Finding Antler Sheds

by Crystal Cockman

January 20, 2017

January begins the time of year when you can start looking for deer antler sheds. Deer shed their antlers every year. They usually do this between January and April, depending on a variety of factors. These include the age of the deer, the latitude at which it lives, and the physical condition of the deer. Deer in good health in mild climates with high quality habitat will shed their antlers later.

The mounting point where the antlers branch off from the deer’s head is called a pedicle. New antlers regenerate during the summer, a process which can take 2-4 months. While antlers are growing, they have a soft membrane called velvet surrounding them, which provides nutrients and blood flow to the antlers. When levels of testosterone increase, the flow of blood to the veins and arteries in the velvet is cut off, and the velvet begins to fall off. Deer will also rub against trees to help shed the velvet.

Antler shedding is due to a drop in testosterone after the rut. The decreased hormone level activates cells called osteoclasts that eat away at the pedicles and cause the antlers to become weak and fall off. Thankfully this causes no discomfort to the deer.

There are many reasons why you might not be finding many antler sheds. They may just not be there – the habitat for deer is not great or it’s too heavily hunted of an area and deer have been pushed out. There may not be enough food for deer to spend their time there. You may be looking in the wrong location. Deer shed antlers in places where they spend the most time, like bedding and feeding areas or along deer paths– so try looking in those places.

Ways you could increase your chances of finding antler sheds include gaining a new perspective, crouching down to eye level, or even using binoculars. Look specifically at places where deer may encounter obstacles that could jar the antlers loose, like a low-hanging branch or a fence. Employing the assistance of a shed-hunting dog may also help. Just spending more time walking around in the woods increases your chances of finding a shed.

The LandTrust for Central NC is hosting our first ever shed hunt this year. This will take place on February 25^th at our Two Rivers Preserve in Davie County. Check out our website closer to the date for more details at www.landtrustcnc.org. Our new sportsman access program allows sportsman members of The LandTrust to access our fee-owned lands for hunting through a permit draw system. This shed hunt is an excellent way to scope out one of these properties before deer season. You can learn more about the sportsman access program at http://landtrustcnc.org/sportsman-membership/.