The male white-tailed deer is capable of growing some of the most impressive antlers in the world. Each year a buck will grow his set of antlers beginning in Spring. These antlers, covered with velvet, will grow quickly over the course of a few months. Blood vessels beneath the velvet supply the antlers with nutrients to help with development. By the peak of the whitetail mating season (rut), many bucks will display some pretty impressive head gear. The antlers, which are made of bone extending from the skull, are used by bucks competing with other bucks to establish breeding rights.
Fights between bucks can be extremely violent. The weaponry is sharp and clashes between antlered deer can result in severe injury or even death. Larger bucks can often intimidate a rival by the size of his antlers alone. This antlered headgear worn by a mature whitetail buck is coveted by many hunters who hope to harvest a trophy in hunting season.
The hunt for antlers continues even after the hunting season ends. Finding antlers shed from a white-tailed deer can be as exciting and challenging as hunting for the animal itself. Each year bucks who have survived the hunting season will usually drop their headgear sometime before late winter or early spring. This is when shed hunters begin their annual tradition of pounding the ground for antlers. Competition from (animals that carry off and gnaw on the freshly fallen bone) as well as from other shed hunters, only adds to the thrill of the hunt.
Shed hunting has become more popular in recent years; with collectors paying hundreds and even thousands of dollars for a complete set. Still, many shed hunters participate in the activity merely for sport. Competition among shed hunters often leads to bragging rights, but antlers are also used for decorative display. Antlers can be used to build everything from hat racks to chandeliers. Whatever the reason for searching for antlers, one thing is for sure; shed hunting is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
Brent Davenport is an avid shed hunter in NWPA. He said of his shed hunting experiences, “This is my fourth year seriously hunting sheds. My biggest was found last year and the single antler scored 68 inches.” Brent’s friend found the other side and it scored 71 inches.
There are many ways to increase your chances of finding sheds. “Sometimes, I take an antler with me on a hunt. I turn my head and toss it. Then, I try to find it. This seems like it helps to pick up on finding them a little better”, Brent said. That is one way to train your eyes and it may even break up the monotony of a long hunt. When you do happen to find an antler, you should pay close attention because the match may be near.
A grid search and a second set of eyes are both helpful in finding sheds. Some shed hunters even employ the use of a dog trained to hunt antlers on the ground. Brent adds, “My advice would be to find what the deer are eating that winter and to walk …and walk… and walk. There are some days I’ll walk for 7 or 8 hours and not find a single shed. You just have to keep at it. One thing is for sure, looking for sheds with an experienced shed hunter is always a good idea.
Many factors influence when a buck will drop its antlers. The velvet that once helped the antler grow has been long gone by winter. The health of a deer and hormonal changes will now effect when antlers drop. Buck testosterone levels begin to decrease after the breeding season and the tissue around the base of antlers will also begin to weaken around this time. By mid to late winter the area around the pedicle (base of antler) will deteriorate so antlers can easily be knocked off or even fall off on their own.
Besides finding antlers, shed hunters can learn about the deer in the area, as well as the area itself while shed hunting. This information is useful for future hunts. What trails deer use, where they eat, and bedding areas are all important factors when noting a good hunting location. Sheds can also help to reveal which bucks have made it through the season.
Hunting for sheds is a lot like hunting for the animal itself. You’ll want to search in locations deer use at the time antlers drop. Food sources, heavily used trails, and creek crossings are all good spots. A keen eye trained to look for movement can also be used to spot the bone white antlers on the ground. Freshly fallen antlers will often appear similar to tree branches and blend in, so a thorough search of a prime area is often required.
I usually begin the search for sheds just as the snow begins to melt, looking for trails and places where deer have been pawing at the ground for food. Thick brush along trails will often knock antlers free. Creek and fence crossings require the deer to jump and can jar antlers loose. Anywhere deer spend a lot of time is a good bet for finding sheds and areas that have produced sheds in the past are obviously great places to look again.
The first shed I found was on state game lands. There were deer visible in the woods across the road when I pulled into the parking area, so I figured I should definitely give that area a look. I watched the deer high tail it deep into the shadows of the trees as i stepped from my vehicle. I headed in the general direction the deer had gone and found a few heavily used trails nearby. I followed one of the trails until I came to a small creek with another intersecting trail. Across the creek, I found where the deer had been digging along a ridge. There were low hanging hemlock limbs and saplings surrounding the area.
Ducking under a hemlock limb, I stumbled forward and landed with one arm on the ground. It is in this position I found my first shed. I had literally stumbled upon the find. It was half of an eight point rack belonging to a legal buck. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes, but immediately began scanning the area for the match. Not twenty yards away was another shed antler! It wasn’t the match. However, I had found two sheds in less than twenty yards and wasn’t even five minutes walking distance from my vehicle.
My first shed find was an exciting moment. Even though it wasn’t a harvested animal, it was still a successful hunt. The harvest was the shed antlers. The find confirmed to me that I was on the right track to becoming a good shed hunter and I was reassured with the two sheds for my efforts. As I made my way back to the parking area, I stopped to admire the sheds under the glow of a beautiful sunset. It felt great to be in the outdoors at the end of a long winter. It also strengthened my respect and appreciation for a majestic animal that calls the outdoors its home throughout the year.
Read more about shed hunting at: Confessions of a Shed Hunter and Bone Collector
