No specific shed hunting laws, except that bighorn sheep deadheads cannot be picked up. Also, review open trails and road access before heading out. Several Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife managed wildlife areas and Travel Management Areas are closed to protect big game winter range and shed hunting is prohibited. See pages of the Oregon Big Game Regulations for details.
No permits or seasonal restrictions that I am aware of, but checking with local Game and Fish, and Federal agencies is a good idea before heading out.
Like hunting, scouting is going to be the key to picking up more shed antlers and knowing where to look will hopefully save some time. Winter weather conditions also play a big part in where you are likely to find bucks and bulls. Deep snow and cold temperatures will generally push animals onto melted off south facing slopes and windswept ridge lines.
On a light year, like we are experiencing here in southern Utah now, bucks and bulls can be from low elevation sage and grassland flats to the aspen covered mountain tops, but habitat requirements are generally the same, they like edge habitats.
Bulls generally bed in thick stands of mahogany or pinyon juniper along ridgelines and feed off into more open terrain where grass is readily available. They love that space on the ridgeline, the edge and just below the rim of a canyon. I have also regularly observed bachelor herds of bulls bedded in the snow just out of the canyon bottom on the north facing slopes. Burn scars are great places to look. In drier climates snow is not likely to congregate bulls, but edge habitats are still great places to start.
Wintering mule deer habitats are similar, but it seems that they often winter at lower elevations, although I have seen a couple big bucks spend all winter in snow up to their bellies.
Rolling sage and grassland hills with intermixed pinyon and juniper stands are good. South facing slopes comprised of oak, pinyon and juniper can be good too. Public lands located adjacent agricultural lands have also produced in the past. Again, burn scars can be good since new growth greens up quickly. Slow down, the most successful shed hunters I know are methodical in dissecting an area.
Typically, start by thoroughly glassing the area from a good vantage point. A good set of binoculars mounted on a tripod are highly recommended. I also always pack a spotting scope. It has definitely saved me miles of hiking. Afterward, if you have the patience, gridding the hillside on foot can be productive. In doing so, take the time to look in every direction around you. If you are not occasionally taking a fall because you were not watching your step, you probably are not looking hard enough.
A GPS with the track feature turned on can be helpful. It will allow you to determine the width of your grid and the areas you have already covered. Marking the location of a shed you have found can also help you determine where the other side is most likely to be or where you might find that animal during the upcoming hunting season. Developing a search image is key. The texture, color, or tip of a tine might be all you will see and it might sound odd, but the guys I know that are the most productive are guys that always seem to have an antler kicking around in their house or office and are out watching wildlife.
Finally, have fun. It is a great time of year to be out. Written by: Trail Kreitzer. Mark Kayser Shed Hunting Tips the Western Way Hunting for whitetail shed antlers dominates the antler scene, but like dreaming about a western elk hunt, shed antler fanatics consider hunting for elk and mule deer shed antlers a bucket-list adventure.
Sell Your Shed Antlers Finding antlers can pay off. Share This Story. Trending Gear. Mossy Oak Vintage Tagline Tee. Mossy Oak Performance Fleece Hoodie. Gamekeeping is not just for hunters, but for those who enjoy wildlife conservation and land management. I really believe and know, at least in my house, they're the same philosophy.
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Colorado prohibits shed hunting from Jan. There are additional restrictions on the Gunnison Basin. This was enacted in to protect wildlife from additional stress. Wyoming prohibits shed hunting from Jan. This has been in place since Shed hunting and recreation on Montana Wilderness Management Areas are closed until May 15 in most areas; however, some areas are closed until June 1. Please double-check before planning to visit. In , Montana passed a bill that makes it legal to collect bighorn sheep skulls and horns.
Read more here. In , Nevada passed shed hunting regulations. Shed antlers means any antlers which have been naturally shed by any big game mammal in this State. Learn more here. In Utah, you can gather sheds statewide with no permit any time of the year except from Feb.
During this time of the year, you must have an antler-gathering certificate on your person while collecting shed antlers or horns. You can obtain this free certificate by completing the online Antler Gathering Ethics Course, but you must complete the course every year. Take the course here. Do not harass them. Keep in mind that most states do have wildlife areas that are closed to protect big game winter range and shed hunting is can be prohibited until certain dates.
When searching for specific spots to walk or glass, concentrate on south-facing open slopes for higher success. If possible, go to your shed hunting spots earlier in the year before the animals drop their antlers to glass from afar for bull elk.
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