How cool is it that the species we respect and obsess over all year sheds its most defining feature? Shed antlers tell us a lot about whitetail bucks in an area including which bucks have made it through hunting season and the winter, and will be growing larger antlers over the summer. Antlers are the symbol of our outdoor lifestyle, our admiration for the animal we hunt, and they tell the story of the buck to which they belong.

As hunters, we know that it’s not all about the inches of antlers, but the entire process of the hunt, and that process includes the “off-season.” January through April is not the time for hunters to hibernate. It is the time to get out and get moving! Shed hunting is a great way to get everyone involved in the outdoors. And though shed hunting sounds like a simple walk in the woods, it takes practice and strategy in order to find these seasonal trophies. That’s why we have detailed why antlers shed, what determines when they drop, where to look, and how to increase your odds of finding them.

Cycle of the Antler

To fully understand sheds, you must first understand the annual cycle whitetail bucks, and their antlers, go through. During Spring months, fawn bucks begin to grow pedicles on their skulls, which is what we refer to as buttons on a button buck. As the year progresses and the buck continues to mature, its testosterone increases, causing its antlers to grow. From Spring into Summer months, antlers can grow ¼ inch per day and are covered in a fine, furry membrane referred to as velvet. In the Fall, when does begin to come into heat, a buck’s testosterone peaks and pushes them to rub off their velvet, exposing their hard horned antlers. After the rut, the buck’s testosterone levels plummet, activating their osteoclast cells which remove existing bone tissue between the pedicle and the antlers. Fairly quickly, the bond becomes weak and the antlers fall off. This annual cycle continues until the buck is around the age of about six years old, then the antler size will plateau or even grow slightly smaller.

Timing is imperative for hunting sheds. By midsummer, your chances of finding an antler in the woods are slim to none. That’s because squirrels, mice, porcupines, even foxes and bears eat antlers for their high calcium, phosphorus, and mineral salts. So why don’t many avid shed hunters race to the woods as soon as the first antler drops in early January? Nick Coheley from The Rise Hunt explained, “when it comes to finding sheds, I approach it the same way as if I was hunting. Observe from a distance and wait until the time is right. Then I’ll dive in and put the miles on. From my experience, a majority of the deer will have dropped their antlers by March. So, I typically won’t even step foot on a property until then. Any sooner, you run the risk of bumping a buck still holding. Can’t find his shed if you bump him onto the neighbor’s property.” It can be tricky to find sheds before they are eaten and without scaring off all the deer from the property.

What Factors Cause Antlers to Drop

Across most of the United States, whitetail bucks will shed their antlers between early January and the end of March. Three months is a large window of time, so how do you know precisely when the bucks in your area will shed their antlers? Here are five known factors that will impact bucks in your area to shed their antlers.

WHEN THE RUT ENDS

In northern States, bucks will typically shed their antlers in January and February, but in southern States, it can range anywhere from January to April. You can tell the rut is over when bucks stop competing over does and begin to team up in bachelor groups.

HEALTH OF BUCKS

The healthier the buck, the longer they will typically hold on to their antlers. If a deer lacks nutrition for any reason, they are more likely to drop their antlers earlier. Poor health could also be a result of an injury ranging from getting hit by a car, being wounded from a bad shot, or having been in a fight with other deer.

LENGTHENING DAYS

In short, the more daylight, the less testosterone. The absence of light is why the whitetail rut occurs in the weeks leading up to the winter solstice in mid to late December. The amount of light in a day is called the photoperiod. There have been many in-depth research studies that look at the relationship between the photoperiod and the pineal and pituitary glands, testes, and hormone production, and they all conclude that the amount of daylight regulates the reproductive cycle for all antler baring animals like deer.

DOE TO BUCK RATIO

When the doe to buck ratio is even or lopsided in the favor of bucks, bucks will hit the rut, have their testosterone peak, and then drop their antlers at the normal time, if not earlier. Conversely, if there are far more unbred does than there are bucks, this will extend the period of time when buck testosterone levels are highest, and delay when bucks will drop their antlers for that year.

AGE OF THE BUCK

Older bucks are bigger, stronger and likely to shed their antlers earlier than younger bucks. During the rut mature bucks are preoccupied breading as many does as they can and fighting any other bucks that stand in their way. Bucks spend so much of their time and energy being the dominant buck in the area; they sacrifice feeding and nutrition. According to the QDMA, a buck can easily lose 20% of their body weight during the rut, causing the health of a buck to decrease. In addition, younger bucks experience less dramatic decreases in testosterone levels than older bucks.

Where You Should Look for Sheds

Wherever bucks spend most of their time, is where sheds are most likely to be. So, the question is, where are bucks this time of year in your area? If you can answer that question, you should be able to find sheds. If you are still learning buck movement patterns for your property or are going to scout a new area, here are some tips on where to look for whitetail sheds.

SOUTH FACING SLOPES

During the days with short photoperiods and low temperatures, deer long for warmth and sunlight, and south-facing hills provide a warm area for deer to bed. That fact makes them ideal spots to check for sheds. Quickly identify south-facing slopes by pulling up HuntWise and toggling on either the topography map layer or 3D mapping feature.

FEEDING AREAS

During the winter months, deer spend much of their time trying to replace the calories they have burned keeping themselves warm. So knowing where deer feed and checking those areas is a must when shed hunting. Winter feeding areas can be anything from grass popping up through the snow to areas with last year’s cut crops.

STANDING CROPS

Deer will congregate where the food is. In 2019, many crops around the Midwest had yet to be harvested by the end of December. Crops that are still standing post-rut create a place for deer to feast while also providing added cover. With food and cover in the same spot, this type of property feature is typically ripe with sheds.

THICK COVER

Deer bed in areas that they feel unseen by predators and that will also help lock in warmth. Dense, bushy areas with pines and cedars provide ideal visual cover and natural wind barriers. That said, be careful not to jump deer from these bedding areas when you’re out looking for sheds.

SNOW MELTS

Deer are looking for any warmth in the woods. You can find the warmest spots in the woods by seeing where the snow melts first.

Hunt Sheds With Dogs

You aren’t the only one with cabin fever. Your dog would love an afternoon out running around the woods with you. The best dog breeds for shed hunting are those that have the natural desire to please their owners by retrieving. The key to successful shed hunting is covering a lot of ground, and a dog can cover six times the amount of ground compared to some of the best shed hunters. Dogs are also able to pick up the scent of antlers and sniff them out, meaning they are more likely to find sheds that you may miss. Here’s a great resource to check out if you are interested in shed hunting with a dog.

Use Technology to Shed Hunt Smarter

The hunt for sheds can tell you a lot about the deer in a particular area, so use your time to look for sheds and learn about the areas you’ll be hunting come autumn.

FINDING LAND

HuntWise has made it easier than ever to find land to hunt, whether that’s by toggling map layers to find public land or pulling up landowner boundaries and contact information. Just like during hunting season, you can apply those same methods to hunting for sheds. Nick Coheley from The Rise Hunt said that, “in Michigan, during the months of January and February, I will drive around in the evening and find properties where deer are herded up. After I locate those certain properties I will then find the landowners information on HuntWise and try to gain access. I have had very good luck doing this.”

SCOUT THE TERRAIN

Once you have an idea of where you’re going to shed hunt, take some time to e-scout and get an idea of where sheds are likely to be before you head out. Look for south facing slopes, bedding areas, crops and feeding areas as these are where whitetail will be hanging out this time of year.

MARK SHEDS ON THE MAP

You will find antlers in the same areas year after year, so when you find a shed, make sure to drop a map pin via HuntWise. This will not only help you find more sheds in years to come, but allow you to map out the buck’s movement during the off season.

TRACK YOUR PATH

HuntWise also offers the ability to record your walking path. This feature is super helpful when you’re plotting a course to your favorite tree stand or blind during hunting season, and it can be just as key while shed hunting in the off-season as it helps you track what ground you have covered and what you still need to check out.

CHECK TRAIL CAMERAS

If you own the property you will be combing for sheds, put your trail cameras out and check them weekly. This way you can see exactly what bucks are still holding on to their rack and which have shed their antlers.

Creative Uses for Sheds

Now that you have your antlers, what do you do with them? You can keep them to compare year after year, sell them, decorate with them or give them to the dog as a chew toy.

Being able to track a deer’s growth is just, super cool. It’s what us hunter’s geek out over. Being able to track the progress in inches from one year to the next really helps us pass on small bucks because we can physically see the growth one-year can make.

Use your sheds in the fall to rattle in a buck during the rut. Nothing is going to sound more realistic than real antlers crashing together. You can keep your sheds together by tying them together with some rope or paracord.

Finding a shed antler in the woods can make you feel like you struck gold, because some sheds can be worth a lot. There is a market for selling and buying deer antlers. Small sheds that you are most likely to find usually go for around $2 to $3 per pound. For a matching set of 200+ inches can sell for upwards of $500. Here’s more info on estimating the value of sheds and tips for selling them.

Antlers are beautiful and reflect the outdoor lifestyle. Decorating with antlers is timeless and interior decorators are getting more and more creative in their use for antlers. Need some inspiration? Check this out.

Now, get out and take a walk in the woods, or around a field. Bring your dog, a friend, your family or get away from it all and spend some time alone. Even though it's winter and cold, turn off whatever screen you have been watching, get out of the house, breathe in the fresh air, and focus your attention on searching for antlers.

Top Tips for Shed Hunting Success