Antler hunting is one of our favorite adventures every spring in Montana. We love scouring the forests in search of antlers dropped by deer and elk to add to our collection. This year was especially fun since it was our little nugget’s first antler hunting adventure!
As I scanned the forest around us, the aromatic scent of sagebrush filled the air. We had just come from exploring another area a few miles away and had found no antlers although I had been successful in that area in the past. We chose a new spot to explore a little more off the beaten path and were hopeful we might have a little more luck.
I decided to take a turn carrying our little nugget in the new frame pack we had just purchased. We headed off to explore the forest line at the base of the south facing mountainside in front of us. I saw numerous piles of fresh deer scat and game trails which boosted my hope that we would find some antlers.
About ten minutes into our walk, I spotted my first antler find of the year: a nice little spike buck antler.
I yelled out “I found one!” to my husband across the way and picked up the antler for closer inspection. I searched the nearby area hoping to find the match with no luck.
I started exploring further down the forest line, by now my adrenaline was pumping as my eyes scoured the area and our little nugget chattered in baby talk on my back. About five minutes later, my eyes caught on an antler tine sticking up from behind an old downed tree.
I hurried over to inspect and was in awe: my first ever elk antler find. My initial reaction was to yell in excitement to my husband “I just found a big elk antler!” As I picked up the antler for closer inspection, I felt overwhelmed with emotion.
I looked around me and pictured the former owner of this antler, a five point bull elk, walking through this same spot I was standing. I felt so honored to have found this antler from such a beautiful, elusive animal and felt so in tune with nature at that moment. Even now when I look at this antler, I feel that same sense of emotion….
I thought I would share a few basic tips from what I was taught and have learned over the years in my antler hunting adventures in hopes others can get out there and start your own antler hunting adventures.
First off I will state that I am by no means an expert on antler hunting, but I do enjoy the early spring Montana ritual of scouring the woods for freshly dropped deer and elk antlers. Over the last few years I have been rewarded for my antler hunting efforts, not just with the antlers I have found but the other amazing things I have observed on these adventures.
Antler hunting is also known by some as “horn hunting”, but whatever you call it the idea is the same and like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Actually I should liken it more to an Easter egg hunt since with that type of search there is more fun involved and excitement about the treasures to be found in the search!
Each spring, deer, elk and moose naturally shed their antlers; we primarily focus on deer and elk antler hunting since moose are even more elusive, although our dog Amos did find us a moose antler a few years ago. There are those of us who are keen on the idea of going out to search for them to add to our collection. There are also a number of people that antler hunt as a means to make extra money by selling them to artisans who use antlers in their creations.
Tip #1 When to antler hunt
This all depends on the region you live in and when your local spring thaw occurs. In our area of western Montana, antler hunting can begin as early as February but typically is best in March/April and into May depending on the weather.
The longer you wait to go antler hunting, the more difficult they will be to find. By this I am not necessarily referring to other human antler hunters although this can be the case in some more popular areas. What I am really referring to is the small, furry competitor known as the squirrel.
Squirrels love to gnaw on antlers for nutrition so the later in the season you go the more apt you are to find an antler nibbled on by this furry friend. Despite their size, they can do some pretty good damage on an antler.
For example the 5 point elk antler I found last weekend had already been a tasty treat for a squirrel; luckily it was on the bottom side of the antler tine so it is not easily seen when the antler is displayed on its side. As my husband says, these types of antlers make great yard art. I still get excited when I find any antler, even if it is well nibbled one later in the year!
Tip #2: Location, location, location
Location is key. If you go antler hunting in your favorite hiking spot where you rarely see deer, you will likely not find an antler. The best spots to antler hunt are where deer and elk frequent. If you’re scouting out new areas to explore, you can easily read the signs of a popular critter area: lots of fresh scat piles, well-traveled game trails, and matted down areas where the deer or elk have bedded down recently.
Tip # 3: Where to look
Once you find an area to explore that is either public access or private land where you have permission to explore, there are a few common areas to watch for antlers. Antlers are naturally shed each spring so think about what the deer or elk are doing: grazing on fresh spring grass, bedding down at night, and walking around.
South facing slopes that warm up and thaw out where spring grasses first start to grow are often some of the best areas to find antlers. The deer and elk are grazing on the new spring grasses after a long, cold winter where the ground may still be covered in snow in other areas.
Look for areas where the deer or elk have bedded down, often this can be in a small grove of trees where you have to maneuver your way among some tree branches to get inside. I always get excited at reading animal signs so when I find a deer or elk bed to explore it is a highlight of my adventure.
Depending on how fresh the bed is, sometimes you can smell the animals’ scent, grasses and pine needles will be matted down, and there are always numerous scat piles around. When antler hunting, I look around the bedding area but also in the close perimeter outside the area where they bedded down.
The animals also enjoy eating the green branches of freshly downed trees. I learned from some loggers that instead of being scared away by the logging equipment, the deer are actually attracted to the area for the easy access to fresh green leaves they may not have been able to reach before. When out choosing spots to antler hunt, if there is an area where there has been recent logging I always stop to explore. The biggest deer antler I have found to date was found hanging in the branches of a recently downed tree in an area being logged.
If you see a game trail, follow it and look closely in the perimeter around it. While deer and elk do not always use the same trail when traveling through the woods, they often do and these can be seen crisscrossing the forest floor. I love finding a well-used game trail to follow and read the tracks and scat I find on the trail which tells me which creatures have passed there before me.
If you find an antler, always look in the area directly around that spot. Occasionally an animal will lose both antlers in the same vicinity so you may be able to find a matching pair, which is always a bonus. Sometimes you may search all over and never find the mate but at least you know you tried!
Tip #4 Be observant
When I’m out antler hunting, my eyes are constantly scanning the ground around me and observing every nuance I see. When my eye catches on something, I go in for a closer look. Often what catches my eye is a stick the size and curvature of an antler that has no bark and weather worn so it looks deceivingly like an antler. I always smile to myself when I see a “stick antler” because I know at least my eyes are doing their job and one of the times it catches on something it really will be an antler.
Tip # 5: Luck
Yes, Luck. You can take into account all the other tips I shared and spend hours scouring the woods but ultimately you need a little bit of luck when you’re out there. So if you have a pair of lucky socks or a lucky t-shirt, wear them!
I’ve been out antler hunting in areas in what looked to be prime locations and found nothing. On the flip side, we’ve found antlers randomly when least expecting them. A few years ago when driving up a dirt road to go for a hike, I spotted a nice 4 point deer antler lying on the shoulder of the road (yes, of course I hopped out and scooped up that treasure!)
Two summers ago on a float trip we pulled our boat up to a small island in the middle of the river to take a break and a friend found a large five point deer antler with no squirrel damage and it was August!
So you see, there is some level of luck and the more you are out adventuring and developing an eye for observing nature you will start finding antlers and many more amazing treasures nature has to offer such as wildflowers, old weathered bones and owl pellets to name a few.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start your own antler hunting adventure!
Added note: To read the follow up to this antler hunting adventure click here on “Addendum to Antler Hunting 101” to read about what we found on our next trip to this same area!
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That sounds like so much fun Annie! Another antler market is holistic pet food stores. We buy sterilized antlers for our dogs. They are pricey but last forever!
Thanks for sharing that- Our dogs end up with an occasional antler chew toy but I had no idea they were sold in some pet stores!
Great post. Antlers are great for dogs. They have minerals in them that other dog “toys” don’t have.
I recently purchased 2 for my dog for her birthday and bring them with us when we go to work. I have only found one antler in the past 10 years. I think the squirrels, skunks, rabbits and coyotes find them all first here in Vermont. Come visit us when you have a chance:
http://www.tailgait.blogspot.com
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