I have been receiving more reports of sportsmen finding recently shed antlers. It seems that the bucks are dropping antlers a bit earlier than normal for some reason. While we seem to be in the throes of winter, there are the occasional warmer days that entice us to spend some time outdoors – doing something other than chipping ice or shoveling snow! We can get outside to enjoy some hiking and breathing fresh air again! Something you should consider on the nicer weather days is the popular activity of hunting for shed antlers. More is being written all the time about this “sport,” and shed antler hunting allows for some great exercise and the chance to learn more about the wildlife in your area. What better way to find out if that big buck you saw last fall actually made it through the hunting season and survived the harsh winter? Finding his sheds will allow you to begin focusing on pursuing him again this coming season. Many shed hunters enjoy simply piling up a stack of sheds, while other folks use them in a variety of ways in craft and art projects. Whatever your reason, let’s look at some ways that may help you be more successful in your pursuit.

Head South: That is to say, focus your attention on the south-facing hillsides. Throughout the winter months and into early spring, deer will frequently bed and travel for food on a hillside with a southern exposure so they can take advantage of the early morning warmth of the sunshine. Whatever food is available becomes more easily located on these benches and slopes that are warmed by the morning sun. Since the deer frequently concentrate their time here, there is a good chance more sheds will be found here than in areas that face north and may still have some degree of snow cover.

Jump for Joy!: Walking along deer trails, rather than just zigzagging haphazardly through the woods will greatly increase the likelihood of locating dropped antlers. Be particularly alert near areas where a trail crosses a fence line, creek bank or steep ditch. As a buck jumps to navigate these spots, there is a greater chance for one or both of his antlers being jarred loose.

Think Small: As you move along your route, don’t be focused on sighting a large antler from a huge 12-pointer, but instead, be looking for a drop from a spike buck or a young 4-point deer. If you are seeking a large, heavy antler, you will overlook the smaller ones. If you think small, you will greatly increase your number of “finds.” Don’t always expect to see a whole shed antler lying completely out in the open, but instead, be watchful for a portion of the antler, or just a tip of a point that may be sticking up.

Plan Out a Route: Develop a route that incorporates deer trails wherever possible and runs between bedding and feeding areas. Spend extra time in the bedding and feeding areas, as these locations will reveal more sheds. Have confidence in the route you have selected, and on the next outing, travel it in the opposite direction. Sometimes, you will spot an object merely because you are looking for it from a different angle.

Seeing is Believing: You will multiply your chances greatly by using binoculars to help spot dropped antlers. It is pretty amazing how a dropped antler laying on the forest floor can be so easily spotted with the use of a good pair of binoculars. You end up widening your search area many-fold by just stopping periodically and scouring nearby hillsides.

Take Your “Buddy” With You: Here, I am not talking about your two-legged hunting buddy, but instead, your four-legged hunting companion! More and more shed hunters are training dogs to accompany them in their search. There is even a website, http://www.sheddogtrainer.com, which can help you with your task of training a dog. In the end, with a dog, you will greatly expand your coverage area, and you will both enjoy the exercise you and your pooch will be getting.

Scouting for Coyotes: Hunters are always looking for any way to get a “leg up” on hunting for coyotes. Now, as you travel the trails and woods in pursuit of shed antlers, be watchful for any sign of coyote activity – scat or tracks in particular. Generally speaking, it is from mid-January to mid-March that these critters are traveling more than normal since it is their mating season. If you are lucky enough to spot signs of recent activity, returning to this area to call for coyotes could prove to be more productive than later in the spring.

For whatever reason you decide to engage in the sport, it will provide a great opportunity to get out, get some exercise and add another element of the joy supplied by our Great Outdoors!