May 8th, 2020
3:46 runtime
Every spring, shed hunting quickly becomes my favorite hobby.
Dont know what that is?
Shed hunting is the act of hunting and searching for elk antlers when they fall off the elks head.
Bull (or male) elk shed their antlers naturally throughout the month of March.
At this time elk are living in their winter range.
Winter ranges often involve lower elevation areas with good feed, water and less snow.
Check out my video about my shed hunt at the top of the page (article continues below).
After elk shed their antlers they begin growing them back in velvet.
Their velvet antlers are growing from spring through the summer and finish up around late August.
The rut takes place in September.
At this time, you might hear elk bugling through the woods trying to attract cow elk as mates.
Elk antler growth is controlled by many environmental factors as well as genetics.
On the Hunt
The first step to finding shed elk antlers is finding where elk naturally winter.
Next, start hiking in the areas that elk are shedding.
A typical day of shed hunting for me involves 10-17 miles of hiking.
Having good hiking boots, hike wear, backpacks and snacks is essential.
Elk antlers can last in the elements for 20 plus years!
My Trophy
The antlers I found during this video are a trophy set of elk antlers!
Hunters score their elk in inches to compare sizes and records.
This elk shed set that I found scored 373 4/8 inches.
It is no doubt a big and mature elk and I imagine he is even bigger this year!
People harvest elk that are 400 inches or more in trophy units.
Elk antlers are also used for chandeliers, lamps, dog chews, medicines and potions.
For that, I have recently picked up one of Springfield Armorys new Ronin 1911 pistols.
I feel safe way out in the backcountry with the Ronin on my hip.
My Ronin is chambered in .45 ACP, and it has a 7+1 capacity.
I like the fact it is a big, capable pistol in a powerful chambering.
After that my priority is good binoculars like my Vortex Razor UHD 1042.
I carry binoculars in my bino harness and use them often to stop and glass for sheds.
I hope you enjoyed this video and thanks for reading and watching!
Go to forum thread
1911Ronin 5"
VortexRazor UHD 1042
