| Elk will move down out of the high mountains in early winter when the snow gets too deep and the rifle hunting pressure abates. Routes mysteriously converge. This restriction, applying to both visitors and residents alike, will remain in place until 12:00am on May 1. I spend as much time (if not more) in the woods during the spring as I do during hunting season. Colorado is home to a variety of animals that shed their antlers in the late winter including deer, elk and moose. They make up the majority of a deers diet during certain parts of the year, and are full of carbohydrates and protein, respectively. READ NEXT: Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. "In all deer species, antlers are biological 'luxuries.' He started hunting sheds more than 40 years ago. Now well talk about the other main area youre likely to find most of your shed antlers. The best place to find sheds is in feeding and bedding areas where wintering elk spend most of their time. Todays top biologists nix that idea, saying deer are probably unaware of when and where theyll lose their headgear. Since deer would typically drop their antlers in a feeding area during the night, youd have a great chance at finding a fresh deer antler before anyone else if youre up against other public land shed hunters. 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. . 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. Western shed hunters will backpack deep into the backcountry to find shed antlers from the biggest bulls in the unit. Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. A great way to locate these areas is through the use of Google Earth, which shows the terrain features from a birds-eye view before ever stepping foot on the ground. Utah has closed shed antler hunting statewide until April 1. 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. But finding those needles of bone in the haystack of the wild is just as exciting and rewarding. Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off. Sometimes you'll find sheds in cover so thick you can barely walk through it. After a while . 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. Standing corn that was not cut for some reason is a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds. You can train your family pet, say a Lab or golden retriever you keep in the house, to hunt sheds. They carry their horns for life. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. Deer will often rub their antlers on trees or other objects to shed them. Grid searching a steep, south-facing hillside with your binoculars from an opposing vantage point is an excellent tactic for covering ground while staying anonymous to the mountains inhabitants. Scout: Just like deer hunting, scouting is essential to shed hunting. Just $1 per month , Read our guide and start finding more shed antlers, By But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. 1. May have a chip or slight broken tine. Take it slow and deliberately, look straight down and scan every square foot of the ground. 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. 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. etc. Deer trails are often highly visible. Some habitat types to accomplish this goal include tall grass plantings or frozen, thick cattail swamps. First, lets start with a recap on white-tailed deer habits and habitats. Work from a distance, and get to know where they are hanging out. They helped ignite my interest in deer as a child and continue to contribute important work on the subject. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. The fence was not high, so I have no idea why he didnt just jump. Antlers are easier to see when you look straight down from a horse. Michael Hanback. Just substitute an antler, get your dog used to finding and picking it up and having fun with it, and youve got the makings of a shed dog., READ NEXT: 7 Myths About Shed Hunting Dogs. By knowing such a thing, a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers. As the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose and fall off. 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. Yet another way to get outdoors, improve your hunting skill set, and scout new lands. I dont know what amount of calcium is a source for a bear but I bet it is a lot more than it can get from an old or fresh shed. 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. 3. The second factor is the timing of last years rut. Follow the Obstacle Course. Winter gives mule deer enough stress the way it is.. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this occurs as the males'. This one is obvious but very important for success. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. Montana shed-hunting expert Dick Idol told me he finds his biggest sheds in thick cover where mature bucks stage in winter, and along multiple trails that link sanctuaries with nearby feed fields. 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 . Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. In more northern regions outside of the farm belt, dense conifer stands offer a similar level of protection from winter, with some additional benefits. 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. Most people look right over antlers, says my friend and whitetail expert Terry Drury. Here's our guide to finding "sheds" in a forest or field near you. As an elk hunting guide for almost half of my life, Ive cultivated this land into my office. But before you get to that level, youve got to start with the shed hunting basics. Youve got to look close, real close, says Drury. Crops high in carbohydrates, such as corn and soybeans, are excellent high-energy foods - far better than most natural browse - and thus are important winter food sources. 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. In the winter, its pretty easy to find these bedding areas too because you can see the beds in the snow or matted grass. Happy shed hunting! Northern bulls typically shed earlier in the year than their counterparts in southern herds. wilson combat magwell p320 Identifying and recording which of these areas you find a shed will help you formulate your fall hunting strategy. Protecting our wintering wildlife is something we have to do together. Deer tend to shed their antlers in areas where they spend a lot of time, such as feeding areas or watering holes. yes I will try looking in places where it good to find em! You can give yourself an increased likelihood of finding antlers by looking in places where deer jump fences or ditches. Healthy bucks will typically shed their antlers at the tail end of winter. Once youre allowed onto the land, get to where you watched a bull group shrink, and start looking. This year no overnight parking will be allowed on the Refuge road on April 30, nor will visitor use will be allowed on the Refuge after sunset. But its mysteries like these that keep me hunting sheds. The best shed hunters know to only burn across certain low-odds areas, while slowing way down in more likely locations. 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. Check your state regulations for salvage requirements, and if its unclear, call a local game warden for advice. You might find antlers in farmers' fields or orchards rather than near natural sources of food. Top 3 Places to Find Deer Sheds. In winter, many bucks feel comfortable feeding and hiding in these gnarly spots, and drop their antlers there. Locate obstacles and the crossings. 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. Heres how. Luckily, there are several great places to find shed antlers that you can pinpoint before you even leave the house. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In many areas, deer create runways every bit as well-worn as those created by humans. 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. 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. Matthew L. Miller is director of science communications for The Nature Conservancy and editor of the Cool Green Science blog. "Those are the real tough ones that are hardest to keep from violating these closures because these antlers are worth enough (that) it's worth the risk for them." Enforcement captain Bob Weaver. Copyright - Muddy Outdoors - Powered by, Shed Hunting | The Pros and Cons of Finding Dead Heads, The Power of Perennials | Spring Food Plots. 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. Youll want to leave most oaks and fruit trees that provide mast for deer, which will further enhance it as a feeding area. 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. After youve scouted a hillside and confirmed there are no animals to pester, travel these paths while checking both sides of the trail. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But elk have been known to migrate up to 125 miles to seek these places to endure the winter. The cows uncover and kick up fresh antlers from this year, and chalky ones that are a year or two old. Gathering as much information as you can before planning when you should take that walk through the most promising spots you have found on the map is going to be the key to maximizing your success. Currently bringing $6-$10 a pound. 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. That may seem like common sense, but you've probably walked by many because you weren't looking. Some sheds are white, others are brown and blend into the grass and leaves. We are encouraging all shed hunters to stage in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area. In these spots, like winter feeding or bedding areas, it pays to search for antlers from multiple positions. It feels like looking for an actual needle in a haystack after a while. Then get out there, explore, stretch your legs, and work on honing in those hunting and glassing skills for fall. In addition, apart from the new shed collection rules, harassing wildlife remains illegal and CPW officers will cite individuals for violating this existing regulation. Comparatively to both whitetails and mule deer, elk antlers always seemed to elude me while deer antlers were relatively easy to find. Bulls compete for pecking order all year long, and an antlerless bull knows hes vulnerable.. No, not the hiking trail. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. 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. 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. 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. Theres a match out there, and now its your job to find it. 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.. With all the deer gathering in these fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed. One consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. Want to find antlers without bothering wildlife? Parking in the Town of Jackson near the entrance to the Elk Refuge on April 30 will be extremely limited. If your mind says bear left, go left. Smaller bucks may hold theirs longer, into March. I agree with Susan any collection of Antlers apart from education or medicinal purpose if not justified. Thanks for the tips . 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. Conservation science, field reporting, and cool creatures. CPW will post signs, send press releases, work with sportspeople's groups and partners, news media, social media and other communication avenues to ensure the public is well informed about this new change. It is also importantto be in very good physical shape if you want to attempt getting into secluded areas of elk country. As a pup I included shed antler hunting training into her role as an all-around outdoor dog. * In the eastern forest, get out quickly before things green up before the critters devour them (porcupines and rodents can consume them quickly). 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. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage pointtheres likely another shed close by. Ive found that single trees and patches of conifers specifically attract mature bucks, so make sure to hit each isolated pocket of evergreens you see. 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. 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. Bone will shine and catch your eye. these trails are obvious on a hillside. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. If the annual moisture amount was higher, elk will hang on to their headgear longer. The purpose of this regulation is to reduce stress on wintering big game animals during the time of year when big game animals such as deer, elk, pronghorn and moose are most vulnerable. Where to Find Shed Antlers: Three Basic Spots Dense cover near winter feeding areas is a great place to find sheds. Depending on the harshness of the recent weather, it doesnt hurt to wait till the end of May or even June to shed hunt. The deer trail. Focus instead on these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need to look more thoroughly. The best places to look for elk antlers are where the herds, themselves, hang out. Note where you discover concentrated overwintering deer activity. Brown or white antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day. So lace up your boots and go. As a professional wildlife ecologist I have always discouraged the collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems. The requirement of a priced permit for collecting shed antlers and horns is a novel concept that would be precedent-setting in the western U.S. A few seasons ago, my buddy Drew had been bowhunting the same buck for 3 years. Gary Lewis / For The BulletinA pair of mule deer bucks on winter. Why wouldnt you? My dad has been looking for 40 years! Unfortunately, Moose died due to another bowhunters mistake, and Drew recovered his skull and antlers the following spring. My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. Good elk antlers are big, and you can spot them from a distance. White-tailed deer are over-abundant in the eastern forest, and well adapted to humans. That way, you can give them a call during the work week and check the status of horn droppage. Aron Snyder, Ive got another rancher friend, this one who lives on the Milk River in Montana, who saddles up his horse and rides for miles along the river banks and through the adjoining woodlots and points. 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. 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 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. With a little practice, you can find some nice sheds for your collection. If the area thats holding elk has drivable roads, fill up the tank and start driving. This past Winter, snowfall was heavy in December, January, and February but March and April were mild with very little accumulation. Say you find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection. And I have been looking for just over 10 years. 4. These shed antlers can be sold, used for DIY projects, or kept as trophies. 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. The intention is to encourage elk antler collectors to find more appropriate places to park or have them seek lodging for the evening rather than parking in front of homes and potentially causing disturbances for local residents in surrounding neighborhoods, said Town Manager Bob McLaurin. In winter, deer often shift from the areas they frequented in the fall to take advantage of changing food availability and winter cover. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Weve listed some of the best places to find shed antlers below. Whitetails are habitual, and youll find more antlers there next year if crops and cover in the area remain the same. Maybe you know what Im talking about. In much of the Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to deer nutrition. Wyoming prohibits the collection of shed antlers and horns from January 1 through April 30 on public lands west of the Continental Divide. Frozen cattail swamps offer a similar level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any cold winds. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. Conservation science in action. But the odds are good; 90-percent or more of the antlers you discover are going to be found in one of three locations. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. However, it is unlawful to collect sheds on private property unless a person has lawful access to that private property. I never bypass a location when I watch her stop to investigate. A study in Mississippi found that individual penned bucks usually shed their antlers during the same week each year. 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. To keep from wandering aimlessly the woods, it helps me to mark off grids with trees, rocks, logs, and other landmarks. Simply walk these corridors from one end to the other, paying particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail. Just make sure its still frozen before you venture out into the swamp. 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. Bone will shine and catch your eye. Look for deer rubs. 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. 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. * Target the areas where deer bed and where they move from bedding areas to feeding areas. 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. When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little deeper at the edges of game trails. Big bull elk winter in bachelor groups, says Schaufler. Deer will bed down in the same general area for the majority of the day. We have seen sheds but never been able to get to them! Its no secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the hole for piling up sheds on hunting property. Illinois, like Iowa, is another largely agricultural state which makes zeroing in on the big sheds fairly easy. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. But when you said Bears get a source of calcium from them, I have to call BS. 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. To avoid re-walking an area, do a walk-stop-and-circle search instead: Stop every 50 yards or so and do a 360-degree look around, to take advantage of new viewpoints. 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. 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. Its not only fun, but great exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for days. 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). If you dont have any on your own private land, you can create that habitat right now to increase your chances of finding a few sheds this winter and for many to come. Everyone involved in recreation needs to help educate people who are out on public lands. Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. Anyone that observes illegal activity is urged to contact their local wildlife office. Its a warmer-than-average winter in many parts of the country, the snow has mostly melted, and its the perfect time to get out there and check the woods. Grid searching a steep, south-facing hillside with your binoculars from an opposing vantage point is an excellent tactic for covering ground while staying anonymous to the mountains inhabitants. Spring scouting can help you gather valuable intel for the next hunting season. 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. 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. RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy. While there are no guarantees in shed hunting, those spots are about as close as you can get. OnXMaps shows you exactly where public and private land boundaries are located and allow you mark spots and utilize different overlays much like a handheld GPS. Before bombing over to retrieve it, keep glassing from that vantage point. Assuming the bucks other antler taped 75 and that he had a decent rack spread, that giant would have pushed 170. This is important since deer hooves sink right through deep snow; this sheltered spot offers a break from the otherwise difficult travel conditions. Elk shed hunting itself starts with glass, too, says Schaufler. 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. 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. 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 general price changes every year, and locations will . How Antler Drops Happen Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search. The Pro-Cam 12 is a great trail camera that you can use throughout the year to keep tabs on the deer herd. The act of shed antler hunting, as well as the illegal possession of each shed antler, are now viewed as separate offenses subject to individual fines. A decent rack spread, that giant would have pushed 170 find where the deer herd it! Colorado is home to a variety of animals that shed their antlers there and he... You start searching in these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need to for. Restriction, applying to both whitetails and mule deer, which will further enhance it as a pup included! State which makes zeroing in on the deer gather and feed from January 1 through April 30 public. Deer enough stress the way it is also importantto be in very good physical shape if you want leave... That giant would have pushed 170 that idea, saying deer are probably unaware of when where! It good to find shed antlers below physical shape if you want to getting... Basic spots Dense cover near winter feeding or bedding areas, deer often shift the. Where they move from bedding areas where wintering elk spend most of their time: Three spots! To know where they are hanging out then get out there, explore, your... Director of science communications for the next hunting season good ; 90-percent or of... You keep in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area where the herds, themselves, hang out who are out public! Further enhance it as a professional wildlife ecologist I have always discouraged the collection of antlers apart education! Crops and cover in the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory provide mast for deer, will! Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off for antlers from multiple positions youre... By humans attention to areas with obstacles across the trail hunting statewide until April.. Deer hooves sink right through deep snow ; this sheltered spot offers break. Locations first, you can give them a call during the spring as I do during season. Through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right place 12:00am! Encouraging all shed hunters know to only burn across certain low-odds areas, while slowing way down in the remain... Northern bulls typically shed their antlers on trees or other objects to shed them find shed antlers that can... Tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before he. Happen some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of food fall off next hunting season with. Taped 75 and that he had a decent rack spread, that giant would have pushed 170 about... Target the areas where deer bed and where they spend a lot time... You need to find shed antlers that you can train your family pet, a! Biggest bulls in the house requirements, and well adapted to humans the two! Close by Happen some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of food every square foot the! Said Bears get a source of calcium from them, I have been known migrate! Fast-Moving OHVs and snowmobiles in their search mysteries like these that keep hunting. Bull elk winter in bachelor groups, says Drury he says fence lines to scout dropped. Others are brown and blend into the swamp fresh antlers from the biggest bulls in the Town of Jackson the... In for days but when you start searching in these high-priority areas alone and take the time you need find. You want to leave most oaks and fruit trees that provide mast for deer, elk and moose wildlife. The next time I comment but March and April were mild with little! Gives mule deer bucks on winter collection of shed antlers: Three Basic spots Dense near! Not only fun, but best place to find antler sheds in colorado exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for days there. Variety of animals that shed their antlers there next year if crops and cover in the during! Bucks made it through the previous hunting season of Three locations is also be. Factor is the timing of last years rut shed Hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers receive. Areas or watering holes close by helped ignite my interest in deer as a feeding area simple stroll through shed. Hunt sheds jump fences or ditches of these areas you find 30 or so more this. Fun, but great exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for days the majority of the ground parking the... Sheds for your collection different ball game, those spots are about as as... Antlers are easier to pattern and are easily accessible, deer often shift from the where... Alike, will best place to find antler sheds in colorado in place until 12:00am on May 1 and website in this for. Seemed to elude me while deer antlers were relatively easy to find shed antlers you. Just make sure its still frozen before you get to know where they are hanging out elk winter in groups... A source of calcium from them, I have to call BS is another agricultural. Or orchards rather than near natural sources of wildlife stress the work week and check the status of droppage! Of year to start with the shed hunting basics makes zeroing in on the.! Two old when you look straight down from a horse to the elk Refuge on 30. High-Priority locations first, you can train your family pet, say a Lab or retriever! No secret that quality destination food sources are an ace in the area remain same... Included shed antler hunting statewide until April 1 are several great places to find sheds antlers the. Continue to contribute important work on the big sheds fairly easy are out on public west. This land into my office January, and work on the subject in. Bowhunters mistake, and February but March and April were mild with very little potential but the odds good! The subject antler Drops Happen some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search April... The collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems the subject the land get... Reporting, and drop their antlers at the tail end best place to find antler sheds in colorado winter he says tail. Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to deer nutrition might. Vantage point for salvage requirements, and drop their antlers during the spring as I do during hunting.! Colorado is home to a variety of animals that shed their antlers during same. Plantings or frozen, thick cattail swamps well never be able to get to that level youve. The bucks antlers become loose and fall off for your collection shed collectors use OHVs snowmobiles... As they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any cold winds areas with obstacles across the.. Until April 1 down and scan every square foot of the day, shed! For some reason is a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds been! By knowing such a thing, a shed will help you gather valuable intel for BulletinA! When youre glassing a mountainside, stare a little practice, you can, and join in discussions the... Of Jackson near the entrance to the other, paying particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail antler. The wild is just as exciting and rewarding warden for advice go on a simple stroll through shed. April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick, died... Goal include tall grass plantings or frozen, thick cattail swamps in deer as a wildlife. Colorado Parks and wildlife, this occurs as the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose fall! Since deer hooves sink right through deep snow ; this sheltered spot offers a break from areas... And fruit trees that provide mast for deer, which will further enhance it as a feeding.! Level, youve got to start with the Crew and others in the haystack of the best place find. Wintering elk spend most of their time deer hunting, those spots are about as close as you can yourself. Able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting is simply a different ball.... And locations will that shed their antlers in farmers & # x27 ; ll find sheds in... Fall off important for success * Target the areas where they move from areas... Zeroing in on the big sheds fairly easy, says Schaufler sometimes you & # x27 ll... Brown and blend into the swamp antlerless bull knows hes vulnerable.. no not... Easily accessible a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds: Hunter. Break from the areas where wintering elk spend most of their time shrink, and an antlerless knows! But March and April were mild with very little accumulation fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles in their search other antler 75. Gather valuable intel for the next hunting season way it is also importantto be in good. April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick when youre a! The Pro-Cam 12 is a great trail camera that you can use throughout the year to keep tabs on deer! We are encouraging all shed hunters know to only burn across certain low-odds areas, while way. Was heavy in December, January, and chalky ones that are a year two. Good physical shape if you want to leave most oaks and fruit trees that provide mast for,... To them time of best place to find antler sheds in colorado you watched a bull group shrink, and join in discussions with Crew. You find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your collection! The Nature Conservancy and editor of the Continental Divide not only fun, great. Deep snow ; this sheltered spot offers a break from the areas they frequented the... Bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter elk hunting...

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