MONTGOMERY-The end of winter is a time when many people shun being outdoors, but hunting deer antler sheds is an enjoyable activity to try this time of year. This endeavor can be rewarding by finding sheds and as a means for scouting for the following deer season.
If you think that seeing a buck − especially a good quality buck − is challenging, then try scouring the woods and fields looking for shed antlers. Finding even small antlers can be considered a trophy. Finding a matched set might even be more rewarding than actually harvesting the deer. Whatever the case may be, you will discover that locating antlers is harder than it appears.
The needle in a haystack analogy comes to mind when I think of hunting for sheds. One might think that with over a million deer roaming Alabama, antlers would be all over the place. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many factors influence the locating of deer sheds.
Deer often inhabit very remote and inaccessible areas. Many antler sheds are lost or washed into bodies of water, and some are covered by debris, but the majority of them are eaten. Antlers are high in calcium and are quickly consumed by many different animals, especially those in the rodent family. Squirrels may be the number one culprit. Often, found antler sheds will have been gnawed.
There are ways to increase the odds of finding quality sheds. The number one recommendation for antler hunters is to locate them as soon as they hit the ground, or as close as possible. You will need to be familiar with when the deer typically drop their antlers in your particular area to increase the odds of finding them. Usually deer drop their antlers in mid to late March. However, antler drop can occur as early as January and as late as April.
Concentrate searches in places that deer frequently use such as feeding and bedding areas. Walking trails 
between these areas often provide rewards. Thick areas consisting of vines and brush can snag antlers, so don’t always keep your eyes on the ground. Another hot spot is near fences. Bucks that go through fences can snag their antlers. Bucks that go over fences can jolt off an antler that is barely clinging on.
Hunting deer antler sheds is actually similar to hunting deer. You need to locate feeding, bedding and travel areas. Once these areas are located, the legwork begins − lots and lots of legwork. This also provides an excellent opportunity to scout areas for the next hunting season. It would be a safe bet to assume that if you find an antler shed, a buck uses the area.
Whether you are looking to see if that big buck made it through hunting season, or just looking for the challenge of finding something so small in such a big place, hunting for shed antlers is an excellent way to spend time in the great outdoors.
MEDIA RELEASE/By Jim Schrenkel, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
