The 5 Best Strategies for Shed Hunting

Have you ever been wandering through the woods and have spotted a nice deer or elk shed? I have! Finding deer and elk sheds is always an rewarding feeling. There is nothing better than spotting an antler that has been naturally shed by an elk or deer.

Are you wanting tips or strategies to help you become an avid shed hunter? You have come to the right place! I will introduce and explain the 5 best strategies for shed hunting, so that you are prepared for the next time you take an adventure up in the hills.

See below for a recent Twitter post from WhiteTail Properties. Want to learn how this could be you finding all of these sheds? Read below to get started!

#1: Set-up a Trail Cam

According to the National Deer Association, setting up a trail cam in the woods is a great way to start your adventure of shed hunting. This is an easy way to identify where the sheds are located. By doing this, it will allow you to identify whether or not the deer or elk have shed their antlers yet. If they have not done so just yet, then there isn't any point in pushing away the deer and elk from their location by making noise in the woods. Once you have identified that the deer or elk have shed their antlers, then it’s time to shed hunt! Check out the YouTube video below by the National Deer Association to learn more.

#2: Mark the Spot on OnX Hunt

Imagine walking through the woods and spotting deer or elk, and then not remembering the exact location you spotted them at. Want to know how you can recall the spot? According to the National Deer Association, you should use the OnX Hunt mapping app to mark the spot you found them at. Whether you are using a trail cam, or walking on foot, it is important to scout the woods before you head out for shed season. By doing this, it allows you to know where the deer and elk have been. Once you locate the deer and elk, don’t forget to mark the spot on the OnX Hunt app to go back to the spot later to find some sheds! You can also use this hunting app to track where you have been, so that you can go back to any location that you may have overlooked during shed season.

#3: Don’t Forget to Pack Binoculars, or a Spotting Scope

There’s no point on walking in circles, so make sure to pack a pair of binoculars on your shed hunting trip. As the National Deer Association mentions, there’s no worse feeling than hiking over to what you thought was a shed...And then realizing that it was just a stick. The binoculars will help you spot sheds from a distance to save yourself time and aching pains! If you want to up your game, you could also purchase a spotting scope to see areas that are further away. Need to know what spotting scope to use? Check out the Athlon spotting scope that I use below:

#4: Keep your Eyes Open!

Sheds can be found in the most non-obvious spots like in a tree branch or sage brush that blends in very easily. It is important to keep your eyes open wide to spot these sneaky sheds that deer and elk drop! Walk at a good pace – not too fast, but also not too slow. Locate the areas where deer and elk would jump over an object, like a large tree in the way. Their sheds will drop while they are jumping over objects. Keep your eyes open for the least expected!

#5: Locate Food Sources

Another important factor to think about is where and what the deer and elk are eating. Sheds can also be found where deer and elk are getting their food source. Specifically, deer will eat Buckbrush (Ceanothus). Locate a spot where Buckbrush is, and then look around that area to find a deer shed. This also goes with elk – find out what they are eating, and then locate an area with their food source. I recently found my first deer shed of the season near Buckbrush! Check out it below: