Antler Shed 101

Antlers do not just keep growing. They drop off and the animals grow new ones. These sloughed-off antlers are called shed. Shed hunting or collecting has been a great source for week end entertainment, especially during the off hunting season from late winter to early spring. Shed antlers are prized for making everything from jewelry to chandeliers. The big bonus is that the animals drop them every year and do not have to be killed for their antlers. However, collecting shed must be done with the animals best interest at heart. Never approach wild animals of any kind. There is no need to push them off their feeding and watering areas or disturb their routines just to get an antler. Winter is a very hard time for these animals besides they will drop more next year.

Bucks and bulls, the males of the deer, elk and moose species, shed their antlers every year usually between January and April. The father north in the United states the earlier they drop. Here in Arizona it seems like late February to late March is especially a good time. If you go as far south as Old Mexico the bucks don’t shed until March. Younger animals seem to drop theirs last. The antlers drop off to make room for the new ones which grow through the summer.

New antlers are covered in a fuzzy skin called velvet. Velvet is the only know regenerating skin found in mammals. This skin is sensitive and susceptible to damage which causes antler abnormalities. It’s full of blood vessels to nourish the new antlers, which are true bone, until it is no longer needed. The velvet then dries up and falls off sometimes assisted by the animal rubbing on trees and brush.

The new formation of antler bone grows at an amazing rate. Elk and moose antlers can grow at rate of one inch a day, which explains their awesome racks that appear to just keep growing.

If you decide to go shed hunting here’s a few simple tips:
1.)Practice ethical shed collecting. Don’t disturb the animals they need their feeding grounds to make it through the winter. Trespassing has become an issue with shed collecting. Respect for the animals and respect for landowners.

2.) Look for young trees with “rubs” on them. These are places where the bark has been rubbed off.

3.) Fence lines are a good place to look since jumping can jar the antlers off. I have seen running elk with one antler off and the other just dangling.

4.) Usually both antlers can be found within a 300 yards depending on their feeding and watering patterns so when you find one keep looking as you circle out.

5.) Scout before hand so you have an idea where the deer, elk or moose are. Establishing their watering and bedding locations and their daily feeding patterns… just like hunting. The route they travel will be an excellent trail to follow… at a distance.

Happy & Ethical Hunting!