The youngsters do not have an obvious odor that would give them away to predators. I follow the duck migration. The largest bucks with the largest antlers are dominant and breed the most often during the late-fall mating season (rut). Barely peeking out of a fresh crust of snow, two tiny tines were reaching out toward the sky. Searching for shed antlers and/or hunting bucks without a gun when the season is over will help you compile the most complete information about the whereabouts of deer on your hunting property. The largest and heaviest mule deer tend to be found in northern locations such as Ontario and Minnesota. GameKeepers are Wildlife Managers, Not Just Hunters, International Shed Hunting with the ScentBlocker Pros, Why Look for Shed Deer Antlers During Turkey Season, Tackling the Tackle Box: Restocking What You’ll Need for Future Fishing Trips. Even with the possibility of a paycheck at the end of a shed antler hunt, the reward for a western adventure far outweighs cash. I have a home place not far from the house that ducks like. During mid-summer, after normal growth of the antlers is complete, the velvety skin gradually dries and is shed from the antlers. New regulations limit shed antler collection in Colorado CASTLE ROCK, CO – MARCH 23, 2014: A mule deer shed serves as an antler hunting training tool for Bailey in Castle Rock … The New Year is an excellent opportunity to reassess your old routines and inject them with some new life. The best place for the giant Canadas is northern Illinois. Colorado. Females are called does and do not have antlers. Related: When do deer shed their antlers? Finding antlers can pay off. Both elk and deer use trails to navigate to winter forage. Half is straight up and most is side-slope navigation. Across Colorado elk, moose and deer are all beginning to shed their antlers. MDF is dedicated to the following goals: To restore, improve and protect mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations. You can nudge them slightly in your favor by minimizing disturbance and maximizing the ability of your property to attract and hold more and older deer. Depending on the region, mule deer shed their antlers between late winter and early spring. By Keith Allen. Please read on as I dive into the nuts and bolts of some must-have items. Wyoming. Antler prices have risen in recent years. Electric fences also can be used. In much of the Midwest, corn and soybean fields are king when it comes to deer nutrition. Stress, particularly from winter and predation, influences animals to drop their antlers earlier than normal, especially under severe conditions. Hunting for elk and mule deer sheds is a surefire way to enjoy western scenery in a personal manner, and possibly pick up more bone than you ever imagined. The key thing to remember is that elk typically shed their antlers much later in the Spring than deer, so it is important to pay attention to snow accumulation. Mule deer also can be taken by coyotes and bobcats. They shed antlers in mid-February and their next set begins to grow immediately after. Oct 20, 2020 #2 W. … Saturday, February 25, 2006. They live in a multi-generation family of related females and their offspring. Bucks run off prospective suitors through threatening body postures or engaging in violent jousting contests using their impressive racks as weapons. Adequate fencing to exclude deer is the only sure way to control deer damage. LockerSource Features Four Different Mossy Oak Designs on NEW Lockers, Kentucky Is a Top Pick for Hunting Waterfowl for McKnight, 9 New Year’s Resolutions for Hunters and Anglers, Richie McKnight - the Travelling Waterfowl Hunter, To Rattle or Not to Rattle During the Post-Rut in the North. After finding some antlers, some of which can be quite large, the next step is deciding what to do with the prize. A mild Spring caused the elk to move back up to higher areas of the mountains during the time that the majority of shedding … To speed up your antler discoveries begin by following big game trails. Many of these areas have been allotted refuge status with no human access until spring arrives. Mule deer are social animals that typically stay in groups. North-facing slopes vary from dark timber to juniper-jammed terrain. The male deer sheds them between January and April, when they no longer need them to attract mates or fight for mates. Twin births often occur after the first pregnancy. I hollered loudly for my dad and sons - similar to how I get everyone's attention when the first morel mushroom of the season has. The five British deer species which carry antlers replace them every year. Cremeans hunts for elk, blacktail deer, mule deer, hogs. In these areas, the antler shedding season can run from early March to mid-April. They break into smaller groups again by the next summer. Antler or "Shed" Hunting My brother-in-law James turned me onto a fun and potentially profitable activity called shed hunting. Like whitetail deer, elk and mule deer shed their antlers via a combination of factors. New antlers, covered by a soft velvety skin begin growing in late spring. The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule.Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.. Learn tips and strategies for scouting and finding shed antlers. Don’t let the elevation factor scare you away. Most shed hunters use the antlers in craft or home décor projects or sell them to craftsmen for similar projects. Fencing may be required. Bucks 3 1/2 years or older will shed their antlers faster than bucks who are 2 1/2 years old or younger. Every winter, deer bucks and elk bulls shed their antlers. Pheasant smokes quickly, and it generates a flavorful, moist product when done. Compared to its cousin, the white-tailed deer, mule deer are larger in size, and have a black-tipped white tail and white patch on the rump. Mule deer became so scarce throughout Colorado that in 1913, a statewide hunting ban was put into effect. Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. It’s really up to Mother Nature when the antler drop occurs, but if you’re lucky occasionally both antlers drop near one another, deer and elk. Sturdy, leather hiking boots and a hiking staff is a must. See more ideas about shed antlers, antlers, whitetail deer. State game and fish agencies even manage these areas realizing that the ungulates visit them annually. The conventional deer-proof fence is 8 feet high and made of woven wire. You also need to outfit yourself with a durable and comfortable pack. The more testosterone a male uses during the rut, the more likely it is to drop earlier. As March snow melts away, an off-season activity that many deer hunters pursue is looking for shed antlers. Arkansas always has been known as the go-to state for most duck hunters in the East and South U.S. Arkansas is so close to me. In 1895, according to one report, very few mule deer were seen in the Estes Park region and continued into the beginning of the twentieth century. Males, called bucks, have forked antlers. It needs enough room for water, lunch, rain gear, survival gear and first aid. The antler market fluctuates like the Dow Jones Industrials, but artisans, dog-chew companies, collectors and others purchase antlers on a regular basis. Their new set of antlers grows with a cover of skin, called velvet. Elk antlers could fetch you anywhere from $12 to $15 per pound. According to Dr. Valerius Geist, the first black-tailed deer came into existence around 2 million years ago. I don’t rattle during the post-rut. At this time of year deer are relying solely on their body reserves and what little they can get from surrounding vegetation; they are patiently waiting for spring temperatures and green-up. I divide the bedding areas into two categories, the first is thermal cover and it’s usually the snarliest, nasty thicket within a quarter mile of the food source. When many novices to deer hunting find out about hunting for discarded antlers in the offseason, the first question they ask themselves is when do deer shed their antlers? What to do with shed antlers? Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. Thread starter 42769vette; Start date Oct 20, 2020; Oct 20, 2020 #1 4. Mule deer bucks usually shed their antlers in February or March of each year. This was enacted in 2018 to protect wildlife from additional stress. Mature Whitetail Bucks: Why Don’t I See More? Today several hundred mule deer reside in the park areas and their population is believed to be stable or increasing. Do mullies shed the same time as whitetail? Elk, on the other hand, begin shedding their antlers in March through April, although it can occur as early as mid-February. The best advice for any Western shed antler hunter is to spend wisely on good optics. Deer antler prices have been fluctuating between $8 and $12 per pound in recent years. All male moose grow and lose their antlers each year, but it's rare to catch it on camera.Footage by Tony HilimClick here to read more:"Watch Rare Video of a Moose Shedding an Antler"Click here to read more about Moose Lace up, slide down and cover more ground for a look if you deem it safe. When rumors began to emerge this past Fall that shed hunting in Colorado was going to be pushed back to May, I didn’t really know what to think. Thermal Bedding Cover. They browse shrubs, trees and occasional grasses and forbs and retreat to tree cover to bed down during the day. Specifically in eastern Colorado/western Kansas? Then I go to Illinois and next Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee. When do mule deer shed? Elk and mule deer spend more time on south-facing slopes, but they have to traverse north-facing slopes to get to any new, windswept, south-facing food stash. The dropping of the antlers may take place within 24 to 48 hours, but the entire shedding process may take as long as two to three weeks before the antlers actually fall … Focus on white objects and partial tips protruding from brush or grass. My favorite optic to carry is the Nikon Monarch HG10x42 with enough power to pick apart the landscape when looking for antlers. A buck will usually drop each of the antlers several days apart, it is rare for both to fall at the same time. Older animals tend to cast and clean their antlers first. As you negotiate winter range, you’ll obviously encounter geographic features such as steep canyons and gorges. 42769vette Junior Member. Wyoming prohibits shed hunting from Jan. 1 to April 30 on public lands west of the continental divide. The dedication of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915 and subsequent removal of wolves resulted in a dramatic increase in the mule deer population. 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