Taking a buck is a great feeling.
No doubt about it, the sense of pride and accomplishment one feels after successfully ending a hunt with antlers hitting the ground is unmatched. In Pennsylvania, hunters are granted that euphoric feeling just once a year if they are fortunate enough to take a buck during the hunting seasons.
While a respectable number of bucks fall to bows, rifles and muzzleloaders each year, an even greater number live to see another day. Whitetails have an instinct for eluding their pursuers, and many find a way to make it through hunting season unscathed.
There is some consolation, however, for those who fail to place a tag on a nice buck they may have pursued since the fall by finding the cast antlers he drops in the wintertime. For many, shed antler hunting has become an enjoyable postseason hobby, and now is the perfect time to be out searching for bone.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Wildlife Notes, most male whitetails typically carry polished antlers through the end of breeding season that can sometimes last through late February. They then shed their racks in preparation for new antler growth that usually begins in late March or early April.
That means there should be plenty of antlers already on the forest floor, just waiting for someone to find them. These fallen treasures are beautiful keepsakes from the natural world that can be handcrafted into jewelry, home décor or even tool handles.
Antlers also look great on a coffee table or mantle piece, providing a personal memento of a special buck's living history. For hunters who go on to later take that buck, the previous year's sheds may be ultimately rendered priceless.
It is important to know, however, where to start looking for a buck's discarded headgear. After all, finding a set of antlers in an expansive woodlot can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
While it is possible that a buck can drop his antlers at any old random location he travels, some areas are certainly more likely to produce than others. Having a little knowledge of how deer utilize a specific piece of property goes a long way in narrowing down focus areas to target.
First and foremost, identify the bedding and feeding areas, since that is where deer spend the largest percentage of their time. Considering this winter's unrelenting weather, seek out bedding areas with quality thermal cover, such as pines, hemlocks or laurel located along secluded draws and south facing slopes.
These are the most likely areas for deer to take refuge from bitter winds and falling snow. Comb these areas generously, walking access trails where overhanging branches might knock antlers free.
From here, connect the dots to prime winter food sources, and use the lay of the land to pinpoint the most direct routes toward major feeding areas. Check the obvious trails first, branching out to lighter used paths as necessary, but if nothing turns up, head to the dinner table.
Searching food sources is a daunting task, but often yields the greatest results. It definitely pays off to have some help in covering the ground, so gather some buddies, family members, or even man's best friend, and head to the nearest agricultural field.
Grain fields are best, as they provide deer with essential carbohydrates necessary for making it through a brutal winter and also serve as social staging areas. Line off with roughly 10-15 yards between each person, and make parallel passes from one end of the field to the other, then pivot and sweep the field back again, adjusting and repeating passes until the whole field is covered before moving on to the next section.
It is likely that most properties possess at least a few shed antlers, and chances are decent that if one walks far enough, they will be rewarded for their efforts. Some antlers come easier than others, but even without success, shed hunting provides great exercise and a perfect excuse for spending another day with friends and family in the great outdoors.