Antler Shed Hunting

February and March are the key months to hunt for shed whitetail deer antlers in this area, but some outdoorsmen are finding them now (even in late December). Hunting for "sheds," as they're called, is a favorite passtime of mine, and it makes me look forward to February every year.

There are all sorts of uses for shed antlers. People make knife handles, drawer pulls, buttons, game pieces, ceiling fan chain pulls, and any number of other things out of antlers. I want to learn to make antler whistles. I've got some directions; it's just a matter of finding the time to learn and practice.

Antlers can be tough to find, especially when you're just starting out. In the photo on the right, can you see the antler? Look just a bit left of the tall grass in the center of the pic. See the single white tine sticking up? Sometimes that's all you'll see. You have to train your eye to look for that shape.

The 8-point antler above was a super fun find. It was found near a flood-control lake, lying in grass maybe 75 yards from a huge house. The 8 points on one antler meant this antler came from a big buck. We looked until it began to get dark and couldn't find the other one. I can't wait to return to that area and see if I can find one or both of this bruiser buck's antlers this season!