Post holidays now and caught up at work. Looking at shed antler hunting this weekend. I was wondering how many of you hunt for shed antlers in your core areas as a part of your scouting routines? I have found some true monster cast offs over the years. My theory is that they either came from a veteran nocturnal bruiser or from winter migration to lower elevations. Either way, it is a great excuse to get back out and stay out in the woods. Also, I take the notebook for turkies. Where they roosting now and where did I last see them fatty bird tracks at? Tell me how and why you guys shed hunt?

For this. And all the same reasons. Exercise, scouting, art/craft material, to display, I'm addicted to it... yeah, that.

Wow! Now that's a pile of bone thar... I worked with a field going woods guy that had something similar. Only edge he had on you was moose. He was literally addicted to moose bone. He would trade matching sets of whitey and muley for moose paddles.

I do it for some midday exercise when I'm on my spring fishing trip to northern Maine. Once the fishing slows down around 8 AM, I fill the gizzard with food and coffee, and then go walk the old skid roads looking for moose sheds. If you can find a section where the maples are regenerating in these old finger cuts and are about the diameter of a broomstick, you'll start finding moose antlers.

Shed hunting is my passion! Colorado just put in a new shed gathering regulation west of I-25,we never had a problem in tell they were worth money and ruined it for the folks that look for them for the pure enjoyment

Awesome pic Kerry. I have found a few moose paddles. I was running down a trail in the near-darkness up the Gallatin and tripped and fell forward. Put my hands out to break the fall, ended up like I was doing a pushup, and there right under my chest lay a set of fresh 5x5 small moose paddles. I as an inch from touching them with my chest. Just the weirdest way to find a set of antlers...it was not just luck I don't think. Found a huge (for a shiras) old one up above Jardine too. Would like to find more moose paddles...

A few recent dinks I found in NY. Don't find that many here relatively speaking.

Trapper and crooked: those are some great finds. Would love to stumble on to an Elk or Moose drop.

I love antlers to.. but here in Va very rarely find them because of the squirrels and other rodents chewing them up. I have found a few but not many..

I cut them up and send them to my sisters for dog chews. Made for an easy Christmas shopping this year, and my sisters thought it was the best gift ever.

venison jerky, huckleberry jam, and antler dog chews. I was the christmas hero.

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I gave away 15 LBs of COHO, 50 LBs Elk sausages, and one duck per family member. Dogs each got one entire elk leg bone from joint to hoof. We were much full. It was a redneck Xmas again.

Unfortunately in Illinois it’s unlawful to take sheds. At least on state property which is where I would have access to find them. I’m not sure why. Illinois has some strange laws. The county I live in has no firearm deer season. The rest of the state with a firearm season prohibits rifles. I better stop before I get on my soap box.

Sad to hear these things. My parents left Chicago in 1969 after dad got out of the Corps. Migrated to Bozeman Mt. That was where I was born. All dad told me was that it was a hellhole in Chicago. I don't know anything about the rest. Hope you find some private grounds to poke around on.

Catsailor you in Chitcongo suburbs...I live in that area as well as Wisc. You mentioned the "no gun season"....4 counties here are like that.

I have found one so far thus year but am looking forward to adding a few to collection. I have made key rings from a bunch of small ones and several lamps from matched pairs.

I was hunting last year in Iowa, and the farmer who gave me permission, I was helping him with some chores,,, anyway, I asked him, what is in that old 8 foot hard sided trailer, out in the pasture,,,,, he said the dam, deer antlers that kill my tractor tires,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

It was filled from top to bottom,,,,, I told him, the ridiculous price, people pay for them, for projects and what not, he said to me this winter, this spring start selling em,,,, ha ha....

still hunting by my house, a few bucks are seen, but the racks should be dropping at any time now, its almost like an hourly thing now

I've found a few over the years, but I've never intentionally looked for them. Dang it guys, I don't need another hobby. Lol

They are still carrying their racks here in Missouri and I have seen still carrying in late March..

State of Illinois made it "illegal" because of people who poach. Few years back there was a few (8) people caught shooting bucks and sawing off antlers and saying found them as sheds.

Kurt B. Did you find all of those in Pa?

todd where did you find this information? i have been shed hunting for years and have never heard of this is it in the hunters digest and if so what page would it be on I would like to read this law.

All of the whitetail antlers in my picture are from Pa. mostly public land

Check this out https://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2012/12/biggest-shed-collection-world-15000-antler-cathedral-bone#page-10

This is what prohibits shed hunting in Illinois.

Section 6 of the State Parks Act (20 ILCS 835/6) prohibits the taking or removing of any natural object in any state park. While there are exceptions for hunting and fishing programs and for fossil collection (in designated areas by permit only), there is no exception to the law when it involves shed antlers in any state park. In state fish and wildlife areas, conservation areas, recreation areas, pheasant habitat areas and state forests it is unlawful to remove any animal or part thereof, except as oth- erwise provided by permit, law, regu- lation or by Department program activity under the direct supervision of an authorized employee.

thanks Catsailor. I am safe all private property for me. I usually leave the small ones for the animals to chew. collect the larger ones for making lamps and and things working on a standing coat rack now hope to finish in ten years lol.

I guess I could check some of the county forest preserves. At least the preserves that are accessible.

Fence crossing, crick banks, and bedding thickets have been my best shed picking spots through the years. I can count on one hand the number of sheds I've found in open hardwoods...I don't even really look there much any more.

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