Shed Hunting: Where’s the beef and what’s the best way to manage it?

[5MilesBack]

States, other than Alaska and Texas, have sole jurisdiction of wildlife management within their boundries, regardless of land ownership (federal, state, municipal or private).

Correct. Sheds are not wildlife.

 

[taskswap]

The Tragedy of the Commons.

Arguing that sheds are some kind of public resource and therefore as a member of the public you can do whatever you want with them is a slippery slope. It's just too easy to argue that in that case, you're taking MY shed - I own part of every shed, too. Public resources aren't finders-keepers - you can't go fence off public land and build your house on it for free just because it's there. That argument goes nowhere and just makes everyone mad at each other.

The same is true for "I'm ethical about it, so I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do it." Rules aren't there for one person, they have to apply to all the people that might do a thing. Some people who could safely drive faster on an empty road late at night have a speed limit because the rest of the time, the roads would be a madhouse with knucklehead teens running your grandmother off the road. That's just the world we live in.

I also don't buy the whole "criminals will still do it" thing. That's absolutely the worst argument for almost any position and it's so common it has a name: The Perfect Solution Fallacy. That's where someone says the solution won't be absolutely 100% perfect so it shouldn't be done. No solution is perfect. You can't let that stop you from trying to make something 80-90% good.

I forgot who in this thread to credit above, but somebody said earlier that comparing shed hunters to hikers going into an area is silly because hikers walk trails and shed hunters don't. I wish I had said it - it was a great statement. We can't compare apples to oranges here. If a wildlife biologist tells me going into an area might stress a deer that I never even see, I'm not going into that area at that time. This is just one man's opinion, but if we don't trust the people we hired to tell us these things, what are we even doing?

Nobody would know if I went out there or not. There are no police or CPW officers there. There are no drones following me personally around. I could do it. It would probably be fine.

But I would know. So I don't.

 

[Huntin Fool]

So you're cool with commercial sales of a public resource that you need no license to find and pay nothing in order to sell? What if we apply the same logic to mushrooms, salmon, shellfish, crab, wood forest products?? Everyone should be able to sell those carte blanche?

Well for one sheds aren’t living organisms, so they don’t need to be regulated to avoid over killing, over fishing or over logging.

 

[Mykolaivka887]

Arguing that sheds are some kind of public resource and therefore as a member of the public you can do whatever you want with them is a slippery slope ...... Public resources aren't finders-keepers .....

Precisely. Antlers are wildlife parts (pieces or portions of a wild animal) and are thereby held in public trust doctrine, which is legally defined in all states. Therefore, states have legal precedent, under statute, to regulate the take of shed antlers, and they should.

 

[TheTone]

I really enjoy shed hunting, for me the rub is the influencers that are making a living off of it, seem to be totally oblivious to the impact they are having, seem completely blind to the fact they’re ruining something for a living that people with real jobs do for fun and that a bunch of them seem to have no life skill other than social media. Only ways I can think to combat it are for the antler market to crash and to let companies know you won’t support them if they continue to sponsor the dorks. I know first lite doesn’t respond to comments about shed crazy or hushin

 

[S.Clancy]

I think what we should take away from all of this is hoping YouTube/Insta/SM demonetize hunting content. There is absolutely no argument that we would not be better off in every aspect if this happened. They are literally selling our opportunity for $$$$ and have been for years to the masses.

As far as shed hunting, I don't think there is an effective way to limit it other than charging a really expensive license, I'm talking hundreds of dollars. That would keep most out of the woods. I would prob be in favor of it, depending on where that funding is going. My wish would be enforcement, anything besides that....pound sand.

 

[Billy Goat]

The state doesn't own shed antlers anymore than they own the elk droppings......

You have inspired me.


You know how much free range, organic elk fertilizer is probably worth?



Perfect for those little apartment vegetable gardens.

 

[TheTone]

You have inspired me.


You know how much free range, organic elk fertilizer is probably worth?



Perfect for those little apartment vegetable gardens.

I’m sure you could legitimately sell that to people

 

[Billy Goat]

I’m sure you could legitimately sell that to people

It's in the marketing and sex appeal.

Bikini girls in an elk wallow on the package, mud wrestling.



This is the next big thing.

 

[BluMtn]

So let me ask this question. If we look at the idea that sheds are not public property that are free to pickup and should be permitted. Which I don't care one way or the other. Then using that logic when you are camping in the mountains you should not be able to pickup sticks off the forest floor to build a fire because you are changing the chemistry of the soil by not allowing that stick to decompose into the soil. So as campers we should have to get a permit to pickup sticks to build a fire. ( Humor Gentleman)

 

[Mykolaivka887]

So let me ask this question. If we look at the idea that sheds are not public property that are free to pickup and should be permitted. Which I don't care one way or the other. Then using that logic when you are camping in the mountains you should not be able to pickup sticks off the forest floor to build a fire because you are changing the chemistry of the soil by not allowing that stick to decompose into the soil. So as campers we should have to get a permit to pickup sticks to build a fire. ( Humor Gentleman)

That's not a state wildlife management issue. On state lands though, the individual state, through their DEC or DNR, could regulate land usages, to include that of firewood gathering (gathering of sticks, so to speak). But in your example, you're comparing bananas to blueberries, so to say. Land usage(s) and wildlife usage are two entirely different legal spheres, regulated by two entirely different departments of states. Just sayin', for clarity, from a statutory perspective.

 

[Ucsdryder]

It's in the marketing and sex appeal.

Bikini girls in an elk wallow on the package, mud wrestling.



This is the next big thing.

This is hot and nauseating all at the same time. Anybody who’s smelled a fresh elk wallow will know what I mean.

 

[Billy Goat]

This is hot and nauseating all at the same time. Anybody who’s smelled a fresh elk wallow will know what I mean.

Smells like money.

 

[taskswap]

You have inspired me.

You know how much free range, organic elk fertilizer is probably worth?

Perfect for those little apartment vegetable gardens.

I can't believe this site is free. You made my week.

Sell it to the same people that buy those "Liquid Death" cans of water for $12 for a six pack. They'll buy anything!

But since it's from public land you owe me a cut...

 

[Pony Soldier]

I wonder if you take the money out of it how it may change the enthusiasm. How about " after a given date (early summer) anyone can pick them up but only certain organizations can sell them i. e. Boy scouts, Girl scouts, Rocky Mtn elk foundation ...

 

[Billy Goat]

I wonder if you take the money out of it how it may change the enthusiasm. How about " after a given date (early summer) anyone can pick them up but only certain organizations can sell them i. e. Boy scouts, Girl scouts, Rocky Mtn elk foundation ...

I really think it has little to do with money, more to do with likes.


But maybe guys are bringing in more cash then I think.

 

[CorbLand]

I really think it has little to do with money, more to do with likes.


But maybe guys are bringing in more cash then I think.

An elk shed can be worth a pretty penny in just weight, let alone a good set that is sold for decorations.

I know a kid that shed hunts multiple states and generally pays for his expenses by selling sheds and keeps the ones he wants.

Money, likes and enjoyment are all playing a role in its popularity. I know people that don’t even hunt that shed hunt because it’s too hard to get a tag but you can shed hunt every year.

 

[taskswap]

I would just like to go on record as strongly supporting having Girl Scouts go door to door selling antlers. I gained 4lbs last month on cookies alone and would welcome a change. I know there are probably shed hunters that would dress up as Girl Scouts to do this, but that's just a few bad apples.

 

[Billy Goat]

An elk shed can be worth a pretty penny in just weight, let alone a good set that is sold for decorations.

I know a kid that shed hunts multiple states and general pays for his expenses by selling sheds and keeps the ones he wants.

Money, likes and enjoyment are all playing a role in its popularity. I know people that don’t even hunt that shed hunt because it’s too hard to get a tag but you can shed hunt every year.

I guess everyone has a different take on a pretty penny.


I can get behind doing something that pays your expenses, that's why I trapped. But covering expenses ain't no pretty penny, it's paying for a hobby.

 

[Coveyleader]

Simply put a season on it (I'm not a fan but it's a compromise) and enforce laws in place. I'm fully against any "Banning" of anything. It appears the trophy's given to last place participants in years gone by is ultimately affecting the brains of outdoorsman country wide.