But how to find deer sheds? Like many answers relating to wildlife . We specialize in providing expert information that does exactly what it claims. It depends. The best time to find shed antlers is often a topic of debate. Stressful circumstances such as injuries, fighting, poor nutrition, and severe winters can often lead to an early suppression of testosterone levels, thus an earlier antler drop. I’d start around the 1st of February and check it several times throughout the month. Here’s where the early bird gets the worm. A bedding area that could have deer sheds in it will be thick, little human pressured spots … The Best Belly Band Holsters: Comfortable and Practical, How to Sight in a Rifle for More Accurate and Precise Shots, How to Shoot a Handgun | The Most Accurate Way of Shooting, [Infographic] 8 Things a New Hunter Needs, The Deer Diet | What Do Deer Eat and Why You Should Know About It. By then most of the antlers have dropped and more importantly most of the snow has melted. Deer sheds aren’t usually easy to find and you’ll have a much easier time if you take in everything on the forest floor, raking your eyes over every surface as much as possible. The time is right for people to load up and explore the mountains for sheds. The Gila National Forest is large and one of the best places in New Mexico to look for shed antlers. 5 | Check Food Sources. The best days to look is when the ground is wet and the sheds stand out. Many of the key principles that apply to whitetail, and mule deer shed antler hunting are also important when looking for elk sheds. I begin looking for sheds about mid-March. How to Hunt for Deer Antler Sheds. If I had to put a percentage to it, I would say 90% of bucks are shed by March 1, compared to just 25% by February 1. He once found 9 total sheds in one day. More people are looking for sheds, so you may be competing with them. Shed hunting is a great opportunity to get outdoors, work your legs, test your new gear and spend time with family and friends of any hunting skill level. You won’t get your pair on the first try, and there are a lot of researches you need to do before being able to find a good deer shed. If you are going to find a buck's shed antlers, these two main areas are where you should concentrate your efforts. This is because of the drop in testosterone levels, which causes weakening of the tissues in the base of the antler. WHAM! How much? There’s nothing worse than a Late-February snowfall in my book. Know when is the best time to go shed hunting It is known that the best months to find deer sheds are between March and April, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t find a shed in other months. . Again, an obvious, but important factor to consider. From white-tailed deer sheds to mule deer and elk, finding shed antlers is generally a late winter to early spring affair. ! His favorite months are February and March to find fresh ones, but again let your trail camera's dictate when you start. In my time, when my interest in shed hunting was at its peak, I’ve found that like in any other type of hunting, hunting for antlers is as tedious and complicated as hunting for its owner. Similar to growth spurts in humans, some kids shoot up in middle school, most grow the fastest in high school, and some don’t hit their spurt until college. Start with available food sources and bedding areas then move on to deer trails and crossings to maximize your chances of finding shed antlers this shed hunting season. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. Here in Wisconsin, the snow is usually around into March and sometimes even April. Bonus Read: Why Bucks Shed Antlers and How to Hunt Them. People who hunt for deer antler sheds will always argue when the best time of year is to find them, but depending on the type of antlers you're hunting for, and just how far north or south you are (latitude), the months between January and April are probably your best bet, as this is when most whitetail, mule deer, elk and moose tend to shed their antlers. You have to start out where the deer spend most of their time. Public land, now that’s a different story. In some cases, deer lose their antlers abruptly when the bone is weakening and they have come across an obstacle, say, a low branch or a log that they have to jump over to get across a ditch. However, it is also wise to go back to the areas you’ve already discovered a few days after, just in case a buck came losing an antler in that area.A. The best time to find shed antlers is often a topic of debate. The RUT – a unanimous term that sparks excitement, anxiety, and giddiness amongst the deer hunting community. Instead, narrowing down the peak shed drop timing for your area and then searching for sheds … Start looking for sheds at preferred food sources early in the year. One would say that the best time to search for whitetail sheds is when they fall the head of the deer. For that reason you have to know when to look, and even more importantly where to look. If you find areas where deer feed, you’ll most likely find a lot of bucks and a lot of shed antlers. However, during the summer months, male hormones slow the growth of antlers, which causes vasoconstriction and cutting off of blood and nutrient supply. This obsession corresponds with the time of the year when deer shed their antlers. Look just after a rain (antlers shine). He once found 9 total sheds in one day. The two best spots for shed hunting and finding more deer sheds have to be first of bedding areas and late season food sources. If you got a honey hole of your own that you bring your buddies to shed hunt later in the season because you’re a nice friend, I see nothing wrong with sneaking in there early for first dibs on the “easy” ones. 7. . ! Just like hunting the peak of the rut, timing is everything with picking up the … The more time a deer spends in an area increases the odds that an antler will fall off in that location. Look for concentrations of deer tracks, rubs and other sign, and avoid areas devoid of tracks and deer sign. If the last snowfall was in January and the cold weather has been the only thing keeping the snow around, then hiking through the white stuff can yield good results. 2. From white-tailed deer sheds to mule deer and elk, finding shed antlers is generally a late winter to early spring affair. I have found antlers as early as mid-January, but I’ve found that March and April are the best time to find white-tailed deer sheds. How To Find Shed Antlers | Best Places To Find More Deer Sheds (Pt 4 of 5) (Video) In this fourth of 5 episodes, the team discusses the best places to find deer sheds. In line with the feedback on on-line social that is chatting a lot about When Is The Best Time To Look For Deer Sheds proficiency and impressive encounter from users. When the snow gets deep, food can be hard to find, but the tops of hills provide … By far, the best time to shed hunt is after the snow has melted, but before green up occurs. Whitetails begin dropping antlers soon after the first of the year, although the majority drop in February and March across most of … Habits. If so, comments and shares are most appreciated. Now, of course there are many factors that can play a role in when a buck sheds. Examine deer travel corridors, water sources and anywhere deer commonly travel. Furthermore, you won’t be lucky to find antlers because other hunters are taking the deer and the antlers, before they can shed. Determine what food sources deer are keying on during the post-season and connect the dots between those and the nearest good bedding areas.When possible, I’ve found it easier to drive around open fields and food sources with a four-wheeler or truck. Photoperiod (amount of daylight) signals changes in testosterone levels, which controls antler growing, hardening, and casting periods. So, by keeping close tabs on a food source and watching feeding deer on a regular basis-all from a distance—you’ll know when a particular deer sheds. Head into Reserve and drive north on N.M. 12 about 12 miles until reaching the Apache Creek Campground. Bucks also will seek the best cover for security and protection. Because food is limited in winter, deer tend to feed aggressively and bucks often jar their antlers loose in the process. From late December through mid-February is prime time for Missouri bucks to shed their antlers. Should I start looking for sheds today? His best year was 2017 when he found 46 sheds. Shed hunting is a pretty good pastime for hunters who would like a glorious new centerpiece for their dinner tables. If you’re like most white-tailed deer hunters, then you spend the majority of your time in the woods during the fall and winter of each year. LaCrosse Men's 376029 Alphaburly Pro 18" 1000G Hunting Boot, Mossy Oak... R RUNFUN Men's Lightweight Anti-Slip Waterproof Hunting Boots, Hunting Black Bears: What You Need to Know, Step By Step Guide to Successfully Field Dressing a Deer, Three Easy Steps On How To Bleach A Deer Skull, How to Plant Soybeans for Your Best Deer Food Plots, How to Make a Laser – Assisted Blowgun An Effective Weapon and Hunting Tool, What You Need to Know About the Types of Bows for Hunting, Learn How to Aim a Slingshot with This Quick Article, Shoot with Consistency – The Best Archery Release. Mid-February is a good time to start your search for antlers throughout much of the U.S. Early-February if you really need to scratch that itch. In comes a snowstorm and all the sheds are buried for another couple of weeks. Another option to know when to go hunting for shed deer antlers is to hang digital trail or game cameras around feeding areas like agricultural fields, or at least along the main trails leading to and from those feeding areas. BEST QUALITY RUBBER AND NEOPRENE: These boots are made from the all natural top quality rubber. The best situation for shed hunting is to get out there just as soon as the snow melts. By far, the best time to shed hunt is after the snow has melted, but before green up occurs. You must get landowner permission to hunt sheds on private land. The edges of feeding areas, the grassy transitions, are good. Timing is of the greatest importance. For antlers. Assuming the PA deer are close to Ohio deer, shedding should take place between now and the beginning of April. Right now, outdoorsy people all across the country are on the hunt. Follow These Tips, Best Deer Hunting Rifle – Available On The Market Today, Hunting 101: Hunting Safely and Effectively. Just remember, roughly 90% of bucks are shed by March 1st, compared to just 25% on February 1st. Simply stated, there’s no real rush to get out there because they’ll still be there when you do decide to look. Some hunters get a slap in the face for a second time, without finding a single shed! Look Where Deer Jump: Sudden movements caused by jumping or running can knock an antler loose. In the winter, deer stay in their beds to conserve energy. Best Deer Hunting Times - Deer Hunting Calendar January 2021 Here you will find the Best Deer Hunting Times as predicted by the Solunar theory of John Alden Knight. Change perspectives (crouch, stand, etc.). In order to find shed elk antlers there must be elk in the areas you are looking in, specifically bull elk that have dropped their antlers. So when you go shed hunting, like I recently did, bring I begin looking for sheds about mid-March. Competition is a great excuse to get outdoors. Next week? Of course, these areas may be far from roads and your trucks, but you may have a better chance of finding your prize in these places. This way, you can cover more undiscovered areas. Our dedicated staff members are each seasoned professionals with a passion for hunting built upon years of in the field experience. Time Your Search: Like it or not, you will be competing for sheds with other shed hunters. Stress related factors can also influence when a buck sheds his antlers. The 10 Best Stories of 2020, as Chosen by Our Loud-Mouthed Hunting Buddy. You have a deer down—congratulations! Find the food, find the sheds. With this fact in mind, you may be twice as fortunate finding a pair of antlers when you search in areas where hunting is not allowed, or areas where other hunters are scarce. A deer will most likely shed its antlers after the rut season. Welcome to the world of combat shed hunting (in certain areas at least). So, here are a few tips that I’ve formulated myself, based on my experiences while out shed hunting: It is known that the best months to find deer sheds are between March and April, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t find a shed in other months. In the winter look by food sources, in the winter deer abondon does and return to there "batcholor groups" 3. The good news is that the largest bucks are often the first to drop their antlers. If you bump one still holding its antlers and you happen to have the main food source or the bedding near it, chances are the buck will be back. 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