Shed Hunting: An Enjoyable Early Season Activity

**What Are Good Areas to Shed Hunt?

Look for good quality food areas this time of year, as many places have lingering snow or are even a few feet deep. It is best to concentrate on the spots where deer would be eating right now. You should also check areas that have fresh water and around bedding areas. Wherever you decide to start shed hunting, it is important that you have fun. Keep your eyes on the lookout, you might find the biggest buck or bull antlers you have ever seen.

Many hunters also use trail cam evidence for when to begin the shed hunting season, so if you have a few cams upstart looking for bucks that may have shed an antler. This is a sign that it is almost time for you to get out of the house and get looking.

What Makes Shed Hunting So Fun?

Spending your time shed hunting can also greatly benefit early-season scouting. There is no guarantee that what you find in the early spring will lead to a kill in the fall, but it gets you in the mode of looking for vital habitat that may hold those animals come opening day.

What to Look Out for While Shed Hunting?

One of the most complex parts of shed hunting is that many sheds can look like twigs and small branches. You probably have walked by sheds before without even noticing them. Shed antlers themselves look a lot like the antlers on the deer, especially immediately after they all off, so they are typically white and brown.

Taking your time to scan an area slowly is how you will find those antlers. If you are on a brisk hike, forget about it. It helps if you look around an area about 20-30 yards all around you. This is not a race to find the antlers. Otherwise, you might come home empty.

If you find an area that holds some bucks, but you don’t see any sheds. Try coming back in a week or two because deer and elk alike don’t drop their antlers all at once.

Are There Regulations for Shed Hunting?

Some places do have shed hunting regulations, so check in with your local game & fish to make sure it is okay for you to shed hunt. Additionally, some states don’t allow you to take sheds home, so again, check with your state wildlife to make sure you are following the rules. Other states highly encourage you to shed hunt, but they still want you to tread lightly and responsibly so that you are not putting a ton of stress on animals in the offseason.

For most, shed hunting can be a fun and enjoyable activity for all participating. As a hunter, it can make a family, community, or scouting event that will create great memories for you and the people around you. Happy hunting!

If you have an interesting antler shed and/or story send it to The Inside Spread at info@kennethf23.sg-host.com

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