Warden Callaway Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Anyone else make an effort to find deer antler shed? These were found together near the house. I've found a few pairs but more often one. 3 Quote
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted February 27 Posted February 27 looks like a couple of pretty nice knife handles CB Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Unfortunately shed hunting has become a big business here in the west. Most of the western states has shed hunting seasons ( and a few you have to buy a license too) as too many people are in the field shed hunting when the deer and elk are the most highly stressed. Spring is when they shed their antlers and the animals have not really regained their strength after surviving the winter. The buyers were in town a couple of days ago lining up where they would set up their trailer and advertise "We Buy Sheds". They are paying between 12 & 15 dollars per pound. More for trophy sized antlers. A set of elk sheds can easily be worth $100.00. 2 1 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Got a bunch found on the ranch. The champ at finding them was my much missed Bloodhound. 2 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted February 27 Author Posted February 27 1 hour ago, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said: looks like a couple of pretty nice knife handles CB This was from a little spike buck antler. 1 Quote
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Antler sheds aren't native in Australia, nor are the animals that shed them. There, however, a number of deer farms and one feller told me that he HAS to pick them all up because he'd already had 5 punctures in his tractor tyres just mowing his paddocks. Those big tractor tyres ain't cheap; nor is calling out the tyre place to come and repair/replace them. 🙃 2 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted February 28 Posted February 28 I need to build a new cane. My current one has just about reached its use by date. I’d like to get a nice piece of antler, (skill end) about eight inches long and an inch to inch and a half diameter that I can make a nice handle for a new cane! I’d give a little something for somebody’s trouble. 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted February 28 Posted February 28 Got quite a few hanging around as decor - Don't think I can PM photos. You can have one. PIF or postage. I'll pull some down and take a photo or two & you can pick. 3 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted February 28 Posted February 28 Rip! I’d be happy to send you postage if you’ve got something I can use. It’s worth it and then some!! Quote
John Kloehr Posted February 28 Posted February 28 15 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said: Rip! I’d be happy to send you postage if you’ve got something I can use. It’s worth it and then some!! I can't remember the name of the company but I used to buy antler sheds for my dog to chew (natural tooth cleaners). 1 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted February 28 Posted February 28 19 minutes ago, John Kloehr said: I can't remember the name of the company but I used to buy antler sheds for my dog to chew (natural tooth cleaners). If I didn't get them away from my hound he had DIY dog chews! 1 Quote
Pat Riot Posted February 28 Posted February 28 I have only ever found 1 antler and that was decades ago. It was in a swampy area and the antler was in the muck. Where do you look for these sheds? Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted February 28 Posted February 28 (edited) Where the animal winters. They shed in early spring. It's pretty easy here in the Rockies. The elk and deer leave the high elevations because the snow gets too deep for them to get food and migrate to lower altitudes for the winter. Edited March 1 by Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted February 28 Posted February 28 21 minutes ago, Pat Riot said: I have only ever found 1 antler and that was decades ago. It was in a swampy area and the antler was in the muck. Where do you look for these sheds? You walk areas that are known to have deer - April? Many places, shed is Feb / Mar. I have the advantage of my own ranch. Otherwise, permission and permits as may be required by the States. 1 1 Quote
watab kid Posted February 28 Posted February 28 ive not sought them out but i hear it can be lucrative , i do have a small bit my good friend gave me to assist loading rounds thru the rifle loading gate Quote
G W Wade Posted February 28 Posted February 28 I have an acquaintance that trains "shed dogs". Big business for some. Also raises and trains bird dogs GW 2 Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted March 1 Posted March 1 It has been my experience that the fastest way to not find sheds is to set to find 'em.... I seem to recall reading not long ago where some "greenie types" were squawking that picking up sheds was a horrible thing to do 'cuz the po' field mice liked to gnaw on 'em, and pickin' 'em up deprived them po' field mice of a "critical" source of calcium. Meanwhile, I'm a-gonna keep pickin' up any I might come across. 4 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 1 Author Posted March 1 Hunt as far and wide as you can and you'll probably only find 1% of them. 4 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted March 1 Posted March 1 (edited) 7 hours ago, Rip Snorter said: As discussed - have to be cut to ship. RIP!! That middle one will be perfect!! PM me and we’ll make the arrangements!! And thanks in advance!!! Edited March 1 by Blackwater 53393 1 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 1 Posted March 1 2 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said: RIP!! That middle one will be perfect!! PM me and we’ll make the arrangements!! And thanks in advance!!! In the morning! Cooking & eating and lazy after! 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted March 1 Posted March 1 7 hours ago, Rip Snorter said: As discussed - have to be cut to ship. That middle one looks like it’ll be perfect!! PM me and we’ll make the arrangements! and thanks in advance!! 1 Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted March 1 Posted March 1 Run your tractor over a hayfield. The sheds will puncture your tires. It gets kinda expensive, but you don't wear yourself out walking. 4 Quote
watab kid Posted March 1 Posted March 1 i was told that when they laid out in the field too long the mice ate them , too bad the mice wont eat those pesky rocks that rise from the frost every year 1 2 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 1 Author Posted March 1 (edited) The farmer that rents our pasture and fields, rides them down each spring looking for sheds. Not for the enjoyment of finding them, rater not damage his equipment. I have a picture somewhere where I ran onto one with the front tire of tractor. Fortunately, it only suck in the lug and didn't flaten or ruin the tire. Found it. Edited March 1 by Warden Callaway 4 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 1 Author Posted March 1 Here is one of where I found a pair right together. Looks like he took them off for the night and forgot to put them back on. 5 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 I found this one hanging in a clump of sprouts. I've also found one hanging on a barbed wire fence. 1 Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 (edited) Found one. 5 points but not really big. I looked around for the other but found none. Edited March 3 by Warden Callaway Quote
Buckshot Bear Posted March 3 Posted March 3 On 2/28/2025 at 3:30 AM, Warden Callaway said: Anyone else make an effort to find deer antler shed? These were found together near the house. I've found a few pairs but more often one. Do they grow in just one year? Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 3 Posted March 3 1 minute ago, Buckshot Bear said: Do they grow in just one year? Yup! Larger each year, and likely to become Atypical if they live long enough. Both Whitetail and Mule Deer. 1 Quote
Choctaw Jack Posted March 4 Posted March 4 On 2/28/2025 at 11:19 PM, watab kid said: i was told that when they laid out in the field too long the mice ate them , too bad the mice wont eat those pesky rocks that rise from the frost every year Not too sure about mice, but porcupines absolutely love them! The eat them like candy canes. 2 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted March 4 Posted March 4 15 minutes ago, Choctaw Jack said: Not too sure about mice, but porcupines absolutely love them! The eat them like candy canes. Maybe that's where all mine go!! Quote
watab kid Posted March 5 Posted March 5 6 hours ago, Choctaw Jack said: Not too sure about mice, but porcupines absolutely love them! The eat them like candy canes. we have both around here so dont see antler sheds often , but then i dont go out looking either , Quote
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