How to Collect Deer Sheds
If you have been cooped up for what seems like an eternity and crave fresh air during those late winter months, searching for shed deer antlers (called sheds) might be just the thing to get you moving. A walk in the woods on a crisp winter day can breathe new life into your body, and the excitement of a "treasure hunt" might ward off the chill. In most areas, the best time to look is late January through March, so be sure to bundle up.
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Things You'll Need
- Topographic Map (in unfamiliar areas)
- Backpack
- Walking stick
- Snacks
- Water
Instructions
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Know where you are going. Conservation areas and National Parks provide trail maps. If you are not in familiar territory, bring a map with you and keep it in your backpack. Ask permission to search on private property, and if you do search on private land, ask the landowner for information or use a GPS device to keep track of your location.
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Look for places deer have been feeding or bedding down. According to expert collectors such as Merle Lawson of Peoria, Illinois, deer like to bed down in grass on sunny south-facing hills, and they prefer edges (places where woods and fields or meadows meet) to feed. Check on both sides of fences or other hurdles along deer trails. When deer jump, the jolt of landing might cause a loose antler to fall.
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Walk slowly when searching for antlers, and use your walking stick to turn over leaves or debris. You need to give yourself time to "see" the difference between an antler and any other antler-like things lying on the ground. According to Joe Shead in his article, "Track Down a Crowning Treasure", "Deer antlers often look very much like the cornstalks and tree branches covering the ground where they are found." Another collector, identified as "Kansan" on RealTree.com blog says, "I use what I call the 'Three Inch Rule', where you don't look for any more than three inches of antler at any given time. Too many times folks expect to see the entire shed laying there but that's just not going to happen... Look for any unusual curls, things that just 'look out of place.' "
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Eat snacks as you go to keep up your energy--a small bag of your favorite trail mix in a pocket is perfect--and drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
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Tips & Warnings
The more you know about deer, the better your chances of finding sheds. Read more about their habits in conservation or hunting publications and nature guides. One good source is The Deer of North America by Leonard Lee Rue III (Try your public library or browse online booksellers for a copy.) Once you have some sheds, you can use them for all sorts of things--Native Americans used them to finish arrow points; others have turned them into tool or knife handles, buttons and other decorative objects.
