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. Ever since my hunting addiction began to take hold, I’ve always associated March with picking up antlers and a time to get outside after a long Winter to help cure cabin fever. There’s no doubt the shed antler craze has skyrocketed in recent years for a few reasons; any serious hunter loves antlers and the market value is high. A brown elk or deer shed can bring as much as $12 per pound and can be worth far more if they are deemed “trophy” quality or sold as a matched set. It’s no wonder why more and more people setting off into the hills in search of brown gold.

As the number of people entering wintering areas increases, the animals are affected, hence the reason for further restrictions. For those of you who are in the dark about the new shed hunting regulations, here is the simple rundown:

All public lands West of I-25 will be closed to antler collecting from January 1st through April 30th, annually. For 2018, these new dates went into effect on March 2nd. Private land does not apply to this restriction.

Believe me, I’m all for a shed hunting restriction because it’s what’s best for the animals but it does present some challenges. Here are my perspectives from both sides of the fence.

Pros

• Increased Protection For Herd Health

My life literally revolves around deer and elk hunting, from my job in the hunting industry to my hobbies and this blog you’re reading right now, so their well being is in my best interest. The fewer people we have walking around during a critical recovery period means a decreased winter mortality rate and increased fawn survival.

• I Won’t Get Harassed

Yeah, you read that right. I’ve caught major flack from my Colorado Shed Hunting Video I posted last year for “exposing” secret shed hunting spots and for promoting shed hunting. I’m being completely serious. It was ridiculous the amount of hate mail I was receiving but now that no one can shed hunt until May, it is safe to assume that the animals should be recovered and no more winter kill will occur on my behalf.

Secluded pockets of aspen trees are great areas to find elk antlers in Colorado’s high country.

Cons

• Bad Guys Don’t Follow The Rules

We all know that bad guys don’t abide by the law so unfortunately there will be more antlers than usual for them to pick up and less for the guys who play by the rules. I’ve seen it first hand in an area where I’ve shed hunted in Southwest Colorado that has had May 1st restrictions in place for many years. Someone always goes in early and unfortunately, I think this will be a common occurrence going forward, especially with a nominal violation fee.

• Tough To Enforce

Coinciding with the point above, other recreational activities such as hiking, biking, four-wheeling, snow-shoeing, camping, etc. are not prohibited in the same areas where shed hunting is restricted. This means that there will still be human activity in wintering areas during these critical times. Bottom line, it will be tough to police shed hunting and I have a feeling we will see a fair bit of antler “stashing” during the months of March and April.

• Neighboring States will see Influxes

With the new restrictions put in place by Colorado, it’s safe to assume neighboring states will get pounded. This (new law) is good for Colorado but can have negative consequences for Utah, New Mexico, and other western states that don’t have a May 1st opening day. I witnessed an influx of Utah license plates parked along the roads last year during March in Colorado when Utah instated their shed hunting restriction until April 15th. Coincidence? I think not. 

Is There A Better Approach?

I’m no biologist and the severity of Winter can vary year to year but in my opinion, May 1st is a bit excessive. By the time April ends, the grass is green and the antlers become tough to spot. However, if the extra time ensures the animals roll into Spring healthier, that is in the best interest of everyone.

Like other natural resources, I think we need to look at antler collecting in a similar manner to fishing, hunting, mining, tree harvesting, etc. People are using and/or monetarily benefiting from a resource so there is an opportunity for income generation, which could ultimately go back towards conservation efforts. When a team of guys go into an area on horseback, pick a hillside clean of 30 antlers and sell them for thousands of dollars to an antler buyer, shouldn’t the state make some money? Many would disagree, but I for one would be happy to pay a license fee if it means more money goes back to protecting the resource.

A mature Colorado bull elk sprouts new velvet growth after shedding its antlers during the Spring.

With Utah opening before Colorado and Nevada instating a shed hunting restriction in select counties for 2018, I think all western states should get on the same page in regards to closures. Utah is looking like a prime candidate for heavy foot traffic this Spring, which could have profound long-term effects on the animals.

For a full FAQ page on the new regulations pertaining to Colorado shed antler hunting, visit: http://cpw.state.co.us/antlershed

I don’t pretend to have all of the answers but starting a conversation will help bring awareness to the issues presented. What are your thoughts on Colorado’s shed hunting closure? Share your comments below.

A day spent outside is always a good day but a day spent outside while shed hunting is a really good day! Yesterday was one of those really good days. I drove a few hours away and hiked up to a new spot that I digital scouted using Google Earth and it turned out to be a good area for shed antlers.

My mission was to pick up some fresh brown elk antlers but it quickly turned into a mule deer shed hunt. Even though I walked seven miles with over 1,100 feet of elevation gain, the elk eluded me, for the most part. I do recognize that it is still a bit early for elk sheds but I was hoping to find one or two based on recent sightings of bulls in the area.

I’ve been at this shed antler hunting game for two seasons now and as you will see from the video, I’m still learning the ropes. If you need a little advice yourself, make sure to read: 4 “New-School” Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter as well as Colorado Elk Shed Hunting Tips. Based on the video below, maybe I need to get better at taking my own advice?

**I apologize for the out of focus shots and bad editing that make up the majority of this video. Apparently, I still have a long way to go in learning how to use a camera and editing software, but nonetheless, enjoy!

For the past few years, I’ve struggled to find elk antlers in the mountains of Colorado and quickly became frustrated with the lack of my success. One consistency I’ve come to realize over the past two seasons is that elk shed hunting is simply a different ball game. Comparatively to both whitetails and mule deer, elk antlers always seemed to elude me while deer antlers were relatively easy to find.

The entire purpose of my blog is to document my findings as I embrace a new lifestyle in a much more extreme terrain and environment. With that being said, I believe any midwestern whitetail hunter can have success in their first season shed hunting for mule deer because a lot of the same principles apply. Mule deer are found at lower elevations during the winter months, making them easier to pattern and are easily accessible. They seem to hold more of a consistent pattern for longer periods of time, while an elk herd has a much larger range and can be found in a completely different area from one day to the next.

Below are a few tips to help shorten your elk shed hunting learning curve and to get you on the fast track to finding brown gold!

Get Higher

No, I’m not making a 420 reference here; I’m talking elevation. As a general rule of thumb, the majority of mature bulls are going to be found at higher elevations than the smaller bulls and cows. Although mule deer and elk wintering areas will have some cross-over, most of the lower elevation elk sign will be cows and young bulls.

Bull elk prefer seclusion at higher elevations during Winter months.

In areas of extreme snowfall and harsh winter conditions, even the herd bulls will get pushed down to lower elevations out of necessity to survive. 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. This past Winter, snowfall was heavy in December, January, and February but March and April were mild with very little accumulation. A mild Spring caused the elk to move back up to higher areas of the mountains during the time that the majority of shedding occurs.

Locate Secluded Basins

The key word here is seclusion. Bigger bulls and elk in general, prefer seclusion and will not tolerate human interaction, which is why you also find them at higher elevations. A great way to locate these areas is through the use of Google Earth, which shows the terrain features from a birds-eye view before ever stepping foot on the ground. Looking at maps prior to entering an area lets you visualize the terrain without wasting time and energy scouring areas that are unproductive.

Mule deer and cow elk will be found closer to roads and human traffic, but don’t be fooled by these visuals. Bull elk are seeking solidarity out of eyesight over the next mountain top.

Go Where The Grass Is

Much like livestock and cattle, elk require an average of 20 pounds of grass and browse vegetation to sustain themselves through a harsh Winter so it’s imperative to locate food. These large grassy meadows, which are predominately found on South facing slopes can be easily identified, once again from Google Earth. By keeping this information in mind, it will help you locate potential feeding areas that elk will utilize on a regular basis.

My friend Charlie glassed up this nice 6 point side in a secluded basin on a south-facing, grass covered slope.

No matter how good a secluded basin looks at a high elevation, if it doesn’t have a plentiful amount of food, the elk will be nowhere in sight. This seems like common sense to many people but this is something I struggled with early on and I wasted a lot of hours searching areas that did not hold bulls or any elk, for that matter.

The Trifecta

If you want to start having serious success with elk sheds, locate the ultimate elk wintering area; A secluded basin, with an abundance of food at high-elevation. Once you find an area like this, the probability of it being a great spot year after year will be high. For some added advice, be sure to check out this quick video from Mark Kayser, Tips For Finding Elk Shed Antlers.

It is also important to be in very good physical shape if you want to attempt getting into secluded areas of elk country. The terrain is tough, the air is thin and the distance is far, but If you are willing to put in the work, shed antler success will follow.

For additional shed hunting tips and helpful information, be sure to check out 4 New School Tips For The Beginner Colorado Shed Hunter. Happy shed hunting!