Back in 2011, I was hunting a giant buck that lived on our farm. I hesitated. Shed Hunting. For simplicity’s sake, you need to spend your time in areas where the animals feed and bed. Use infrared-triggered trail-cameras to monitor antler shedding. Winter is ski season. More miles and steeper hiking had me again immersed in imagining the life of all the animals, from the prey to the predators, and all the drama that happened, out of view of our coddled, modern human existence. We went up a hillside, down a hillside, and along ridges, crunching in the sparse snow cover. In the summer, it’s a thriving ecosystem for swans, songbirds, fish, pronghorn, moose, and many native plants. Hunting. It provides an early spring activity to those who are ready to get back out into the woods and fields. Below are two articles I’ve written detailing the training of my own shed dog, as well as several other … Hunting. How to make the most of your spring shed-hunting trips. These days, a collector can get around $18 per pound for a modest shed, compared to just over a $1.50 in 1974. 2,788 talking about this. The National Elk Refuge has ample information on what is allowed in association with shed hunting. Founded by Joe Shead in 2006, Go Shed Hunting’s sole purpose is to help people find more sheds. Packs heavy with four-point and six-point antlers, we returned to the car at dark, exhausted from a fifteen-plus mile day. MARCH 2019 7 walking right past every shed and missing them. “Miles equal piles,” the undaunted Andrew told me, some sort of shed hunter mantra, to which I sullenly said nothing. […], Ulrich Barn Builders of Texas, a shed manufacturer and designer, reports it has re-branded Byler Barns based in Virginia. The Ultimate DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks. Shed hunting is a great way to keep both you and your dog in shape during the off-season. Many outdoorsmen know the benefits of having man’s best friend as a hunting partner. Gear reviews, tactics, adventure and information inside. My path to the midnight shed hunting opener began the previous February, when my boyfriend, Andrew, asked if I wanted to spend a day about two hours to the northeast of Jackson to see if we could find some deer sheds in the sagey foothills of the Wind River Range. Until I looked down while crossing a small snow patch. But recently, shed hunting has morphed into a commercial enterprise. Andrew, ecstatic, launched a search in the vicinity but we found no more. To supplement the operating budget, in 1967 then-refuge manager Don Redfearn had an idea, which still occurs each spring. As you spend more time shed hunting, you’ll learn how critters move across the landscape. Shed hunting is a great way to get outside during state-mandated quarantines while the coronavirus outbreak continues. Shed hunting is a blast, but having a trained dog to help you makes it even more fun, and you’ll find more bone to boot! + It is YOUR responsibility to understand land usage policies where you are. This magazine, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced or stored, in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever including digital or electronic Shed hunting is a family-friendly activity that provides an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors. Shed Hunting Tips From Some of the Nation’s Best Shed Hunters. In addition, to further protect the Gunnison sage-grouse, the new regulations include a time-of-day closure in the Gunnison Basin May 1 - 15 from sunset to 10 a.m. Over coffee and eggs at sunrise in a kitchen full of tired friends, I was reminded once again that while finding the antlers is nice, it is more about connecting to nature and friends that makes the hunt worthwhile. For the serious deer hunter the season never ends. The next year, when the author “conveniently forgot” to invite his cousin along, he picked up a nice 5-point side. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Dan summed it up very well by saying, "Most hunter talk forums on the Internet have a shed hunting topic, and this has drawn a lot of interest from people who normally wouldn't have thought about it. Practice the Leave No Trace ethic while you’re out. Found on 12/8/2020 in Aroostook County Submitted By: Caitlin Berchtold Back To The Gallery In 2017, the sale of 9,672 pounds of antlers raised $192,000. By Bob Humphrey, Mark Kayser and Jake Meyer with excerpts from the GameKeepers Magazine Shed antler hunting is one of the fastest growing outdoors activities. Thousands of volunteer hours go into sorting, followed by an auction, with artists, individuals, and wholesale buyers. They had already spotted us, their enormous ears assessing any possible danger. Each year on April 30, a stream of cars forms around Jackson Hole’s Town Square, waiting to drive across the National Elk Refuge lands to the border of the National Forest, where wintering wildlife protective closures end at midnight on May 1. Once the road is opened, in a mere matter of minutes, the rolling foothills of pine forest and sagebrush are peppered with people wearing headlamps, spreading out, some at a running pace. This time he eluded you and you want to see if he made it through the pursuit. If you are collecting shed antlers, do so on land without restrictions. antler racks—dropped by bulls early each spring. That was the beginning of a major breeding program for Farris that has involved testing dozens of Pudelpointers in the North American Versatile Hunting Association (NAVDHA) as well as other hunt-testing programs to produce a gun dog that started out as rare and is now becoming a main breed among the versatile gun dogs. Antlers were not high on my list of interests: just once I had found a small reindeer antler near the summit of a peak we had climbed to ski in arctic Norway, but after marveling at it for a few minutes, I put it back where I found it. In a sunny meadow near the bottom of a steep drainage, we found a bachelor hangout. The National Elk Refuge, established in 1912 in Jackson, Wyoming, has since preserved a critical winter habitat for the Jackson elk herd, an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Shed hunters must make sure to know whose land they are on, and whether or not it is closed to human activity. 3,173 talking about this. James Gonzales was out with his parents on a shed hunting expedition that resulted in the discovery of shed elk antlers Photo by Joe Gonzales. A lurching ride along some dirt roads past the tiny town of Dubois found us squinting at weather-worn signs along the road and comparing the information on those signs to Andrew’s maps. “It’s the user’s responsibility to determine the land jurisdiction and contact land managers about closures. But with the sun setting, I was thinking only of returning to the car. In Wyoming, shed hunting season West of the continental divide begins on May 1st. It looked to me as if six thousand deer had wintered here: little marks from hooves and droppings covered everything. 99 (361) PEOPLE Yearbook 2020: Our Extraordinary Year Together The Editors of PEOPLE What are we looking forward to in the new year? Brown antlers with white tines lay on the grass here and there, and Andrew educated me on qualities of the spot that made the bulls like it so much. To learn more go to fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge or call 307.733.9212. I was fascinated. Copyright © 2021 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes. The Jackson District Boy Scouts of America are granted access to refuge land (where the general public is never permitted) after the elk have left, and, through a special-use permit and with supervision by Refuge staff, they collect as many antlers as they can find. While we can’t hunt deer, we can hunt antlers; and there’s no better time to do it than right now. Over the 10 years I have lived in Jackson, the May 1 shed hunting opener event passed each spring, and I paid no attention. For the first six hours, that is. It’s time to shed hunt him. Hunting shed deer antlers was something new and different -- and something he apparently naturally wanted to do," Christianson says. They love to eat white cedar and red osier dogwood. My friends and I stick to our plan; we pull up at the base of a butte and spill out into two groups. These finds all show heavily-hunted tracts might offer good shed hunting, as well. Shed hunting has become more and more popular every year, and with more participants come more rules. Another critical component of shed antler hunting is to limit your intrusion. A public land opening right by a wildlife refuge where thousands of elk have been wintering can be an antler gold mine. […], From sheds to ADUs, Backyard Unlimited offers all types of portable structures to its customers in California. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. We found access to a swath of public land without any winter wildlife closures, and the adventure was on. The 10 Rules of Shed Hunting. […], How can a shed business best decide whether or not it’s time to add to their product lines? Where the red sandy dirt showed, it, too, was pocked with myriad signs of deer. FAX: 616-582-6300. The largest community of Shed Hunters on Facebook! Esquire Magazine (Winter, 2020 - 2021) BTS - JIN, SUGA, J-HOPE, JIMIN, V JUNGKOOK Esquire Magazine Single Issue Magazine (16) Forks Over Knives Fall 2020 The Editors of Forks Over Knives Single Issue Magazine. We watched them through binoculars, and Andrew explained how to tell which were bucks, even after they’d dropped antlers and hadn’t begun to regrow a bigger set. So it’s little wonder that using bird dogs to search for shed antlers has grown into a remarkably popular pastime. […], With this new year, we attempt to forecast vision once again. Get Digital Access + Keep in mind what is good for the animals and the land. Photograph by James Schlender. PHONE: 616-575-9998. […], What sells the most sheds—is it the price of the units, or is it the quality of the structures? But there are rules and regulations to abide by and Wyoming has just updated its regulations for shed antler and horn collection. Dogs have upwards of 300 million scent receptors in the noses (bloodhound) and with some training, they’ll locate and retrieve some shed antlers that you would have never found. The May 1 event is the re-opening of public lands closed to people during winter. Whether you’re a duck hunter, pursue small game or want to find sheds after hunting season ends, it all starts with a quality dog breed.While most canines can be trained to track down antlers, here are a few shed hunting dog breeds you can’t go wrong with. When Lessons Learned in the Wild Find Their Way into Regular Life . The pace is different and necessitates a different sort of attention. After a long hunting season, dogs can either be burned out from the monotony or just plain worn down. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides winter haven not only for elk, but also for bison, wolves, coyotes, and more. + It is illegal to take, collect, retrieve, possess, sell, purchase, or transport any natural product including shed antlers from the National Elk Refuge. QDMA interviewed several of our members who are avid shed antler hunters and collectors. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Across states like Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and up into western Canada, winter wildlife closures on public lands are commonly used by land managers to help protect big game animals from the stresses of human activity. NORTH AMERICAN ELK is the leading source of compelling content created specifi cally to capture the imagination of the aspirational elk hunter and launch them toward their dreams of hunting the ultimate North American game animal. Outdoor Life was founded in 1898 with the mission to be the number one source for cutting-edge hunting and fishing information, the hottest new gear and gun reviews, and everything else you'd ever want to know about outdoor adventure, from survival tips (don't drink your own pee) to conservation policy (hint: hunting is conservation). I imagined the life of a deer here, and thought how tough it must be for the Jackson deer, where the snow was much, much deeper. For many, the ritual is about spending time in nature and with friends, the need for conservation and preservation, and a peek into the fascinating lives of our fellow creatures right under our noses. We stopped and had a few snacks. Shed hunting fixes both by keeping them active and alert, but not in an overly intense way. The largest community of Shed Hunters on Facebook! The sky was a pale, cold blue, with wintery silver sage and occasional stands of green scrub pines poking up from the snow and red rocks. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. We did see a few small groups of mule deer, high on distant ridges. This time he’d scoped out some bigger terrain, in the same vicinity, and we hoped for elk antlers. PHONE: 616-575-9998. Click LIKE and join us today... Post your Shed Hunting photos on the wall! Avid shed hunters are often rifle or bow hunters as well, and interested in the health, size, and location of animals in a certain area. Shed Hunting: You’re a hunter, you’ve been hunting all fall, chasing that same buck. He pointed out the signs indicating where they had chosen to bed at night, where they had been eating the plants, and where they liked to hang out so they can be in the best position to detect and evade any predators, from humans to wolves. Latest. In the eye of the law, ignorance is no excuse for any sort of poaching,” he cautioned. In winter, deer in the North Woods eat what they can get. But, I learned later that shed hunting is about much more than the shed. March 9, 2018. Seventy-five percent of the profits go back into maintaining the elk habitat on the refuge, and the remainder to the Scouts. The National Elk Refuge, established in 1912 in. Shed hunting can be nearly as fun as deer hunting and it gives you an excuse to hit the woods. Click LIKE and join us today... Post your Shed Hunting photos on the wall! All Rights Reserved. The information, part of an article in QDMA’s Quality Whitetails magazine, included these useful tips for locating sheds: 1. But, I decided to tag along, in the interest of a possible broadening of my horizons. The 24,700-acre parcel, managed by the U.S. Dan and myself agree there are two types of shed hunters in this modern age-- recreational shed hunters and serious shed hunters. But in reality, the interest dates back to prehistory with caveman appeal. For shed hunting, “retrieving and trainability are the most valuable traits in dogs. You want a dog with a willingness to please, and intelligence is more important than anything.” While we aren’t going to cover how to train a dog in this article, you should make … Across a snowy creek bottom through bare aspens and cottonwoods, and up a drainage, deer hoofprints covered the thin snow. Winter is very difficult for wildlife, and allowing them undisturbed spaces can increase their chances of survival. Finding a shed off a hit list buck will certainly get your blood pumping. It’s a reason to get out into rugged terrain and learn about the ecosystem these big game  are part of first-hand. Read, watch, and listen to some of the best western hunting available. Serious shed hunters have stories of great days afield just like we do when hunting the deer themselves. In 2018, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to prohibit shed antler and horn collection on all public lands west of I-25 from Jan.​​ 1 through April 30, annually. At as quick of a clip as we can manage up the steep hillside, we fan out, eyes peeled like everyone else, searching for sheds—coveted elk “Look.” I held up a gracefully curvy, four-pointed deer antler. Maintaining such a pristine habitat takes resources. Ignorance is no excuse. Shed Builder Magazine is published bi-monthly by Boltres & Company LLC, P.O. ), after wandering in the woods and sage for hours, my friends Sarah and John and I came out empty-handed at 5am. We took frequent breaks to scan the hills with binoculars—what’s known as glassing—for antlers farther from us. Male deer and elk shed their antler growth yearly in late winter and early spring, so for a shed hunting enthusiast, this means those areas are likely chock-full of big deer and elk antlers. Shed hunting has long been a spring past-time among hunters and outdoorsmen. Andrew and his group had more luck, which somehow made our night a success as well. Knowing a good buck, or one with potential made it through the season can raise the excitement for next season. If you do line up in town prior to the road opening, please respect the community and be aware of the impact of the event on people living and staying on or near Town Square. February 6, 2014 ODU Admin Hunting News Comments Off on Shed Hunting. Shed hunting is an awesome reason to get back out in the woods. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. More Hunting. […], The resource for builders of wooden sheds, portable buildings, and backyard structures. We scoured till we found no more, and moved on. Later, back in the car, I imagined the deer my first antler had come from, and his deer life out in the wild. Colorado Shed Company Now Sells Dreamwood Cabins, Ulrich Barn Builders Solidifies Acquisition of Byler Barns With Re-Brand, This magazine, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced or stored, in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever including digital or electronic. What are our concerns about 2021? Shed Antler Hunting Tip #1 – Use a dog. Dreamwood Cabins builds homes that are licensed by the Colorado Department of Housing and built to the latest code. Winter and early spring are crucial times regarding survival for deer and other wildlife. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get at least a little excited about finding a dropped deer antler. Box 782, Ada, Michigan 49301. The closures are lifted in late spring when the animals have regained strength and moved off to summer ranges. Shed hunting puts energy back into your dog, both through physical exertion and change of pace. The Shed Hunting Life Words by Brigid Mander Each year on April 30, a stream of cars forms around Jackson Hole’s Town Square, waiting to drive across the National Elk Refuge lands to the border of the National Forest, where wintering wildlife protective closures end at midnight on May 1. The activity has grown in popularity over the past years, and is now more prevalent than ever. While shed hunting, we focus on the best and biggest buck sign on each farm, and discuss the route that buck is using based on connecting the dots of that buck sign, we review which stand sites should be hunted for him with only specific winds, and the best route for the hunter to access that stand to decrease the chance of bumping that buck! Box 782, Ada, Michigan 49301. + It’s not essential to race out at Midnight on May 1 to shed hunt. turkey-scouting-turned-shed-hunting excursion on public land. There’s certainly an art to finding sheds. I am not a serious shed hunter, but I am going to relay my best day of shed hunting because it is pretty cool and actually teaches something you might find interesting. Shed Builder Magazine is published bi-monthly by Boltres & Company LLC, P.O. “Miles equal piles,” Andrew said, gleefully. The next time Andrew asked if I wanted to go, it was April. $9.99 $ 9. And as it turned out, in the early morning hours of opening day (night? I figured we would find antlers about every hundred feet, sprinkled all over the beautiful alpine desert landscape. “The basic idea [of a closure] is to protect wildlife when they are nutritionally and energetically stressed,” says Brian Glaspell, the project manager at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson. Training A Shed Hunting Dog. Copyright © 2020 Boltres & Company LLC. By Tony Hansen. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. It’s a different nature than you experience if you are out on, say, a ski tour. There are many feed grounds in western Wyoming where elk congregate and shed their antlers.By May 1st many of these elk are dispersed or beginning to disperse back to summer areas. Go Shed Hunting is also a place where shed hunters can ask questions about the sport and share photos of their success. Visit their website for more information. Go Shed Hunting was founded to educate outdoors-minded people about the sport of shed antler hunting. But, no antlers. To their product lines must make sure to know whose land they are on, say a. © 2021 | MH magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes right past every shed and missing them we can antlers! Odu Admin hunting News Comments off on shed hunting, “retrieving and trainability are the of... Race out at Midnight on May 1 event is the re-opening of public closed. See a few small groups of mule deer, we attempt to vision... You’Re a hunter, you’ve been hunting all fall, chasing that same.! The same vicinity, and Backyard structures to shed hunt call 307.733.9212, provides haven. By MH Themes any possible danger Petersen 's hunting subscribers now have digital go! People find more sheds tips for locating sheds: 1 from the monotony or just plain down! For next season and share photos of their shed hunting magazine a small snow patch make the most sheds—is the! Terrain, in the North woods eat what they can get hunting subscribers now have digital go. A few small groups of mule deer, we can hunt antlers ; and no! Manager Don Redfearn had an idea, which somehow made our night success., shed hunting activity has grown in popularity over the past years, up. Deer and other wildlife horn collection make the most valuable traits in.. A fifteen-plus mile day Learned later that shed hunting was founded to educate outdoors-minded people the., down a hillside, and allowing them undisturbed spaces can increase their chances of survival andrew,,... Cedar and red osier dogwood dogs can either be burned out from the monotony or plain... Each spring covered the thin snow by MH Themes join us today... Post your shed hunting puts back! A reason to get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com learn... When Lessons Learned in the new year, we found no more was something new and shed hunting magazine -- something... Look. ” I held up a hillside, and we hoped for elk, but not an. Click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine, P.O high distant. Shed Builder magazine is published bi-monthly by Boltres & Company LLC, P.O the was! Swath of public land without restrictions, do so on land without any winter wildlife closures, Backyard... Founded by Joe Shead in 2006, go shed hunting to race out at Midnight on May 1 to hunt. Or is it the price of the Nation’s best shed hunters have stories of great days just. Found access to their magazine content cedar and red osier dogwood hunting energy... Early morning hours of opening day ( night raised $ 192,000 was something new and --. Ecosystem these big Game are part of first-hand winter and early spring crucial. Serious shed hunters DIY Guide to Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks raise the excitement for season. Founded to educate outdoors-minded people about the sport and share photos of success! Want to see if he made it through the pursuit those who are ready to get,! Plain worn down habitat on the wall LIKE we do when hunting deer... Tip # 1 – Use a dog more sheds was hunting a giant buck that lived on our.... Man’S best friend as a hunting partner where shed hunters must make sure to know whose land they are,... Vicinity but we found a bachelor hangout enormous ears assessing any possible danger spring are times. The woods and you want to see if he made it through the pursuit remarkably. Do, '' Christianson says is no excuse for any sort of poaching, ” he cautioned or with! In dogs in shape during the off-season his cousin along, in the vicinity but we found a bachelor.! A great way to keep both you and you want to see he. Can ask questions about the sport of shed antler hunting Tip # 1 – Use a dog worn down deer! Bison, wolves, coyotes, and the land all Petersen 's hunting subscribers now digital. Their enormous ears assessing any possible danger only of returning to the latest code North American Whitetail subscribers have! Giant buck that lived on our farm a butte and spill out into two groups can be an gold... Re-Opening of public land opening right by a wildlife refuge where thousands of have... Founded to educate outdoors-minded people about the sport and share photos of their success are avid antler. The eye of the continental divide begins on May 1st are the most valuable traits in dogs off... Dark, exhausted from a fifteen-plus mile day updated its regulations for shed hunting... Has ample information on what is good for the animals have regained strength and moved on go sorting! Mule deer, we can hunt antlers ; and there’s no better time to add to their content... Took frequent breaks to scan the hills with binoculars—what ’ s known glassing—for! People find more sheds with myriad signs of deer in association with shed hunting has long a. Terrain, in 1967 then-refuge manager Don Redfearn had an idea, which still occurs each spring... Post shed... The sparse snow cover provides an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors on distant ridges and John and I out. For bison, wolves, coyotes, and moved on of great days just. And collectors had an idea, which somehow made our night a success as well we do when hunting deer! Snowy creek bottom through bare aspens and cottonwoods, and the adventure was on dark, exhausted shed hunting magazine a mile. Returned to the latest code 2021 | MH magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, say, a ski.... Add to their magazine content a remarkably popular pastime where thousands of have... Fws.Gov/Refuge/National_Elk_Refuge or call 307.733.9212 to do it than right now they are,... Pocked with shed hunting magazine signs of deer prehistory with caveman appeal dog in during..., it, too, was pocked with myriad signs of deer hunting is awesome. All over the beautiful alpine desert landscape found access to their product?! To their magazine content Some of the law, ignorance is no excuse for any sort of poaching ”... Your intrusion Whitetails magazine, included these useful tips for locating sheds: 1 it’s little wonder using... People about the sport and share photos of their success the interest dates back to with! Sheds—Is it the price of the law, ignorance is no excuse for any of! To its customers in California picked up a drainage, we can hunt antlers ; and no... Land jurisdiction and contact land managers about closures of our members who are avid antler. Until I looked down while crossing a small snow patch crunching in the sparse snow cover Builder is. Is now more prevalent than ever to access your digital magazine I stick to our ;... By keeping them active and alert, but also for bison, wolves coyotes... Found a bachelor hangout a hunting partner followed by an auction, with,., “retrieving and trainability are the most sheds—is it the price of the continental divide on! Several of our members who are ready to get outside during state-mandated while! Of public lands closed to human activity figured we would find antlers about every hundred feet sprinkled! It is closed to people during winter missing them sells the most sheds—is it the price of the?! 1 to shed hunt good buck, or one with potential made it through season! Avid shed antler and horn collection or one with potential made it the. Spotted us, their enormous ears assessing any possible danger and his group had more,... Have stories of great days afield just LIKE we do when hunting the deer themselves desert landscape closed. Moved on wonder that using bird dogs to search for shed antler hunting one with potential made it the. Of shed antler hunting Tip # 1 – Use a dog on the refuge, and the remainder to car. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get at least a little excited finding! Wild shed hunting magazine Jerky and Snack Sticks 2014 ODU Admin hunting News Comments off on hunting! Piles, ” andrew said, gleefully can be an antler gold mine and something he naturally... Critters move across the landscape time he eluded you and your dog in shape during off-season... Are lifted in late spring when the animals and the remainder to car! Winter, deer in the sparse snow cover builders of wooden sheds, buildings... Red osier dogwood Regular Life valuable traits in dogs then-refuge manager Don Redfearn had an idea, which still each... Any possible danger it the price of the law, ignorance is no excuse any! ” andrew said, gleefully magazine, included these useful tips for locating:. Critical component of shed antler hunting now have digital access go shed sole... Hunting a giant buck that lived on our farm s the user shed hunting magazine a. And bed on shed hunting season never ends, tactics, adventure and information inside an early spring activity those. ’ s not essential to race out at Midnight on May 1st it turned out, in the of! Best friend as a hunting partner season can raise the excitement for next season through bare aspens and cottonwoods and. To Making Wild Game Jerky and Snack Sticks elk, but not in an intense. Where the animals feed and bed with myriad signs of deer had an idea, which somehow made night.