Shed hunting tips and tricks!

[huntingfool]

So i'm pretty new to the forum and I love shed hunting. I have searched the forum and haven't come up with very many threads about the topic so I figured I would start one. I know that majority of shed hunting and finding a decent amount of horns is plain and simple put lots of miles on your boots and scouting for where they winter. I live in southern Colorado and I do pretty well with muley horns but i have the hardest time finding elk (not for lack of trying). This year i have made it my goal to pick up more elk horns but my scouting is very limited due to work and other boring stuff haha. But my question is for my shed hunting friends is what are things you look for while shed hunting, terrain, food, looking in burns, rugged canyons, south facing hills?? What are things that you are always pulled to while looking? I know its a pretty vast question but i figured i would through at you western shed hunters!! Thanks

 

[TimberJunkie]

HF, I am by no means an expert, But I put on lots of miles and find a decent pile of horns every year, I was in Colorado a few years ago for a firefighting detail. I was in Gunnison for about a week and then in Montrose for another week. we would go for hikes in the mornings and find a bunch of horns. The key to Elk if finding the area they go after winter, Elk antlers will drop anytime between mid March and early April. Many times we find them about where the snow line is, The elk will follow the receding snow back up the mountain as the spring melt starts. Elk will generally winter in the same area every winter, these areas get hit by horn hunters early. another factor is that Elk antlers are big, so they are easy to spot, which means the first one in an area usually finds them. I use binos when I go, and i can honestly say that I have spotted antlers across canyons, and up to a mile away. It seems as if they like areas that are growing green grass in the spring, but on the edges of timber and cover. lots of guys i shed hunt with just walk too fast. every step you take things look different, take a few steps and look around. look for curves of main beams and white tips. finding thew first ones of the day is the hardest, then your eye becomes more trained, just like spotting deer or elk the first day of the season.

good luck to you.

 

[packmule]

Looks for things that'll jar them in those areas..walk drains (gulches, or whatever they're called regularly in the area). shaded cover with logs they'd go over, range fences, etc.

 

[badgerbob]

I just picked up a new pup and horn hunting is the first thing I plan on teaching her. Half Border Collie and half Lab, 4 mo. old. I have a shed at home and she is pretty good at finding it when I hide it from her. Went out on Mon. and located a couple of Mulies still sporting their racks.

 

[ivorytip]

check out this monster shed! ha, have to say its the smallest one ive ever found, well dog found.
you have to know where they are hanging out, where they are eating and bedding, between a b and c you will find your sheds. here in Idaho there is no season for shed hunting, I know some places have a season. but if you out marching around spooking wintering game you can be fined so be careful. this spot I go always has a few deer and elk that get poached for head gear this time of year, fish and game knows this so I don't know why they don't spend a night or two just for the sake of being there. found many of bodies with skull plate gone.

 

[AKaviator]

Okay guys, I'll admit it...I'm young and naive about some things and this is one of those things obviously. But, what is the allure of gathering sheds? What do you do with them, sell them??
I've picked some up over the years and done some hiking to get a couple that I thought were really a big matched set of moose antlers.
I don't need to own all that many though and really have no room for them.
The only ones I regret not being able to get were a couple big bull moose that locked horns and died that way. They would be interesting to have. You should have seen the ground that they tore up!

 

[NE69]

If you find his sheds, he usually will survive to hunt the next season and he should be bigger! Before trail cams it was the best way to see what survived. It's pretty exciting the bigger they are. Best time to see the trail patterns. Something about a big rack gets most guys excited! [emoji7]

 

[AKaviator]

If you find his sheds, he usually will survive to hunt the next season and he should be bigger! Before trail cams it was the best way to see what survived. It's pretty exciting the bigger they are. Best time to see the trail patterns. Something about a big rack gets most guys excited! [emoji7]

Makes sense to me. I like the big ones too! BTW, I was told of a new world record moose out of unit 18 up here. Apparently had been in some guys shed for 5-6 years before being scored and was still 270+ I haven't seen a photo yet.

 

[ivorytip]

and they are worth a pretty penny too, and if you get lucky enough to find a matching set of trophy quality you can sell those for a real nice penny. we found a monster set of elk antlers one year, 8x8 fresh drops..... youd be surprised what you can sell that for. besides, its fun to get out and look. where I look the deer are no where close to there come fall, most of them travel over 75 miles to grt to this spot so it has nothing to do with scouting for me, fun to watch my dogs work gathering them though.

 

[Roamer]

I love shed huntin. I enjoy it almost as much as actual hunting. Just being Outside in the spring watching everything come back to life, and trying to figure out where and how the animals were spending their time. Finding 1 side and looking for hours for the other or finding them laying right on top the other one. Plus spending time with my wife and dog in the woods. Not to mention you get in really good shape ,put in 10 + miles and your pack gets heavyer as you go.
To agree with what was said above feeding area bedding areas and the trails in between and use your optics a LOT and a good dog can help a lot ( sometimes he finds more than I do). Doing it for 25 years helps as well

 

[Tim McCoy]

AKaviator, I've been told I am part caveman, I lack artistic talent, so cave painting is out. Next best thing is collecting the occasional talisman. As has been shared, some are worth a bunch and buyers will pay by the pound for the rest depending on condition. I've not sold any but many do.

Never shed hunted as a primary goal, but always looking when out and about. I have other bad habits, late winter steelhead and spring chinook, that I enjoy during prime shed chasing season. But I've managed to find a few gems, 30"+ mulie matched set, 9x12 mulie winter kill and some massive whitetail singles. They are in the man cave and it pleases me to see them.

I've been known to take a find (shed or winterkill) and incorporate it into a habitat for a mount. I have a buddy who took a small shed and made me a bottle opener with an antler handle. I have a good friend who asked me for a shed for her daughter, new age Portland thing I suspected, I gave her one and have not asked why. The people that ask for them for dog chew toys get told no.

 

[huntingfool]

Thanks guys, Lots of good info!

 

[Finsandtines]

Okay guys, I'll admit it...I'm young and naive about some things and this is one of those things obviously. But, what is the allure of gathering sheds? What do you do with them, sell them?

Gives a reason to be out in the woods, scouting tool, good way to spend time with my son and get him involved in the outdoors, and they make great decorations!

 

[mrcowboy]

I like that "monster" shed. My wife found this "monster mulie spike" and elk the same day kind of funny to look at them together. I agree don't push winter stressed animals around for their sheds. And poaching well don't get me started. NM has real poaching problem.

 

[AKaviator]

Some are really cool for sure and it's become popular up here too. I used to see Sarah Palins dad gathering pickup bed loads of caribou antlers along the haul road. I doubt you can find them like that up there anymore.

 

[missjordan]

A co worker of mine sells horns on the side of his regular day job and it's amazing how much horns are going for now (around $12-$15) per lb for the fresh stuff. He also buys big sets and sells them to collectors but for the average sized horns get cut up and sold by the lb to the Chinese. Not sure what they do with them but there's also a small niche market for dog bones now too. My local petsmart had a cut elk antler retailing for $25! That is mega crazy

 

[ivorytip]

haha yeah, pet smart never gets my business. thats insane!

 

[Greys0n]

Looks for things that will jar them in those areas..walk drains