How to Shed Hunt

We may not like it. But it happens every year. Deer season must come to a close. Then, bucks shed their antler...and we move in to pick them up. Here’s a little more insight on how deer grow and shed antlers as well as how to find them once on the ground.

The Antler-Growing Process

The antler-growing process begins almost as soon as the antlers are dropped. Sometime in early spring, velvet-covered antlers begin to protrude from the pedicles. Growth peaks in late August throughout most of the whitetail range. Most bucks shed their velvet between mid-August and mid-September. Increasing levels of testosterone cause their velvet to peel off. Then — in late winter after the rut is over — bucks shed their antlers.

How Bucks Shed Their Antlers

Whitetails shed their antlers like many species in the deer family. There are several factors that play into this biological- and chemical-based occurrence.

Antler drop is influenced by genetics. Every subspecies of whitetail is a little different on when they let go of their headgear. Depending on what subspecies of whitetail you hunt will influence when they shed.

Geographical location also plays a role because it dictates climate. Depending on where the deer are will dictate what weather conditions they are exposed to. Extreme cold causes deer to shed their antlers sooner than milder conditions.

Nutrition and food source availability factor in, too. Deer suffering from malnutrition are subject to shedding sooner than healthier whitetails. Years with severe mast crop failures—like this year—can be a major player if no other food sources are available.

The fourth — and final major factor — is stress from the rut. Years that produce harsh rutting conditions for bucks cause bucks to shed sooner than usual. Areas with uneven buck-to-doe ratios dump bigger loads on bucks. Does get missed because there aren’t enough bucks to breed them in a timely manner. Therefore, the rut gets stretched out and lasts longer.

Once late winter arrives, the antler base loosens, and then the antler falls off. All of the factors above cause the connective tissue beneath the base of the antler to degenerate even faster.

Where to Find Shed Antlers

Shed hunting has become the latest buzz in the deer hunting world. You have to put miles on your boots to find them. But put the right miles. There are certain areas that tend to produce more sheds than others. Here are those prime spots.

Bedding Areas

• Cedar thickets
• South- and east-facing slopes
• CRP fields
• Field-grass beds
• Fingers of trees

Travel Routes

• Fence crossings
• Ditch crossings
• Creek crossings

Feeding Destinations

• Crop fields
• Food plots
• Pockets of mast crop
• Water sources

Tools and Methods

It’s best to hunt smart, not hard. The same goes for hunting shed antlers. Just like there are better places to look, there are better ways to find them. Keep these tips in mind.

Tools of the Trade

1. Monitor the drop with trail cameras.
2. Use binoculars to scan fields and open woodlots.
3. Ride a four wheeler while looking in large fields.

Methods of Shed Hunting

1. Use a shed dog.
2. Look for the tip of an antler, not the entire thing.
3. Take someone who knows the ropes.
4. Look on rainy days. Antlers shine better then.
5. Shed hunt where you would late-season deer hunt.
6. Draw a grid on a map and search each quadrant.
7. Change perspective. Crouch down. Stand up. Find more sheds.

The annual antler drop is here. If it’s not in your area, it soon will be. Take time this post-season to get out and look for shed antlers.

Shed hunting is like other outdoor activities — it’s an art. Okay. Maybe there isn’t an art to it. But there is definitely a process. And if you don’t understand that process correctly, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time afield with minimal return and none of that white gold to show for your time and effort. Follow the steps in this guide to find more sheds.

1. Know When to Go and Then Grid Off the Area

Determining when bucks will shed can be tough. However, we now know environmental factors such as temperature, weather, rut severity and available food have the potential to influence when a buck will shed. Injuries deer received during hunting season and the rut also effect it. In my experience, late-January to early-March is the general window for the annual antler drop. Where I live, most bucks shed in February. To help know when to start shed hunting, I use my trail cameras to monitor the herd. I move in once 80 to 90 percent have thrown down their crowns.

It’s easy to get off track when shed hunting. It’s easy to stray from your intended path, especially in varying terrain. That’s why it’s so important to grid off the ground you start shed hunting. Walk it in sections and mark off the sections on an aerial map as you cover them, or use natural barriers and edges as boundaries.

2. Use Binoculars and Walk a Lot

Optics can make a world of difference when shed hunting. You’ll see a lot of things that look like antlers, but aren’t. It’s a whole lot easier to raise your binos than to walk 100 yards, you know? Binoculars are also great for scanning open areas.

Walking is part of shed hunting. If you don’t want to put several miles on your boots, don’t go. It takes effort to find that “white gold.” Antlers aren’t laying under every tree. I’ve spent hours, days even, without finding sheds. I’ve also had days where I found them every 10 or 15 minutes. You never know which way it’ll go. But what you can expect is to walk a lot.

3. Scan Open Areas First

As mentioned, binoculars are good for scanning open country. This is especially true in hill and mountain country. Find a vantage point up high and scan the area below you. Don’t expect this to work as well in thicker cover.

4. Check Food Sources

I don’t find a lot of sheds in and around food sources. I do find some, though. 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. Glass as you go. It’s much easier than zigzagging across the field, although sometimes you have to. Food sources to consider include crop fields, food plots, woody browse, green food sources and pockets of remaining hard mast.

5. Focus on Bedding Areas

I’ve found 75 percent of my sheds in or near bedding areas. Check thermal bedding (evergreens and conifers) and solar bedding cover (south- and east-facing slopes). Also check areas that received minimal hunting pressure during the late season. Other areas to focus on include CRP fields, fingers of cover, around old farm structures and machinery, etc.

6. Don’t Forget About Water

Water is crucial for deer, especially during the late-season. Water can be scarce during periods of hard freezes. Open running water sources are key at such times. When it’s above freezing, water is not as scarce and bucks — especially mature ones — will use the safest, secluded water source available to them.

7. Hit Up the Highways

I don’t walk every single trail while shed hunting, but I try to. That said, I do walk every major trail — hence the highway talk. I’ve found numerous sheds on major trails leading from bedding cover to food sources. I’ve also found them on smaller, more secluded trails. Other trail areas to consider include fence, ditch and creek crossings. Anything that causes the deer’s body to jolt has the potential to knock off a loose antler.

8. Think Small

Many new shed hunters make the mistake of looking for a whole antler. Don’t do that. Look for the tip of a tine. It’s the same concept as when shooting a bow — aim small miss small. Think small, find more sheds.

9. Deploy a Shed Dog

Full disclosure — I’ve never trained nor owned a shed dog. But I want and plan to within the next year or so. I’ve went on shed hunting trips where others had dogs and they found way more sheds than I did. I guess I don’t have the nose of a dog after all. (Although I’ve been told I have a pretty good sniffer — I smelled a turd my wife’s dog dropped all the way from across the house last week. . .)

10. Additional Tips and Tactics

If you've ever found a shed somewhere, make a mental note of the location. Recent studies show unless environmental or physiological factors come into play, a buck will generally shed its antlers within a two- or three-day window from year to year. And unless outside factors (weather, food, predators, etc.) influence their winter range, they'll shed within a few hundred yards of the same spot each year, too."

More tips and tactics to find sheds:

• Go with someone who’s been before.
• Look on cloudy days.
• Look just after a rain (antlers shine).
• Change perspectives (crouch, stand, etc.).
• Shed hunt in places you’d actually hunt during the late-season.

Know Your Competitors: As mentioned, hunters and animals can put a damper on shed-hunting efforts. Get out and grab those pieces of bone before the tree rats and song dogs do. You'll notice a few gnaw marks on the edge of the antler base. Also, get them before other hunters do. This photo is of an antler that‘d been been gnawed on by squirrels.

Search Thick Cover: Deer bed in thick cover. This time of year, that’s where mature bucks stay most of the time. It only makes sense to look through this cover as you work your way across it. It isn’t uncommon to find a shed or two (at least) in these type areas.

It Takes Time: You won’t find a shed antler under every tree. But you will find one every once in a while. It took several hours of shed hunting before I found this first shed of the day.

Find Sheds on Major Trails: Major trails are great places to find shed antlers. That’s where I found this one. Grid areas off on a map and work each section individually. That helps ensure you don’t miss an area.

Walk All Trails: Once major trails are checked off the list, work the smaller ones. Walk along every trail you can find. Carry your phone or GPS as you do so and track your path on the aerial. Trace that trail on a printed aerial map. Do that for all trails you walk. You’ll eventually see a pattern and network of trails once all of them are marked on the aerial map. This will help you understand how deer use a property.

Don't Ignore the Hard Places: This shed was located on the edge of a massive corn field. It’s hard to spot antlers in open territory, but it can be done.

Use a Shed Dog: Using a shed dog can work wonders. This is one of my friend's shed dogs. I don’t have my own...yet. But I plan to change that in the near future.

It's Not Just About Antlers: Scout while you’re shed hunting. This rub was one of many I discovered in a matter of hours. Plot these on aerial maps, too.

Pattern Bucks for Next Season: One thing you learn by plotting rut sign is how bucks maneuver about the property you hunt during the pre-rut. That’s a big help. Go ahead and hang preliminary stands accordingly.

Shed hunting. People either love it and do it religiously, or they don’t do it at all. There aren’t many people who fall in-between.

There are many people, though, who say shed hunting is useless and that it holds no informational value. I say that’s false. I disagree with that crowd. There are several reasons why.

Oftentimes, hunters say that just because a deer spends time somewhere in winter doesn’t mean they’ll be there next fall. That’s true. Most bucks’ fall and winter ranges are different. But hunting seasons are still open in most states well into January (even February for some). And if a buck spent the late season in a particular location last season (and you found his shed there), as long as conditions go unchanged in the environment, there’s a good possibility that deer will be back during the next late season. So, yes, finding sheds does give you a starting point when planning your late-season hunts for the next season.

Furthermore, I’ve noticed (at least where I hunt most here in Kentucky), that many bucks’ summer and winter ranges are in the same relative locations. So, in essence, finding a shed that was dropped in winter also gives you a starting point when you try to pick that same buck back up during the upcoming summer and early season (if your season opens early enough for it to matter).

There’s also the ghost buck discovery aspect of shed hunting. There have been numerous instances where I found shed antlers of bucks I had no prior knowledge of — that I wouldn’t have known were there if not for the sheds. Several like situations come to mind, but I’ll use one particular buck as an illustration. It was a deer that never hit any of my trail cameras, never left his core area in daylight to be seen on the hoof, and never made his presence known with massive scrapes or rubs. That is, not until I found his shed in a bed back in thick cover. I never killed that buck, but finding his shed gave me something to go on when I previously had nothing.

I’ve found most of my sheds in or close to bedding areas. So, shed hunting also shows you where bucks prefer to bed — especially during the late season. That’s valuable information. It helps paint a picture as to how deer use and move about the properties you hunt on. Interestingly enough, you’ll often find that bucks will shed in the same general location each year.

Shed hunting is also beneficial because it gets you out in the woods to scout. Post-season scouting is arguably the most efficient method of scouting. In my opinion, it’s also the best time to do so. You don’t have to worry about pressuring deer since the season is over; yet beds, trails, rubs, scrapes, tracks and other types of deer sign are still visible.

Does it always happen? Does shed hunting always provide actionable intel when scouting and hunting whitetails? No. Deer die. Conditions change. Situations alter. Core areas and home ranges shift. There are obviously a lot of variables and factors in play. But it does happen sometimes. It does provide clues when you’re piecing a game plan together to hunt mature deer — especially specific mature bucks. And that’s enough for me to put stock in shed hunting.

I refer to it in the same light as deer hunting — you don’t always kill a deer. You don’t kill every deer that you hunt. Just like you won’t always find sheds. And when you do, they won’t always be the primary reason you harvest that buck the following season. But sometimes, you do. And sometimes, it will. And when you do find that success, it’s because you did a lot of small things right that lead up to a filled tag. Shed hunting can play an integral role and be a cog in that wheel of success.

Plus, it’s just plain fun. There’s something about walking down a trail — halfway crouched over to avoid a face full of briars — and seeing a pearly white antler laying there for the taking. And if you don’t see the beauty (and fun) in that, well, you aren’t a shed hunter.

Shed hunting has come on pretty strong in the last decade. It’s all the buzz throughout whitetail and even mulie and elk country. And if you do well at it, over time, the bone begins to pile up. In fact, some people I know have whole sheds filled with sheds (pun intended). I’ve got more than a few lying around myself, too. So what is a guy or gal to do with all those cast antlers? Here’s 12 pretty good ideas.

1. Dog Treats

I know. Why would you spend all that time and energy putting miles on the boots to find white gold only to chop it up and feed it to the dogs? Absurd, right? Well, if you’re the type who has antlers lying around everywhere, probably not. And if your significant other is tired of finding them in every room of the house, that might be another reason to recycle a few of those less-sentimental ones.

Personally, I like to give some of the smaller sheds or those with less meaning to the dogs. You can give them the whole thing, or saw them up into 4- or 5-inch pieces. Your call. But your pets will love you for it. And your spouse might love you for it, too.

2. Crafts (Painting, Ornaments, Etc.)

This is one for those who are more artistic than myself. I wouldn’t know the first crafty thing to do with an antler, but there are plenty who do. My wife Kathryn being one. Every time I come home with another shed her first words are, “Can we use that one for decoration?” Or, “Can I have that one for an art project?” In my head it's, Seriously? No, you can’t have my sheds. In reality, it's more like, "Sure thing sweetheart . . ."

In all seriousness, she’s a hunter too. She understands the heritage and tradition of the outdoorsman. Truth is she lives it, too. So I guess it’s not all bad to sacrifice a few of my sheds in the name of art, right? I guess so . . .

Watch: Kathryn’s First Deer | Kathryn’s First Turkey

3. Mantle Décor

I like to display the truly nice sheds in places people can see and enjoy them. One such place is the mantle. It’s a great location to place some of the bigger and/or more sentimental antlers.

4. Knives

This might be the most kick-butt option on this list. Nothing manlier than crafting and forging a knife from a piece of bone, eh? It’s definitely on my list of things to do.

5. Coat Hanger/Holder

Find that solid 50- to 60-inch 8-point shed and you’ve got yourself a fine coat hanger. Simply drill a hole through the beam and anchor it to the wall (in a stud) beside the door. Place it in the desired position and fasten it down. You’ve got yourself a fine addition to the entrance of your home.

6. Table Legs

This is one that I really want to do, but haven’t yet. If you can find four antlers that are very similar, you’ve got yourself a project on hand. Finish a slab of wood, or remove the legs from an existing table, and place the antlers in the desired position. Most people secure the antler base to the underside of the slab. Then, antler tines will make contact with the floor. Again, it takes four very similar sheds to do this, and you still may have to shave off the tips of the tines to get the table to sit level. It isn’t an easy project, but dang does it look cool when it’s finished.

7. Curtain Holder

Here’s one for the ladies. Antler’s make great curtain holders, drape catchers, whatever-you-want-to-call-ems. They have a very down-to-earth feel that works perfect for cabins, log houses and other rustic homes.

8. Chandelier

This isn’t necessarily a DIY project unless you’re a master craftsman. I wont be attempting this one. But it might be a great idea for those willing to take the challenge. Or, if you have a bunch of sheds, and you know someone with the skills, pay someone else to create this beauty for you. The ones I’ve seen are very intriguing.

9. Lamp Stand Base

Here’s another decoration. Simply remove the base from any lamp, or buy the raw parts to make your own, if you wish. Then drill a hole in the antler base/beam (depending on antler shape — the thing has to sit level). Some antlers aren’t great for this, and therefore you may need to use a small piece of wood as the base. Then, you can screw antlers (similarly sized and shaped) on three sides to create the desired look.

10. Rings

Here’s a pretty neat idea for hardcore outdoorsmen (and women). You can use antler bone to make a ring. Simply find an antler base or tine with the desired size, shape and texture. Then saw it to the desired width. Next, drill out a hole to the desired ring size. Once that is finished, you’ll need to sand down the interior and edges of the ring. If desired, stain to the preferred color. Lastly, you can add a rubberized insert for a more comfortable feel.

11. Sell Them or Give Them Away

Some people like to sell sheds or give them away. Sheds didn’t get the name “white gold” for nothing. Sheds, especially big ones, do have the potential to garner some serious cash. That said, make sure you follow all laws and regulations when it comes to selling antlers. There are a lot of regulations, even from state to state, that go with selling deer antlers. Do your homework beforehand.

12. A Collection

Some people just want to pile them in a corner, pick them up occasionally and look at them. Honestly, that’s what I do with most of mine. They have their own little spot in the house and I admire one from time to time and think about the stories that go with them. And quite frankly, that’s OK, too.

Shed antlers. Lost crowns. White gold. Whatever you call them, we love them. Shed hunting is a fun activity that thousands enjoy every year. It’s become an important part of my post-season scouting. But you can find more than just sheds — sometimes you find dead heads. That’s not the way you want to find them, but it happens. It happened to me twice last year.

We deer hunt for many reasons. But in part, it's so we can chase old warriors like those that I found dead. This is a deer my family and I knew of and hunted for a couple of years. I didn't dedicate my 2017 Kentucky season to this deer because I was chasing a big droptine buck that I was blessed to take early in the season. However, I was hoping to chase this giant eight next fall. But as I searched for his sheds, I found him dead in his bed instead. Thoughts of what might have happened to this buck ran through my mind. Only Mother Nature knows. And she can be cruel.

When you find these dead heads, you’ll likely want to throw them in the truck with your sheds and take them home with you. But you can’t. At least, not without doing something else first. Most states require you to get a tag for a dead head before you can pick it up and take it home.

Here in Kentucky, the law requires for a game warden to come out, inspect the site where you find the dead head, and then provide you with a tag. That’s what I had to do when I found the two dead heads last year. That said, not all states require that. Check the regulations where you shed hunt to make sure you’re in compliance with all game laws.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Brad Bowles provided additional insight into the process.

“In Kentucky, you are required to contact your local conservation officer to obtain a carcass tag for any deer head you find and want to possess,” Bowles said. “There are many things in nature that may result in a deer dying: disease, injury, or a poorly placed shot by a hunter. In most cases, officers will investigate how a person has come into possession of the deer rack. I usually instruct the person to take photos of the deer carcass with their cell phone without moving or altering the location the deer was found. Oftentimes, this will provide some explanation for how the deer died. It also may be helpful if several deer in the area are found dead for our biologists to determine whether there is need for concern with any disease outbreaks, such as the case we recently experienced in eastern Kentucky. After reviewing all of the available evidence, the conservation officer still has discretion on whether or not to issue a carcass tag.”

Happy shed hunting. And here’s to hoping you find sheds instead of dead heads.

Throw an antler over your shoulder in the middle of a brush-covered forest and see how long it takes you to find it. Go on. Give it a good chuck. Then set that timer. You might get lucky and spot it right away. Or you might not (even with the hint of knowing it’s there). More times than not, it’ll take a bit to rediscover it.

Shed hunting isn’t easy. So I’m not calling you out. Or maybe I am. Either way, I’ve found my fair share of white gold, but that doesn’t mean I’m some shed-hunting sensei. Far from it. But after reading this primer, you’ll be no shed-hunting Kimosabe, either. Learn from the shed-hunting lessons I’ve learned the hard way so that you don’t have to. Get a head start on all of your first-time shed hunting buddies, too. You want bragging rights, right?

Get that white gold.

Get antler rich.

I dare ya.

1. You Choose the Wrong Time

Timing is a crucial component of shed hunting. Move in too early before deer shed and you won’t find any. Move in too late and you run the risk of predators, scavengers, rodents and other shed hunters getting to them first. It’s a delicate balance.

The best way to move in at the right time is by monitoring the antler drop. Do this by scouting from afar and using trail cameras. Once you no longer see deer with antlers, or don’t see many, you can feel confident most of them have dropped.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Glass from afar
• Monitor trail cameras
• Consult with other hunters

2. You Look in the Wrong Places

It’s important to not only look at the right time but also in the right places. You can’t find something that isn’t there. You have to shed hunt where the deer spend the late and post seasons. Do that and you’ll be in the thick of it. Don’t and you’ll have long days ahead as a shed hunter.

I like to focus first where deer spend the most time — bedding areas. That’s where I find the most shed antlers. Find thick, unpressured areas that deer felt safe during the late season. That’s likely still where they are now, too.

The next best places to look are food sources and trail that connect bedding areas to them. Cover both major and minor trail systems in order to find antlers dropped by bucks of all ages. Younger bucks will generally use major trails more and mature bucks tend to use those smaller, secondary trails, most of the time. Walk the edges of major food sources and glass the interiors of the openings.

Lastly, don’t forget water sources. These are great locations to find antlers. Deer are naturally spooky around water sources — that means increased chances of running, jumping, jerking, etc. — which means sudden movements capable of loosing an antler (or two).

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Focus on late-season deer hunting hotspots
• Hit the bedding areas
• Walk the food sources
• Check the water sources

3. You Don’t Use Your Eyes

You have to train the eye to find shed antlers. It’s like anything else in the fact that it takes practice. You won’t immediately become a great shed hunter.

For starters, think small. Don’t look for a whole antler. Look for the tip of a tine, pearly glisten of a beam, etc.

Also, change your perspective. Crouch down. Stand up. Get up high on a vantage point. Doing these things can make a difference. Things block your view. Move around to overcome that obstacle.

It’s important to know when conditions are best for your vision. Cloudy days are better than sunny ones. Just after a heavy rain is better than shed hunting in dry conditions. Have your eyes accustomed to the light outside. On sunny days, wear lightly tinted sunglasses. On cloudy days, don’t wear them.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Think small
• Change perspective
• Recognize good shed-hunting conditions

4. You Aren’t Glassing

Optics are important for shed hunting. They’ll save you a lot of time and energy. Sometimes things can look like a shed at a distance, only to be sticks or brambles. Pulling your binos up and confirming one way or another will sometimes save you from having to walk over and see it up close.

Optics are also necessary for checking food sources for antlers. Walking an entire ag field can be a significant waste of time. Instead, driving around and glassing them in sections is easier and yields better (quicker) results.

When choosing a pair of binos, don’t use some that are really high-powered. Choose a pair in the low- to mid-power range for optimum performance in the timber.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Choose a pair of binos
• Glass food sources in section
• Use them to confirm suspicious antler-like material you see from a distance

5. You Don’t Walk Far or Long Enough

Shed hunting demands time. You must invest time to find sheds. It’s that simple. More time means more antlers. But don’t rush it. Move slow. Stop and look. Ease along at a slow pace. Move too fast and you’ll miss a lot of bone.

While time is important, so is distance. The more territory you cover, the higher your odds of finding success. Be smart, though. Don’t search randomly. Look in high-odds areas first. Then check spots that are less likely to have antlers in them last.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Spend more time afield
• Be willing to put more miles on your boots
• Scout high-odds areas first

6. You Don’t Stay Focused

Focus is key. Don’t let your mind wonder. Don’t start looking at the sky, treetops and tweety birds. Keep eyes on the ground. That’s where you’ll find antlers. If you find antlers in the treetops, you might want to pack a sidearm for protection. There’s a kitty cat on the loose.

Staying mentally tough can be hard. It isn’t easy. Doing so will result in more shed antlers for your collection. There are ways to help with this. First, listen to some music while out there. I stay more focused that way. Next, grid out the area so you have a plan and you’re not just aimlessly bumbling around. Set goals. Tell yourself five, 10, 15 (or whatever the number) is your goal for the day. Setting that goal will push you to achieve it.

And then know when to quit. You won’t shed hunt everywhere in one day. Once you get to that point where you need to quit, do so. Then start fresh another time.

• Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:
• Listen to music (or do whatever keeps you focused)
• Set goals
• Go in with a plan
• Know when to quit

7. You Aren’t Enlisting Help

One of the best things you can do is invite others along. It’s a great way to introduce someone to the outdoors. Plus, it’s another set of eyes. Have your buddy come help you. Then return the favor and help them shed hunting their property(ies).

You might even learn something from them. They might use a tip or tactic you haven’t heard of or tried. They might even have some advice you need to hear. I learn tips and pointers from my friends. They learn from me. That’s how it works.

And not to mention that you can cover exponential amounts of ground faster this way. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Seriously.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Invite friends along
• They help you
• You help them
• Cover ground faster
• Everyone learns from everyone

8. You Haven’t Deployed a Dog

Dogs are extremely helpful for finding sheds. And the fact that I still don’t own one is my No. 1 shed hunting mistake. (I plan to change that within the next year or so.) That said, a friend of mine does have one and I commission it to help me from time to time. I return the favor by sniffing some out for him with my nose, too. Not a very fair trade, eh? Oh well.

Dogs have an incredible ability to find shed antlers. And while it isn’t easy to train a dog to do it, the rewards are certainly worth the time and effort. Go here for a great tutorial on getting started with your new shed dog. Or, have someone else train your new pup and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Borrow a dog
• Train a dog
• Or pay someone to train one

9. You Don’t Shed Hunt Like You Hunt

Your shed hunting mentality should be no different than your hunting mentality. The goal is the same — find the deer. Except in this case it’s, find where the deer was so you can find the antler it left behind.

This is an easy task, really. Just implement your late-season game plan for hunting. Then tweak it a bit to take into account shed hunting rules and concepts. Before you know it, you’ll be finding all sorts of sheds.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Think like a late-season deer hunter
• Look in places where deer spend the late season
• Add a few shed-hunting-rule twists to your game plan

10. You Don’t Have a Plan

Shed hunt with a purpose. Go in with a plan. Use maps to grid off your search area. Mark off where you’ve been. Plot points for sheds you find. Focus on areas with the highest odds. These are all little things you can do to increase your success. Each will help you get the most out of the shed-hunting experience.

Fast Track to Shed Sensei Status:

• Carry an aerial map
• Mark off areas you’ve searched
• Plot points for located sheds

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