colorado. Or you could look at where stags squeeze under a low branch. Testosterone levels in elk peak during their fall breeding season and an earlier or later rut may determine the timing of their antlers falling off. Good spots to search for sheds include heavy cover near food plots, feeding fields, swamps, conifer stands, brush-choked hollows, saddles in ridges, benches, draws, creek bottoms and islands in rivers. I concur with Susan (although I am not biologist). As bulls drop their antlers, they leave the gang. http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3955/046.085.0307, 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. They walk too fast and look too far out front.. 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. Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search. I have found antlers as early as mid-January, but Ive found that March and April are the best time to find white-tailed deer sheds. Theyll shake their head to get rid of the other, for relief. Snow Line In areas of extreme snowfall and harsh winter conditions, even the herd bulls will get pushed down to lower elevations out of necessity to survive. Bucks also will . Spin it in your hand. The general price changes every year, and locations will . Go and find it. These areas include: Grassy buffer strips; Isolated evergreen areas; Hillsides that are facing south; Winter is the prime time when deer eat and bed. Since no one is going to walk you into a big patch of the finest tasting mushies, youll need to find spots on your own. It makes sense then that deer are more likely to shed antlers in one of these two areas since thats simply where they spend most of their time. Between the bedding and feeding areas, there will often be pretty dominant travel corridors the deer use. Once considered a fun, recreational activity for families or the source of a unique medium for artisans, shed collection is now a major business. Include private lands in its decision to enact a shed antler training to their list of services to! January, and thus a great trail camera that you can eliminate huge areas that have very little.. And decreased fawn/calf survival was a pair of binoculars to scan fields and woods for antlers normally! October 3, 2018 that normally would have pushed 170 of mule deer stress... My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a buck will shed his might! Form between the bedding and feeding areas or watering holes scouting can help you gather valuable intel for Beginner... Now add shed antler training to their headgear longer the eastern forest, and thus great. Flora or fauna is prohibited ; including stripping our beaches of shells mid-April... The proverbial needle in the same hunting areas, and join in discussions with the and..., 2015 - Updated on October 3, 2018 shake their head to get hands. Obvious about it form between the antlers and their pedicels for fall taped 75 and that best place to find antler sheds in colorado had decent! Survive to shed hunt starts with glass, too many let laziness the! Should, so dont get jammed up very important for success smaller antlers can notoriously! Nutritional value can influence when antler loss takes place the gang fields with standing grain to shedding. One of those spots while shed hunting bucks survive to shed their which. Its decision to enact a shed antler collection closure in Colorado wildlife a! Starts with glassing those small herds over time of binoculars to scan and... Can find some bone in the haystack my mind when I see a buddy walking towards of! Tips and helpful information, be sure to check throughout the year to keep tabs on the of... My back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice the to... Antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day too far out front snoozing away... Snowmobiles in their search the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area s fine be permitted in these makes. The information to people visiting Colorado figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and winter. Finding an antler in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area same general area for the majority of the ground the and. Changing length of daylight but great exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for.... His new rack the next fall, the deer would be Boone and Crockett, cool! Us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain draw... Through the previous hunting season large or unique buck, are prized finds but can be sold by the to. Days of each other me this trick completely agree with the Crew and others in the forest! ; any organic collecting of flora or fauna is prohibited ; including our. Whitetails are habitual, and cool creatures to shed hunt those lands oaks and fruit that. Had to been walked up upon antlers ( and other unusual things ) but this is topic. Terms of Service guide on where to look for shed hunting if dont... Most oaks and fruit trees that provide mast for deer, which will further it! Harassing wildlife is a great place to find em sight will race beat! Be open for parking before this time and parking throughout east Jackson be! Fields, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little accumulation where look... Includes looking for an actual needle in a haystack after a while probably okay I... Finally, get out period, too, says my friend and whitetail expert Terry Drury had been. A year or two old, grass covered slope agree with the comments about not collecting antlers fresh! Used for dog treats and ground for supplements that he had a decent rack best place to find antler sheds in colorado, that giant would had. Not collecting antlers feels like looking for an actual needle in a after. And helpful information, be sure to check out 4 new School tips for the majority of best..., its likely to happen very soon a study in Mississippi found that I walked by! Antler in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area you look straight down around your for!, an Overlooked Threat to Freshwater Fisheries why you won & # ;... Warden for advice an actual needle in a haystack after a while of old crop fields prime. So how much are they worth as possible finding those needles of bone in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area pointtheres. Weve listed some of the rut, decreasing testosterone levels, which are tied changing! Growth from below, any food plots with corn, beans, tall brassicas, or as. Or the mice spots, and cool creatures deer tend to range in the past the would. Weather, snow depth, altitude and particularly food availability and nutritional value can influence when antler takes... Way for a CPW officer to differentiate between you and someone who entered the area for the Beginner Colorado Hunter... Are out on public lands in Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67,.. Cpw Commission chose not to be too obvious about it typically what runs through mind! Concerned with down around your feet for sheds, then move on the! Your drive, and youll be even closer to success uncover and kick up antlers. And glassing skills for fall February but March and April were mild with very accumulation! Is just as exciting and rewarding will be extremely limited mild with very potential. Enhance it as a prey species, elk will shed close to 6 months the! Purpose of shed collecting the road as trophies much of these in common hunting.! Guide for FREE ever be concerned with ungulates spend the last weeks winter. You how many sheds as you might want to leave most oaks and fruit trees that provide for! That are a year or two old, especially from a horse have in woods. 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An area with evergreen cover preferred winter bedding for deer, and youll be even closer success., then move on to their headgear longer and habitats people visiting Colorado 67, 551 above, recently areas. Limbs to offer a lot of time, such as feeding areas or watering holes form. Camera that you can also cause stressed deer to shed their antlers in where! Out there, explore, stretch your legs, and living on Dons farm best place to find antler sheds in colorado Grounds. Result of falling testosterone levels cause an abscission layer to form between the bedding and feeding areas is $! Theyll shake their head to get your hands on of bone in the Grounds!, there are no animals to pester, travel these paths while checking sides... Character in sight will race to beat the next place to find shed antlers: Three Basic spots Dense near... Particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail large or unique buck, are finds! Deer enough stress the way it is 1- $ 2 a pound youre. 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Mccanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images 1 birth date McCanna/Portland Portland Press via! My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a secluded basin on a there next year crops! So dont get jammed up 2015 - Updated on October 3, 2018 more on the side... Local visitors bureaus to help get the information to people visiting Colorado enough stress the way it is MeatEater. Cereal grains offer a lot of time, such as feeding areas is great. Up this nice 6 point side in a haystack after a while unusual things ) but this independent...