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

[Customweld]

Definitely not a one size fits all topic. I think we can all agree that there is a dramatic increase in outdoors use, across all spectrums. Upland bird season runs until the end of January in Idaho. I see folks out with tracks on their UTV/ATV's with their dog boxes loaded up way back in areas that hardly ever seen people that time of year. It wasn't all that long ago, that having these means of access was relegated to just a few guys. I think those of us that live in winter kill prone areas have a different view than those that don't. They have much less impact compared to us postholing 18" snow with a 3" crust.

 

[Huntinaz]

I’m getting sick of the pile Iv accumulated. Maybe I should sell them.

Don’t be unethical bro

 

[Lawnboi]

Don’t be unethical bro

I thought they were cool. But now they just take up room.

I used to enjoy shed hunting before it got batshit crazy in 2020

Now I just go shoot gophers

 

[Huntinaz]

Definitely not a one size fits all topic. I think we can all agree that there is a dramatic increase in outdoors use, across all spectrums.

I think those of us that live in winter kill prone areas have a different view than those that don't. They have much less impact compared to us postholing 18" snow with a 3" crust.

Yes agreed. And vice versa. Things are certainly different across the west and probably should have different regulations to manage the differences and nuances

 

[TheTone]

Another thing that I think has contributed to shed hunting has been increases in controlled/limited draw hunts and steep draw odds. When you see people waiting up to 20-25 years to hunt an area why wouldn’t you want to go try and pick up antlers every year. In that situation they kind of are a consolation prize. I know the biggest elk antlers I’ve found are off controlled hunt areas that I tried for years to draw unsuccessfully, so going in and finding a couple nice antlers in the spring kinda helped ease the letdown

 

[Customweld]

Another thing that I think has contributed to shed hunting has been increases in controlled/limited draw hunts and steep draw odds. When you see people waiting up to 20-25 years to hunt an area why wouldn’t you want to go try and pick up antlers every year. In that situation they kind of are a consolation prize. I know the biggest elk antlers I’ve found are off controlled hunt areas that I tried for years to draw unsuccessfully, so going in and finding a couple nice antlers in the spring kinda helped ease the letdown

Most definitely! There is a certain unit that I “chukar” hunt the last weekend in January. By chukar, I mean I have my dog, shotgun and bird vest on, but those devil birds are the last thing in my mind.

 

[MattB]

I love shed hunting as much as the next guy. I think we as a group might need to embrace some restrictions for the benefit of the animals we love to hunt.

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Yeah, it comes down to what you care more about - the sheds or the animals that made them. To me, sheds are very, very secondary.

 

[Huntinaz]

The conversation and well-being of the herd and horn hunting are not mutually exclusive

When shed hunting starts to come at the expense of the species, we should totally look at it. Much of the time it does not and 99% of the shed hunters I know are elk hunters that love elk more than they love sheds

We care about the animals. We like going and finding the sheds. Doing both is not some far-fetched notion, it’s reality

Rules that target actual problems backed by studies? Totally reasonable. Reactionary bans that target nothing except restricting freedoms and inhibiting wholesome activity? Piss poor

 

[fngTony]

The conversation and well-being of the herd and horn hunting are not mutually exclusive

When shed hunting starts to come at the expense of the species, we should totally look at it. Much of the time it does not and 99% of the shed hunters I know are elk hunters that love elk more than they love sheds

We care about the animals. We like going and finding the sheds. Doing both is not some far-fetched notion, it’s reality

Rules that target actual problems backed by studies? Totally reasonable. Reactionary bans that target nothing except restricting freedoms and inhibiting wholesome activity? Piss poor

This is pretty much my thoughts as well. I’d like to add that what’s best here might be bad over there. State agencies that would oversee it should pay attention to other states but don’t blindly follow.

 

[realunlucky]

The conversation and well-being of the herd and horn hunting are not mutually exclusive

When shed hunting starts to come at the expense of the species, we should totally look at it. Much of the time it does not and 99% of the shed hunters I know are elk hunters that love elk more than they love sheds

We care about the animals. We like going and finding the sheds. Doing both is not some far-fetched notion, it’s reality

Rules that target actual problems backed by studies? Totally reasonable. Reactionary bans that target nothing except restricting freedoms and inhibiting wholesome activity? Piss poor

Your entire argument hinges on the data point of one individual. When you throw in your personal bias about how you personally feel about shed hunting that data has even less credibility.

Yes studies are out there showing aborted fawns due to human encroachment on the winter grounds. More studies are in the works and yes more restrictions.

What's the right answer for everywhere I'm not sure there's a size fits all but seasons after May 1st will likely be the standard.

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[Huntinaz]

This is pretty much my thoughts as well. I’d like to add that what’s best here might be bad over there. State agencies that would oversee it should pay attention to other states but don’t blindly follow.

100%. Arizona and Wyoming are totally different. In AZ this year we had record snowfall, I believe this was the snowiest year on record. We’ve had something like 159” of snow this snow season (not annual). Google “snowiest cities in the U.S.” and Flagstaff Arizona comes up in the top 10. Not sure wyoming does But overall climate and situation is different. Despite Flagstaff snowfall, we don’t really experience winter kill on elk. The snow melts faster, likely a factor. Wyoming wildlife on the other hand is getting crushed this year, and not just this year. Absolutely agree these populations should be managed differently, and the state agencies should manage their herds with their info. The residents of Florida for example should not have a say with what happens in wyoming

 

[Huntinaz]

Your entire argument hinges on the data point of one individual. When you throw in your personal bias about how you personally feel about shed hunting that data has even less credibility.

Yes studies are out there showing aborted fawns due to human encroachment on the winter grounds. More studies are in the works and yes more restrictions.

What's the right answer for everywhere I'm not sure there's a size fits all but seasons after May 1st will likely be the standard.

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Find me a study about this in Arizona

I’ve not said one negative word about shed seasons in other states. I’ve stated support for regulation that targets identifiable problems backed by science. My argument is that we should identify and target real problems while preserving wholesome use of public land and resources

There’s not a one size fits all which is my point too. Totalitarian bans are a one size fits all that screws more than it fixes and is bad for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen

AND, if there is evidence of shed hunters impacting herd numbers in Arizona, sign me up for a shed season. If it’s impacting herds in a measurable manner in other states, consider a May 1 shed season start as something I support. That’s a rule that would actually target the problem while still preserving public access and public land usage

 

[realunlucky]

Find me a study about this in Arizona

I’ve not said one negative word about shed seasons in other states. I’ve stated support for regulation that targets identifiable problems backed by science. My argument is that we should identify and target the problem while preserving wholesome use of public land and resources

Science has always and will always incorporate collaborative data. That means what happens with predictable accuracy will happen whenever those conditions are present.

Basically it's unlikely Arizona will run independent studies when that data has been collected elsewhere because these studies are expensive and have large staffing requirements.

I like collecting sheds myself but have came to realize that same shed will be there on May 1st if everyone plays by the same rules.

I won't support a ban either. I do think if your profiting from the resource it's a reasonable expectation that there be a fee based requirement to give something back to the resource. That money could then be used to enhance those same wintering grounds.

 

[fngTony]

100%. Arizona and Wyoming are totally different. In AZ this year we had record snowfall, I believe this was the snowiest year on record. We’ve had something like 159” of snow this snow season (not annual). Google “snowiest cities in the U.S.” and Flagstaff Arizona comes up in the top 10. Not sure wyoming does But overall climate and situation is different. Despite Flagstaff snowfall, we don’t really experience winter kill on elk. The snow melts faster, likely a factor. Wyoming wildlife on the other hand is getting crushed this year, and not just this year. Absolutely agree these populations should be managed differently, and the state agencies should manage their herds with their info. The residents of Florida for example should not have a say with what happens in wyoming

Within every state out west there is mini climate regions, two hours out of Phoenix will give you a few drastic changes. I saw the snow in Flaggstaff back in February, it rivaled some ski areas here in Colorado.

 

[CorbLand]

Find me a study about this in Arizona

I’ve not said one negative word about shed seasons in other states. I’ve stated support for regulation that targets identifiable problems backed by science. My argument is that we should identify and target real problems while preserving wholesome use of public land and resources

There’s not a one size fits all which is my point too. Totalitarian bans are a one size fits all that screws more than it fixes and is bad for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen

AND, if there is evidence of shed hunters impacting herd numbers in Arizona, sign me up for a shed season. If it’s impacting herds in a measurable manner in other states, consider a May 1 shed season start as something I support. That’s a rule that would actually target the problem while still preserving public access and public land usage

You asked a pretty generic question and want specific answers. If all you are going to do is point to Arizona and want answers regarding its effects in Arizona, you should probably ask that.

When most people say it should be regulated or have a season put on it, the vast majority are saying that the States should manage it. Generally those States manage based on what is best locally. I.E. Southern Arizona and Northern Utah are going to be managed completely different.

 

[Huntinaz]

Science has always and will always incorporate collaborative data. That means what happens with predictable accuracy will happen whenever those conditions are present.

Basically it's unlikely Arizona will run independent studies when that data has been collected elsewhere because these studies are expensive and have large staffing requirements.

I like collecting sheds myself but have came to realize that same shed will be there on May 1st if everyone plays by the same rules.

I won't support a ban either. I do think if you’re profiting from the resource it's a reasonable expectation that there be a fee based requirement to give something back to the resource. That money could then be used to enhance those same wintering grounds.

Snowiest season on record in Arizona this year. Here’s pics of all the browns I’ve found this year between April 5-9. This is winter range for the densest elk herd in Arizona. It’s also spring, summer, and fall range. I hunted elk here in September. In October. In December. Shed hunting in April

See any snow? What part of Wyoming’s and Colorado’s collaborative data applies?

It’s unlikely Arizona will run their own studies because it isn’t a problem like it is in other places

 

[realunlucky]

Within every state out west there is mini climate regions, two hours out of Phoenix will give you a few drastic changes. I saw the snow in Flaggstaff back in February, it rivaled some ski areas here in Colorado.

I argue that climate isn't the impacting factor.

Basically it's the amount of fat reserves and the longevity to replenish those reserves. Basically due the digestive changes in deer and their dependence on browse they are substaning not replenishing even in the best of habitat until they switch back to forbes

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[Huntinaz]

You asked a pretty generic question and want specific answers. If all you are going to do is point to Arizona and want answers regarding its effects in Arizona, you should probably ask that.

When most people say it should be regulated or have a season put on it, the vast majority are saying that the States should manage it. Generally those States manage based on what is best locally. I.E. Southern Arizona and Northern Utah are going to be managed completely different.

Exactly my point. I’m arguing against totalitarian bans on shed hunting and selling antlers

I’m using Arizona as an example of why this widespread totalitarian crap is not cool, because it breaks a lot of arguments for such bans

 

[CorbLand]

Exactly my point. I’m arguing against totalitarian bans on shed hunting and selling antlers

I’m using Arizona as an example of why this widespread totalitarian crap is not cool, because it breaks a lot of arguments for such bans

Where has anyone said it should be a “totalitarian” ban? Did you just read the first paragraph of my post?

If you want a specific answer, ask a specific question.

 

[Huntinaz]

I argue that climate isn't the impacting factor.

Basically it's the amount of fat reserves and the longevity to replenish those reserves. Basically due the digestive changes in deer and their dependence on browse they are substaning not replenishing even in the best of habitat until they switch back to forbes

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I’ve been horn hunting for quite a few years. I find horns but have never found a fresh dead elk except one, and it was covered in pine needles and dirt and a lion was sitting next to it. As you say, one data point. But the reason I challenge you to find a study on humans accessing public land impacting winter kill in AZ is because I actually live here and use these lands and see the elk know that what I’m doing isn’t hurting them. And if science says I’m wrong then hey, let’s renegotiate. Taking wyoming winter data and putting it here is garbage in many ways