Shed Hunting FAQs

There are many questions associated with shed hunting. Below are some of the most common questions associated with searching for white gold.

Q: What is shed hunting?

A: Shed hunting is the act of searching for deer antlers cast during the natural antler shedding process.

Q: Why do deer shed their antlers?

A: Deer and other cervids (i.e.: caribou, elk, and moose) shed their antlers annually. They regrow these each year.

Q: When do deer shed their antlers?

A: Most deer shed their antlers in late winter through early spring.

Factors That Influence Antler Shedding

Numerous factors impact antler shedding timelines. These include age of the deer, testosterone levels, typical rut timelines, health status, nutrition availability, herd stress, and more.

Age of the Buck: The age of the deer matters. Oftentimes, older bucks shed first.

Testosterone Levels: Testosterone levels impact most elements of whitetail buck physiology. When testosterone levels drop to a certain threshold, antlers are cast.

Typical Rut Timelines: In areas with more skewed buck-to-doe ratios, where breeding occurs throughout a wider window, older bucks maintain elevated testosterone levels and retain antlers longer.

Nutrition Availability: Deer that maintain access to quality nutrition experience better health. Deer with access to poorer habitat tend to shed earlier.

Overall Health Status: The overall health of the deer influences antler drop timing. Generally, healthier deer retain their antlers for longer. Sick, injured, or overly stressed deer tend to shed earlier than healthier cohorts.

Herd Stress: Deer that are more stressed tend to exhibit worse health, and therefore, shed earlier. Examples of increased herd stress include heavy human presence, increased predator populations, overpopulation and crowding, and more.

“Down here, deer aren’t as stressed as they might be in bad climates,” said Clay Mervar, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in North Carolina. “If it’s cold here, we might see 25 degrees. On that same day, it’s going to warm up into the 40s and 50s. And for the most part, deer almost always have available food.

“I’ve been here for 10 years, and I can only remember once or twice where we had snow that accumulated,” Mervar continued. “Also, predation isn’t as bad here as you see in more northern states. Our herds shed later than most parts of the country.”

The Best Times for Shed Hunting by Region

Timing is important when shed hunting. Throughout much of the country, peak antler shedding varies from late January to late March. That said, this is very regional, and localized factors influence antler drop timing.

“Run cell cameras up until all deer drop,” said Andrew Malott, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in Indiana. “That way, you aren’t going out there in January or February bumping deer around. Doing that runs them off the property so they drop antlers somewhere else. Monitor cell cameras and hunt once all the deer are finally shed.”

Mervar’s cellular trail cameras in Ohio show virtually all deer have shed now (early March). In North Carolina where he lives, approximately 70% are still carrying both sides. That said, most will shed within the middle half of March, and late-shedding bucks will cast the end of March.

“By March 20, about 90% of deer will have shed,” Mervar said.

Northeast: Northern whitetails begin shedding in December. By early February, most have completely cast their antlers.

Southeast: Southeastern whitetails have the widest range of antler shedding. In some areas, deer might begin shedding in late December or early January. Generally, these areas see a peak rut date around mid-November, or earlier. Other areas might experience peak shedding as late as April. These are Deep South destinations where the rut takes place in January, February, or early March.

Midwest: Like northeastern deer, midwestern whitetails are more reliable in antler shedding timelines. In the northern stretches of the region, where the climate is colder, snowier, and otherwise more challenging, deer shed earlier and begin in late December and early January. By late February, virtually all deer have shed. In the southern portions of the region, the antler shedding window starts and ends slightly later.

West: Western whitetails range in antler shedding, but most lose their headgear in late December, January, or February, location and conditions depending.

All said, the above timelines are generalities. Shedding is very localized, and with so many influential factors, it can vary from place to place and year to year.

“It’s all over the place,” said Matt Palmquist, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in Kansas. “I had deer dropping late December, and there are still some deer that are carrying. In east-central Kansas, the majority have dropped. In western Kansas, a ton of deer are still carrying out there. All said, the majority of deer drop by early March.

“A lot of guys get anxious and want to get in there and start looking after they see one deer drop,” Palmquist continued. “Don’t get me wrong, if you have a two-hundo lose an antler, you have to go find it. But my experience is to not get too aggressive until you know more have dropped. If you do, you’ll just run them all over the place.”

The Best Places to Shed Hunt by Location

The best places to shed hunt are less about the region of the country, and more about the general layout of the property.

Timber-and-Open Habitat Mix: This is the average American landscape. It’s a mixture of timber and open fields. Oftentimes, these areas are more difficult to shed hunt because the habitat quality is better, resources are plentiful, and deer remain more spread out. Find the bedding and feeding areas deer are focusing on.

Hill and Mountain Country: Those shed hunting in areas with hills and mountains should look to key terrain features. These offer distinct survival advantages to deer, and shed hunters benefit from it. These include solar and thermal bedding cover.

Flat Ag and Timber Ground: Deer that live in flatter terrain don’t have southern slopes to receive elevated solar cover. Instead, they tend to seek out other forms of reprieve from the elements. Examples include water barriers, such as creeks and rivers, which hunters and predators are less likely to cross.

Big-Woods Areas: Big-woods settings are challenging to shed hunt. Those that are flat and void of topography change are even more difficult. Most deer live deep within large timber pockets that offer early successional browse to feed on.

Marsh and Swamp Lands: Marshes and swamps attract deer, especially in areas with moderate to heavy hunting pressure. Older deer especially find ways to survive in these secluded settings. Generally, it’s best to find islands within marshes and swamps. Even a slight increase in elevation can provide enough dry ground for bedding cover. Few predators wade through the muck, and if they do, most deer hear or see them coming. Such locations hold a lot of shed antlers.

Where to Shed Hunt

There are many places a shed hunter might go. That said, it’s important to consider the general needs of a whitetail. It’s no secret, but the places that offer deer what they need are the best places to shed hunt. These include bedding areas, food sources, water sources, travel routes, and key crossings.

“I primarily find sheds in bedding areas and along field edges,” Malott said. “For the most part, deer around here go to heavy cover, big, wooded areas, and most often, near to a creek or river.”

Bedding Areas: Daytime bedding areas serve as sanctuaries away from human presence. Because deer spend so much time here, deer tend to drop some of their sheds. Focus on bedding areas of all types, but especially those that serve as solar bedding (south-facing slopes) or thermal cover (dense stands of conifers, such as cedars, spruces, and pines).

“South-facing slopes are good,” Palmquist said. “Deer are often up on the sides of hills that face South. That way, they’re getting more sun and out of that North wind.”

“We’re pretty flat here,” Malott said. “We don’t have the south-facing slopes that a lot of shed hunters talk about. Focusing primarily on bedding areas, wooded areas that receive more sunlight in winter are where deer bed when it’s colder. Find solar and thermal cover.”

Food Sources: Deer eat hundreds of plant species. However, in late winter, these sources dwindle. Find the most recent food sources deer are congregating around. That’s where most shed antlers are located.

“If you have a green food source, such as oats or clover, a lot of those are greening up now,” Mervar said. “That’s where I’m finding a lot of my sheds. Trails leading to and from those areas are good, too. I find most of them easily in food plots and big fields.”

Of course, in agricultural areas, fields planted in cover crops, such as wheat, offer excellent shed hunting, too. Additionally, walk timber ridges. Those that offer remaining red oak acorns might be attracting deer.

Transitions and Edges: Deer are edge animals. They love where different habitat types meet. Furthermore, they’re attracted to early successional habitats, such as native grasses.

“I find a lot of antlers in the grass,” Palmquist said. “Drainage ditches and waterways with grasses that are adjacent to crop fields are good. They bed in those spots, even at night. They’ll graze and feed in the crop field and then go over and bed in the tall grasses. Those are hotspot areas for me.”

Water Sources: If water sources are abundant, this approach is less effective. However, where water is more limited, searching around isolated sources can yield good shed hunting results.

Travel Routes: Trails that connect bedding areas, food sources, water sources, escape routes, and more, are excellent spots to find shed antlers.

Key Crossings: Crossings oftentimes require sudden jolts of movement, such as running and jumping. These actions can cause loose antlers to fall off. Thus, creek, ditch, fence, river, and other crossings tend to cause antlers to drop.

The Best Conditions for Shed Hunting

Certain conditions are more suitable for shed hunting. These make it easier to find sheds. One example includes overcast skies.

“Try to shed hunt on cloudy, overcast days,” Malott said. “Antlers tend to stand out a lot more, especially in wooded acreages.”

Additionally, drizzling rain can produce a shine that makes antlers stand out amidst similar-looking limbs, sticks, and other forest debris.

Basic Tips for Shed Hunting

Shed hunters should deploy basic tips and tactics. For starters, before shed season starts, schedule an appointment to assess your eyesight. A quick — and even slight — vision tune-up can make a significant difference in shed hunting results.

Next, shed hunting involves a lot of walking. So, a good pair of boots is necessary for shed hunting. That said, other items do assist with the process. Binoculars help when glassing potential antlers at a distance. Quality clothes protect you from briars. A backpack helps carry the haul of antlers after a good day of shed hunting. Bug sprays can reduce tick exposure.

“Walk as much ground as you can,” Mervar said. “Use binoculars while you’re out there shed hunting. Have some fun.”

Of course, start by shed hunting public lands and shared access to private properties. Don’t shed before deer lose their antlers, but waiting too long provides time for other shed hunters to cover ground you hope to find antlers on.

Regardless of the land type, start with low-impact areas, such as food sources and travel routes well away from bedding areas. If shed hunting over the course of days or weeks, this applies less pressure to the deer herd and allows for time for remaining deer to shed their antlers. It also places less stress on the deer.

Once in the field, walk slowly. It’s easy to get in a hurry. Move slow, stay focused, and you’ll find more sheds.

Certainly, stay hydrated. Keep water or other hydration on hand to keep your body replenished. It also doesn’t hurt to bring some high-energy snacks to stay fueled for the shed hunt. A Yeti cooler with refreshments isn’t a bad idea.

Advanced Tips for Shed Hunting

While basic shed hunting tips are great, it’s good to implement more advanced tactics, too. These can take your shed hunting abilities and outcomes to the next level.

First, dedicated shed hunters might choose to acquire a shed hunting dog, or train one. While it won’t result in exponential increases in antlers found, a good dog certainly ramps up your total for the year.

Canine assistance aside, benefit from technological help, too. Before starting, turn on the “Tracks” or “Track Path” feature in your preferred hunting app. This showcases where you’ve been and helps determine areas missed.

With that app feature turned on, search using a grid system. Divide the property into sections. Complete these as individual search areas. Finish one and then move on to the next.

It sounds basic but be sure to focus on the most recent deer sign. Where deer are now matters. Of course, look for antlers where deer are located during the time of year deer shed antlers.

“Just because there were deer there in October or November doesn’t mean there are sheds there,” Palmquist said. “By the time they drop antlers, they tend to yard up, much like in northern states. My theory is it’s slightly due to food and weather, but more so due to pressure. So, being able to shed hunt the places with all of the deer makes it a lot easier.”

Next, don’t look for an entire antler. Search for the tip of an antler tine. Keep your eyes on the ground.

“When you’re looking, narrow your focus,” Palmquist said. “Everyone blazes through looking up ahead of you for that 70-inch-or-bigger antler. By doing that, you’re walking by stuff. Instead, narrow your focus a lot closer to you. Search for smaller antlers, or bits and pieces, and you’ll recover more sheds. When you keep your eyes down, it’s amazing how many more you start finding.”

However, don’t forget to occasionally keep your eyes up, too. Sometimes, you might find “hangers,” which are sheds that hang up on sticks and limbs and don’t hit the ground.

When you find an important antler to a target deer, work in small circles around the first discovered shed. Gradually expand the circle until you find the match. Sometimes you will recover it. Other times you won’t.

“If you find one, spend some time circling that area,” Palmquist said. “A lot of times, the match is close by. But it’s not always that way.”

Interestingly, those who conduct controlled burns often report finding antlers in the burned areas. Deer antlers are much easier to find in these locations.

When you find shed antlers, use a Sharpie to label them. Writing unique identifiers for the year, property, and specific deer can help you remember when you discovered them, where the antlers came from, and what deer the antlers belonged to.

Lastly, have fun. Enjoy your shed hunt. Maybe even participate in the wildly popular Shed Rally event.

“I have two young boys and a dog,” Mervar said. “We take as many opportunities as we can to get out there and find them. For those young ones, I’ll stage some fields [with antlers] to ensure they have some success.”