Shed Hunting

The white-tailed deer is Iowa’s only species of big game wildlife.  One of the traits that sets white-tails apart from all other Iowa wildlife is their noteworthy ability to grow antlers.  Generally speaking, the longer a buck lives, the larger and more impressive his antlers become — with the annual growth usually peaking at five or six years of age.  Antlers have but one purpose.  They are deadly weapons; designed for battling and defeating competing males during the fall breeding season. 

But once the annual rut is concluded, white-tails have no further need for their magnificent weaponry.  So, what do deer do with something they don’t need?  Same as us, they downsize.  Bucks annually accomplish this task through an involuntary process called shedding – a time when used antlers simply drop off and fall to the ground. 

During recent years, the search for discarded antlers – commonly referred to as shed hunting — has become an increasingly popular form of outdoor recreation.  Late winter marks the shed hunter’s annual Call to Arms – a time when an ever-growing legion of enthusiasts take to the Iowa woodlands in a quest for what many regard as treasured natural artwork. 

As public interest in shed hunting continues to rise, demographics have shown a radical shift during recent years.  Traditionally the domain of deer hunting males, the times are changing.  Today, a surprising number of dedicated, next generation antler hunters do not even hunt deer.  Some do not hunt or fish at all, and a growing number are female.  For many, shed hunting is just one more good reason for getting outdoors – especially at a time when other activities are at low ebb.  One thing that hasn’t changed is that, once it gets in your blood, the search for discarded antlers can border on obsession.  Some enthusiasts even go so far as to schedule annual vacations around shed hunting; logging in hundreds of miles — by foot and by vehicle — in hopes of finding an antler that is bigger, better, or more unique in design than one they’ve ever found before.