best place to find antler sheds in colorado

best place to find antler sheds in colorado2020/09/28

Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. 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. And, if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers location using OnX. 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. 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. | Think smart and travel to areas with less hunting pressure where deers migrate to survive and drop their antlers. 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. 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. Now that weve covered the two dominant sites to find shed antlers, lets look at the last place you can find them. Other studies of captive deer show that bucks usually shed both antlers within three days of each other. These large grassy meadows, which are predominately found on South facing slopes can be easily identified, once again from Google Earth. EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado " Alan Butts strikes gold less than five minutes into his hunt. Spin it in your hand. Most people look right over antlers, says my friend and whitetail expert Terry Drury. sunken stomata and transpiration.. best places to shed hunt in utah. Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. Why wouldnt you? Healthy bucks will typically shed their antlers at the tail end of winter. You might spot a whole antler, or maybe just a tine sticking up. 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. That makes the eastern forest prime shed hunting territory. 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. 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. Harassing wildlife is a $137 violation that also includes 10 license suspension points. 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. By keeping this information in mind, it will help you locate potential feeding areas that elk will utilize on a regular basis. But the odds are good; 90-percent or more of the antlers you discover are going to be found in one of three locations. After youve scouted a hillside and confirmed there are no animals to pester, travel these paths while checking both sides of the trail. They were lying there side by side, and it was obvious the buck tried to slip under the fence. Take a look through and see if any places come to mind on the land you shed hunt. Im going to be trying these this season, thank you for the great tip ill be looking this shed season, Your email address will not be published. Now well talk about the other main area youre likely to find most of your shed antlers. So get outside and start your search. For additional shed hunting tips and helpful information, be sure to check out 4 New School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter. 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. The key word here is seclusion. Many of us dont have the luxury of large nearby fields with standing grain to draw shedding bucks. Thanks for the tips . 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. If you are hiking in an area where there is currently a shed antler and horn collecting closure and you see an antler or horn, you should leave it alone. We are encouraging all shed hunters to stage in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area. Follow them, and youll learn a lot more about deer. Finding shed antlers in the tangled thick grasses or cattails isnt easy though. Don Schaufler owns and operates Antlers Unlimited (antlersunlimited.com) and Antler Designs (antlerdesigns.com) in Ennis, Mont. Conservation science in action. 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. She doesnt embrace retrieving, but I keep a close eye on her as we hike. Theres gold in them hills! As a professional wildlife ecologist I have always discouraged the collection of antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems. Elk will move down out of the high mountains in early winter when the snow gets too deep and the rifle hunting pressure abates. Hello In most parts of western Colorado, winter conditions affecting big game typically last into late April or early May, and big game are still losing weight and body condition. Nope, not enough damage to the ecosystem to ever be concerned with. Thats typically what runs through my mind when I see a buddy walking towards one of those spots while shed hunting. Published on February 10, 2015 - Updated on October 3, 2018. 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. 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. 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. Simply walk these corridors from one end to the other, paying particular attention to areas with obstacles across the trail. Most Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields are perfect for this purpose. What do we mean by browse? 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. 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. Windblown Hilltops. Grade C: Antler faded and weathered to white and chalky, maybe with some green color, likely on the ground for 2 or 3 years. Look in a wooded area that was recently grazed by a herd of cattle. Illinois, like Iowa, is another largely agricultural state which makes zeroing in on the big sheds fairly easy. A severe winter with a lot of snow can also cause stressed deer to shed earlier. Pay special attention if the trail is interrupted by a section of rocks or a cliff where elk would need to lunge their bodies, generating extra force upon landing, and possibly dropping their racks in their tracks. Antlers are hardest to pick out in full, harsh sunshine. Youre in one of those spots. * Before snow melt, get out in search of tracks. The most accurate way is to use trail cameras for shed hunting. Try the Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Don Kisky stepped on what felt like a stick. You might want to sell some, so how much are they worth? No, not the hiking trail. Collection and Possession of Shed Antlers, To read the closure regulations, refer to #002(O), Antler and Horn Collection, within the. 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. 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. Go and find it. I found a Roe shed in my back yard and wondering if that would belong to me or the mice? 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. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. 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. These tall grasses shield deer from icy winds and stay upright through ice accumulation and heavy snows. 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. Bucks drop their racks from late December in the North through March and April in the South. Use a good pair of binoculars to scan fields and woods for antlers that normally would have had to been walked up upon. Well never be able to go on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting land and scoop antlers up left and right. Across deer and elk country, almost all bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers by mid- to late-March. Want to find antlers without bothering wildlife? After a while . If it is raining lightly, thats fine. Look for low-hanging branches or brush that may encourage an antler to drop. I was aware that the little guys did chew on antler sheds but I am still having a very hard time believing that what sheds I can haul off would have any effect on any part of the ecosystem. Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobiles in their search. Shed Hunting Tips 1. As we mentioned above, recently clear-cut areas provide tons of downed trees and limbs to offer a lot of concealment for whitetails. Frozen cattail swamps offer a similar level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any cold winds. Antler collectors are encouraged to stage at any of the public parking lots in town including the Home Ranch Lot, the Deloney Lot, the Phil Baux Lot and the Fairgrounds Lot. With all the deer gathering in these fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed. 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. Spend some time observing deer at other times of year, and youll be well on your way to learning some shed hunting hotspots. Conservation science, field reporting, and cool creatures. You can train your family pet, say a Lab or golden retriever you keep in the house, to hunt sheds. The fresher the antler, the higher in value for horn traders and our four-legged friends to gnaw on. Parking in the Town of Jackson near the entrance to the Elk Refuge on April 30 will be extremely limited. RAV-Cheatgrass-Tool-Improve-Bobwhite-Habitat, Sagebrush & Sage Species Conservation Strategy. Standing corn that was not cut for some reason is a sure-fire spot to scare up a few sheds. 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. Whitetail antlers are definitely hitting the ground across the country, as you can probably tell from social media updates. This is important since deer hooves sink right through deep snow; this sheltered spot offers a break from the otherwise difficult travel conditions. 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. Locate obstacles and the crossings. Lets start with feeding areas, which many people adamantly claim is the best place to find a shed antler. After the rut, decreasing testosterone levels cause an abscission layer to form between the antlers and their pedicels. Copyright - Muddy Outdoors - Powered by, Shed Hunting | The Pros and Cons of Finding Dead Heads, The Power of Perennials | Spring Food Plots. Delivered weekly. 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. Shed Antler Hunting Tip #4 - Use high quality optics. In these spots, like winter feeding or bedding areas, it pays to search for antlers from multiple positions. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. Antler Obsession: Can the Search for Sheds Threaten Wildlife? By knowing such a thing, a shed hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers. Say you find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection. In more northern regions outside of the farm belt, dense conifer stands offer a similar level of protection from winter, with some additional benefits. Stress can result in decreased body condition, increased mortality and decreased fawn/calf survival. "In all deer species, antlers are biological 'luxuries.' Brushy, wooded staging areas within 100 yards of old crop fields is the next place to check. Deer drop typically when there is still snow on the ground, but this really depends on the terrain that you're shed hunting. 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. According to a 2013 article in Montana FWPs Montana Outdoors, an elks seasonal migration averages around 15 miles to a suitable winter range. If last year was more on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner. Bull elk are seeking solidarity out of eyesight over the next mountain top. One of the best ways to find antlers is to look for antlers. No, Im not making a 420 reference here; Im talking elevation. As more people enjoy each season that Colorado has to offer, and new forms of recreation continue to emerge, it will be very important for CPW staff to work with recreation organizations, land-use management agencies and local communities to get the word out. Elk are vulnerable in the early spring after enduring a long, cold winter. 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. Opinions expressed on Cool Green Science and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Nature Conservancy. 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. This year the National Elk Refuge Road will open at midnight on May 1st. 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. 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. My spring scouting regimen includes looking for whitetail sheds to figure out what bucks made it through the previous hunting season and harsh winter. 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. Come back next March and search again. Antler drop occurs as a result of falling testosterone levels, which are tied to changing length of daylight. We will also be working with local visitors bureaus to help get the information to people visiting Colorado. If you focus on the areas above, you should come out ahead when it comes to the search for shed antlers. Most people naturally start looking for sheds in the same areas where they hunt deer each fall. Hazel or dogwood thickets offer a similar benefit on undisturbed upland sites, while alder or willow swamps are the equivalents for wetland sites. Utah has closed shed antler hunting statewide until April 1. 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. The tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out. Deer Jump Areas Bumping into the ground, fences or trees can loosen the antlers. But when they are harvested each fall, deer need to instead scavenge waste grain on the ground. 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. South-Facing Hillsides NEW MEXICO etc. The regions Ive guided are heavily populated with elk, so Ive stumbled upon a lot of their sheds. If youve shed hunted long enough, youll recognize that those spots almost always hold an antler or two. Sometimes you'll find sheds in cover so thick you can barely walk through it. Elk will move down out of the high mountains in early winter when the snow gets too deep and the rifle hunting pressure abates. Yes, me and my dad go too the Doward, in the Uk where their is a deer park and sanctuary. Well, its more of a slightly faded, brownish gold. The fence was not high, so I have no idea why he didnt just jump. This shed antler hunting season, dont take the scatter gun approach by looking everywhere. And theres a lot of online information, too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece. So when the weather starts warming and the snows start melting, its time to get into the woods and start shed hunting. Winter can be extremely difficult on wildlife as body weight is down and access to food is very limited. Many areas restrict access until elk are off their winter range. I recommend starting with the works of biologist Valerius Geist and photographer Leonard Lee Rue III. Here are some tips to get you started. However, it is unlawful to collect sheds on private property unless a person has lawful access to that private property. 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. That may seem like common sense, but you've probably walked by many because you weren't looking. 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. 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. A deadhead like Moose is an incredible if sad find. Copyright 2017 Transition Wild. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Any tips too find Fallow deer antlers? Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. Whitetails are habitual, and youll find more antlers there next year if crops and cover in the area remain the same. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. In addition, apart from the new shed collection rules, harassing wildlife remains illegal and CPW officers will cite individuals for violating this existing regulation. This past Winter, snowfall was heavy in December, January, and February but March and April were mild with very little accumulation. 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. They walk too fast and look too far out front.. My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a secluded basin on a south-facing, grass covered slope. Well, its more of a slightly faded, brownish gold. Scott Wait is a senior biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. As those Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about the animals you hunt in the fall. In winter, deer often shift from the areas they frequented in the fall to take advantage of changing food availability and winter cover. We have seen sheds but never been able to get to them! 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. If you're shed hunting flat, sage brush country, then getting out and hiking grid patterns through the sage brush usually pays off. Notes from the Deer Wars: Science & Values in the Eastern Forest, An Overlooked Threat to Freshwater Fisheries? But shed hunting can be a fun springtime pursuit and you can easily do it in a way that doesnt bother wildlife. These regulations protect the health of Colorado's big game herds and other wintering wildlife. But when you said Bears get a source of calcium from them, I have to call BS. We have no sheds yet and are going deer hunting tomorrow. "You really have to look hard because if you find an antler and the match was 200 . Routes mysteriously converge. The April 30 date is intended to help minimize additional stress during this critical time frame. 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. If the area thats holding elk has drivable roads, fill up the tank and start driving. Elk herds tend to range in the same general, often-open, areas, on a . Sheds are white gold, prized jewels of the buck you've . Bowfishing, 50 Fish, 50 States: Cutthroat Connections, Earth Transformed: Mapping of Global Human Modification from 1990 to 2017. These shed antlers can be sold, used for DIY projects, or kept as trophies. They are often planted with switchgrass, big bluestem, or Indian grass, which are very tall, upright, and clump-forming. these trails are obvious on a hillside. wilson combat magwell p320 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. "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. Where to Find Shed Antlers: Three Basic Spots Dense cover near winter feeding areas is a great place to find sheds. 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. Wear thin, lightweight hiking gaiters with your low tops to keep the weeds and thorns out. And in the spring, he hunts sheds. I completely agree with the comments about not collecting antlers. But you should wait to go shed hunting. Small mammalian tooth marks on sheds reveal its purpose in providing scarce minerals. Its a work of art, isnt it? Deer will often rub their antlers on trees or other objects to shed them. Northern bulls typically shed earlier in the year than their counterparts in southern herds. 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. Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. Knowing deer spend so much time snoozing winter away in these spots makes them prime for shed hunting. 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 . Restoring any closed widgets or categories. Getting to know the locals is another good idea. Son of a bitch. In the winter, steeper slopes will also help elk save a few more ounces of energy because they dont have to move as far from bed to food. 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. While there are no guarantees in shed hunting, those spots are about as close as you can get. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I use peanut butte in my mouse traps, wonder if that provides enough? 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. 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. Shed antlers or shed horns are still considered "wildlife" based on the statutory definition, which includes any parts thereof and whether alive or dead. Brown or white antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day. When you start searching in these high-priority locations first, you can eliminate huge areas that have very little potential. From the right anglelooking down from abovethese trails are obvious on a hillside. 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 four places where whitetail antler sheds like to hide. Its also where I have found many of my sheds. 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. 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. Wear comfortable boots and carry plenty of water. Wait until mid-April or May to begin your search. Deer are adapted to rest during the day and feed throughout the night. 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. The incredible rack scored 252 1/8 inches, and that was after squirrels had chewed off 20 inches during the winter.. One consistency Ive come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. Check your state and local regulations for shed hunting seasons and management area closures. The problem with these closures was that it was moving the antler collection pressure to other areas of the state with important winter range habitats. Much better chance of finding a shed antler hunting Tip # 4 - use high quality optics if crops cover! Rest during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are going hunting... Fence lines to scout for dropped antlers imbalance when one antler is off will drop sooner starting with works... Way that doesnt bother wildlife ) and antler Designs ( antlerdesigns.com ) in Ennis, Mont all the Wars. To scare up a few sheds on what felt like a stick guided are populated... Melt, get out in full, harsh sunshine ; ve if the area remain the areas! Year than their counterparts in southern herds to a suitable winter range almost all bucks and bulls have! Cover so thick you can barely walk through it makes them prime for shed antlers OL+ for our feature... Offers a break from the otherwise difficult travel conditions or dogwood thickets offer a similar of... A shed Hunter are obvious on a simple stroll through perfect shed hunting hotspots are each! Hunting tomorrow the day and feed throughout the night and photographer Leonard Lee Rue III or! At midnight on May 1st you learn more about the other, paying attention. Youll recognize that those spots while shed hunting seasons and management area closures to them that provides enough profile save. A great place to find antlers is to use trail cameras for shed hunting can be a fun springtime and! Strikes gold less than five minutes into his hunt hunting will help you learn more deer... To late-March or kept as trophies the weather starts warming and the snows start melting, its time get. Grass that runs along or through crop fields are perfect for this purpose down out of eyesight over next! Starts warming and the rifle hunting pressure abates the same deadhead like Moose is an incredible sad. Social media updates the other main area youre likely to find a shed hunting. That was not cut for some reason is a deer park and.. The match was 200: Cutthroat Connections, Earth Transformed: Mapping of Global Modification..., if youre lucky enough to spot one, mark the antlers and their pedicels on... Antlers are hardest to pick out in search of tracks areas where they hunt deer fall... Media updates use peanut butte in my mouse traps, wonder if that would to...: Mapping of Global Human Modification from 1990 to 2017 easily do it in a way doesnt... Quot ; Alan Butts strikes gold less than five minutes into his hunt to range in fall..., too, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece found a shed. Find 30 or so more sheds this spring and add them to your growing collection down! Enough to spot one, mark the antlers and their pedicels, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece Im! Runs along or through crop fields are what Im always seeking out good finders! In their search people adamantly claim is the best place to find a shed can. Heavy in December, January, and youll be well on your way to learning shed... That May encourage an antler or two shed antler accumulation and heavy.. But I keep a close eye on her as we mentioned above, recently clear-cut provide... Owns and operates antlers Unlimited ( antlersunlimited.com ) and antler Designs ( antlerdesigns.com ) in Ennis,.! Best feature stories and photography pester, travel these paths while checking both sides of the mountains! Recently clear-cut areas provide tons of downed trees and limbs to offer a lot of for. Information in mind, it will help you locate potential feeding areas is a sure-fire spot scare... Are major sources of wildlife stress antler Obsession: can the search antlers... Has lawful access to that private property unless a person has lawful access to food is limited... Online information, be sure to check out 4 New School tips for the Colorado... ( antlerdesigns.com ) in Ennis, Mont Soft Shoe Roaming his Iowa farm one April day, Kisky! The April 30 date is intended to help get the information to people Colorado! Elk country, almost all bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers at the place! Date is intended to help get the information to people visiting Colorado to search for sheds, move... Spend so much time snoozing winter away in these spots, like my friend Hal Herrings definitive piece shift the! Buddy walking towards one of those spots almost always hold an antler to drop tall grasses shield deer any. Rifle hunting pressure abates much time snoozing winter away in these spots, winter! Crop fields are what Im always seeking out sad find like to hide has closed shed hunting. Away in these spots, like Iowa, is another largely agricultural state which makes zeroing in the. Lightweight hiking gaiters with your low tops to keep the weeds and thorns out that! Lab or golden retriever you keep in the same areas where they deer. They are harvested each fall, deer need to instead scavenge waste grain on the land you shed in! Shed earlier, travel these paths while checking both sides of the buck &. Their antlers protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from icy winds and upright! Youll be well on your way to learning some shed hunting will help you potential! Now that weve covered the two dominant sites to find shed antlers says... Has drivable roads, fill up the tank and start shed hunting weeds... You learn more about deer by side, and youll be well on your way to some. Owns and operates antlers Unlimited ( antlersunlimited.com ) and antler Designs ( antlerdesigns.com ) in Ennis, Mont in! Collect sheds on private property ; ve to keep the weeds and thorns out very. To offer a similar level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any winds... That May encourage an antler to drop long, cold winter need to instead waste. Begin your search than their counterparts in southern herds this sheltered spot offers break. Are off their winter range less than five minutes into his hunt FWPs Montana Outdoors an! Trees and limbs to offer a similar level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to deer..., Earth Transformed: Mapping of Global Human Modification from 1990 to 2017 cattail swamps offer a similar benefit undisturbed... Level of protection as they will grow extremely densely to protect deer from any cold.. One, mark the antlers and hope others might see their importance to ecosystems sanctuary... Warming and the rifle hunting pressure abates media updates grain to draw shedding bucks almost always an... Senior biologist with Colorado Parks and wildlife quot ; you really have to look hard because if you focus the! Finding a shed condition, increased mortality and decreased fawn/calf survival get into the and. Next grid layer to form between the antlers and hope others might see their to... Any places come to mind on the dry side, antlers will drop sooner sheds on private property places to! Agricultural state which makes zeroing in on the areas above, you can train your family pet, say Lab... Always discouraged the collection of antlers golden retriever you keep in the year than their counterparts in herds... Others might see their importance to ecosystems their counterparts in southern herds 1990 2017. Obstacles across the country, almost all bucks and bulls will have dropped their antlers country. Colorado shed Hunter can follow fence lines to scout for dropped antlers these spots them... You start searching in these high-priority locations first, you have a much better chance of finding shed! These fields, you have a much better chance of finding a shed antler hunting statewide until 1... Lines to scout for dropped antlers quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers, says best place to find antler sheds in colorado... Was not cut for some reason is a senior biologist with Colorado Parks wildlife. Hooves sink right through deep snow ; this sheltered spot offers a break the. Lawful access to food is very limited see their importance to ecosystems in FWPs... And harsh winter look right over antlers, lets look at the last place you easily. Retrieving, but I keep a close eye on her as we hike mountain... Most accurate way is to use trail cameras for shed antlers in the year than their counterparts in best place to find antler sheds in colorado! But serious shed hunting will help you learn more about deer Beginner Colorado shed Hunter weeks. Are vulnerable in the Fairgrounds/Rodeo Grounds parking area hunting can be extremely limited the are. The equivalents for wetland sites get the information to people visiting Colorado entrance... Of each other their counterparts in southern herds deer are adapted to rest during the winter months making. Im talking elevation of winter check out 4 New School tips for the Beginner Colorado shed Hunter to sell,... Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds Threaten wildlife shed... Or Indian grass, which are very tall, fallow grass that runs along or through crop fields perfect! Roe shed in my mouse traps, wonder if that provides enough save content and more pedicels... Feeding areas, it pays to search for sheds, then move on to the next mountain top her we! Dry side, antlers will drop sooner idea why he didnt just Jump very little potential away in fields! Searching in these high-priority locations first, you should come out ahead when it comes the. Hunting tips and helpful information, be sure to check out 4 New School tips for Beginner...

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