|
|
|
For the past several years, Fred Martin of Clinton has hunted shed deer antlers along with his dog, Rex. This pair of hunters usually bring in a dozen or more antlers in February.
Several years ago, while searching for antlers near Truman Lake, Martin noticed his dog would find racks, so he taught Rex to locate the antlers and the two have had success every winter.
“I guess Rex thought the antlers were a bone to chew on and sensed that I was pleased when he found one,” Martin said. “After the snow has melted, I will be looking for more antlers, but this year it will be without Rex. He was hit by a pickup truck about a month ago and can barely get around. It won’t be the same without him.”
After all the snow and cold this winter, people have had enough, but one activity that peaks this month and helps fight off cabin fever is hunting those shed antlers.
With hunting seasons closed and trout season in the parks a little ways off, hunting shed deer antlers is an incentive to venture outdoors.
Starting this month, bucks begin dropping their antlers they grew for the fall rut. The exact timing varies from place to place and from year to year, but you can be sure there are antlers on the ground all across the state. Looking for shed antlers puts you in closer touch with nature, and if you are a deer hunter, it will also provide clues to the location and habits of bucks that survived last season.
In mid-winter bucks spend most of their time searching for food, so experienced shed antler hunters focus their attention on places where food is available. Travel corridors between feeding and bedding areas are worth checking. Other promising places include crop fields, food plots on conservation areas and fields where hay bales have been stored.
Although you need permission to hunt on private land, shed antler hunting doesn’t have to be confined to places where hunting is allowed.
Archery deer hunters who find sheds and other deer sign around these areas may be able to gain permission to hunt there next season.
Game trails, logging roads, wooded fence rows and stream corridors are natural travel lanes for deer and should be checked. South facing slopes are favorite bedding spots because they offer maximum exposure to warm sunshine on clear days.
For the past several years, Fred Martin of Clinton has hunted shed deer antlers along with his dog, Rex. This pair of hunters usually bring in a dozen or more antlers in February.
Several years ago, while searching for antlers near Truman Lake, Martin noticed his dog would find racks, so he taught Rex to locate the antlers and the two have had success every winter.
“I guess Rex thought the antlers were a bone to chew on and sensed that I was pleased when he found one,” Martin said. “After the snow has melted, I will be looking for more antlers, but this year it will be without Rex. He was hit by a pickup truck about a month ago and can barely get around. It won’t be the same without him.”
After all the snow and cold this winter, people have had enough, but one activity that peaks this month and helps fight off cabin fever is hunting those shed antlers.
With hunting seasons closed and trout season in the parks a little ways off, hunting shed deer antlers is an incentive to venture outdoors.
Starting this month, bucks begin dropping their antlers they grew for the fall rut. The exact timing varies from place to place and from year to year, but you can be sure there are antlers on the ground all across the state. Looking for shed antlers puts you in closer touch with nature, and if you are a deer hunter, it will also provide clues to the location and habits of bucks that survived last season.
In mid-winter bucks spend most of their time searching for food, so experienced shed antler hunters focus their attention on places where food is available. Travel corridors between feeding and bedding areas are worth checking. Other promising places include crop fields, food plots on conservation areas and fields where hay bales have been stored.
Although you need permission to hunt on private land, shed antler hunting doesn’t have to be confined to places where hunting is allowed.
Archery deer hunters who find sheds and other deer sign around these areas may be able to gain permission to hunt there next season.
Game trails, logging roads, wooded fence rows and stream corridors are natural travel lanes for deer and should be checked. South facing slopes are favorite bedding spots because they offer maximum exposure to warm sunshine on clear days.
Hunting shed antlers is like any other king of hunting – the more you do it, the better you become. People who have hunted shed antlers for several years, can bring home dozens of antlers this month.
“Don’t get discouraged if you find just a few antlers the first time out – or none at all. You will experience other rewards while in the woods and fields this time of year when just a few people take the time to experience this kind of event.”
You may find shed antlers any time of year, but the best specimens are found now through March. Mice, squirrels and even deer gnaw on the antlers because they contain nutrients, so antlers don’t last too long in the wild.
There are many uses for antlers, including making knife handles, decorating and, if you find enough, you might even build a chandelier. Log home magazines advertise antler chandeliers that go for big bucks (no pun intended).
With all the bucks roaming the woods today, there are bound to be lots of antlers on the ground just for the taking, and you don’t need a permit to hunt for them.
“After all the snow melts, it would be an excellent time to go shed antler hunting, and even with just a little snow on the ground, they are easier to see,” Martin said. “I know I’ll be out there looking for them.”
