Duck Hunting in New York State: Take a Friend! ST. LOUIS – Deer hunting season is coming to an end, but a set of trophy deer antlers may be waiting in the woods for you. This time of year, bucks begin to lose their antlers. One small precaution to consider when considering the “best time” to start looking is that there can be consequences to shed hunting to early or too late in the season. Whitetail Deer Shed Antler Hunting. The benefits of shed hunting include evidence of which deer made it through the past hunting season, more time spent afield scouting, and the enjoyment of finding the trophy. Some shed collectors use OHVs and snowmobilese in their search. If you don’t think it can be exciting, you’ve probably never given it a serious try. Loud, fast-moving OHVs and snowmobiles are major sources of wildlife stress. Bonus Read: Why Bucks Shed Antlers and How to Hunt Them. Going out into the woods or fields to find sheds that bucks have no need for is a favorite hobby for some outdoors people. It’s that time of year, shed hunting season is upon us! 13 Feb. If you’ve hunted for shed antlers in the past, you know how difficult it can be. While shed hunting, I am also provided with time to reflect on the past deer season and make plans for next fall. Dirty Rat – AKA – Blizek…. By finding a shed you’re shining light on an area that is most likely a high-traffic deer zone. If you are out shed hunting and find antlers or horns still attached to the skull, you are required to contact a game warden before moving the head from the field. Shed Hunting Seasons: Due to the potential of wildlife harassment, many states have created a “Shed Hunting Season”, where you can only pursue sheds during a certain time of year. On rainy days, antlers stand out as darker than the things around them. When hunting you don’t look for an entire animal, you look for a nose or a tail or another part of the whole animal. By. When you’re a deer hunter in February and you’re already looking forward to opening day of archery season, it’s usually the perfect shot in the arm to limp us along and fuel our passion. So far this winter has been very mild, however we are seeing several bucks on trail camera and glassing that only have one side. This time of the year, bucks are dropping their antlers because they no longer need to use them for battles over females. Some dirty rat found this set in a field between a bedding area and a picked field. Shed hunting locations will change from season to season because the travel patterns of elk and deer will vary. Antlers tend to glisten differently than dead branches and stand out very differently than tall grass. More importantly, it teaches the reader where to look for shed whitetail antlers and how to find them. It also can be beneficial knowing that certain bucks made it through hunting season unscathed, allowing them to drop their antlers well after they were at risk of being harvested. Some shed hunters look for sheds as a way to scout for where animals might be during fall hunting season. CASPER, Wyo. Shed hunting can fill the shoulder-season void. FarWide is a search engine for hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Shed hunting is a sport that people do as the hunting season winds down. Joined Jan 9, 2001 Messages 12,113 Location Laramie, WY. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Although we have had a half-hearted winter so far here in West-Central Illinois, it seems we have experienced an earlier shedding than typical in our area. Speaking of looking back at the past season…I have to say that even though I did not fill my tag with a giant buck this year, this has been one of my most successful seasons in recent memory. It’s that time of year, shed hunting season is upon us! Bucks shed their antlers after the mating season has ended, but that occurs at different times depending on the region. Anyway, bow season usually isn't an issue. Elk Hunting – The Ultimate Big Game Guide, FarWide Introduces a 21st Century Outdoor Search Engine, Hunters, Guns, and America’s Conservation Budget, 5 Facts About Pronghorns to Kick Off Colorado’s Pronghorn Bowhunting Season, The Rich Culture of Dove Hunting in the American South, USFWS Has Good News about 2018 Waterfowl Hunting, Hunting Dogs of Instagram: 10 Accounts to Follow, Centennial Pheasant Hunting Season in South Dakota Marked by 47% Increase in Pheasants Per Mile, 5 Deer Scouting Tips for a More Successful Hunting Season. What Is Shed Hunting and How Can I Get Into It? It’s that time of year when next years’ hunt begins. Shed hunting gives a new excuse to be outdoors, exercising and experiencing the woods in the spring. If you’re going to be doing some serious shed hunting, where you expect to find a bunch of sheds or plan to be walking for several days, here’s what to bring. There is often detritus or snow covering up the antler. What You Need for Shed Hunting Season - Monday February 17, 2020 - Joe Shead. January 8, 2020- Shed Hunting Illinois Update- “Shed season is here in Illinois and the deer antlers are starting to drop! The sportsman lifestyle lasts 365-days of the year and is full of rewards. Shed hunting gives a new excuse to be outdoors, exercising and experiencing the woods in the spring. First things first, ensure shed hunting is allowed in the area you intend to shed hunt before you start shed hunting. Often times it requires the right conditions, a good number of friends or family members, and a considerable amount of leg work to find any at all. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says the annual closure aims to protect wintering big game species. Shed Hunting means tracking down antlers dropped by bucks after the rutting season. I am certain it is because I don't spend much time in the woods in off season anymore. So, shed hunting is the perfect way to go find a beautiful set of freshly dropped antlers. Most obviously, if you find a shed off a buck, you have strong proof that said buck made it through the hunting season. This how-to book covers the biology of how antlers grow and ultimately shed. Shed hunting, specifically western shed hunting as a season on public land, has its own set of rules and regulations. All deer need to drink, so whatever water source is the prominent one in the area is a good start. Whether it is a feeding or bedding area, you’re gaining valuable insight and finding areas that could land you a buck in the future. At Vermejo, “Spring” means “Shed Hunting Season”. Sheds are deer and elk antlers that are naturally “shed” by deer and elk in winter and early spring. Sounds like an easy task but there is an art to it. But…that’s shed hunting! Going out in different weather can change the way that antler sheds look in the light too. If an archeologist is looking for buried treasure, they set up a grid and search square by square. Posted at 06:00h in general, hunting by RJ Cianciarulo. Deer seasons always seem short and hunters often have a tough time easing into Winter when the season has closed. 1. Shed hunting season may have made its arrival unnoticed to some, but it hasn’t escaped our attention. In the Northeast and Northern Midwest, expect to start seeing antlers hit the dirt anywhere from late January through February. With shed hunting is growing in popularity throughout the U.S., many states have rolled out regulations and laws specific to when, where and how you can shed hunt. Consistent shed hunting success in Maine has less to do with luck than you might think. Shed hunting is an alternative to kill hunting, don’t need to know anything about hunting, keep in mind the best times of year to look for sheds. Shed hunting is a very fun way to spend the late winter months collecting trophies and scouting for the upcoming turkey and deer seasons. So, shed hunting is the perfect way to go find a beautiful set of freshly dropped antlers. What You Need for Shed Hunting Season - Monday February 17, 2020 - Joe Shead. As hunting season is wrapping up and transitioning into other seasons, shed hunting is ramping up. Articles / Blogs / Content / Scout / Shed Hunting / Shed Hunting Blog. The next best thing to bow season. Many states, localities, wildlife management areas, etc. We do have a few trail camera pictures with both side missing already which seems to be earlier than normal. This time of the year, bucks are dropping their antlers because they no longer need to use them for battles over females. Eyes on the prize. The largest community of Shed Hunters on Facebook! But if you’re going to be doing some serious shed hunting, where you expect to find a bunch of sheds or plan to be walking for several days, you might want to beef up your arsenal. Although traditional buck season is over for Pennsylvania hunters, you can still bag the big one this spring – sort of. Understand the timetable for the bucks in your area. There is nothing more enjoyable in deer hunting than to find a big set of sheds, then pursue and take that same buck in an upcoming season. This is perhaps the most obvious but one of the hardest parts. That trend continues today as shed antlers have become a way to nurture hunting urges during the off-season. Hunt begins large areas away from people organized and methodical in how you move take a Friend much. Antlers after the rutting season been a spring past-time among hunters and outdoorsmen violates this can be quite difficult likely! 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