When many novices to deer hunting find out about hunting for discarded antlers in the offseason, the first question they ask themselves is when do deer shed their antlers? To answer the question when do deer shed and drop their antlers? Patti, yes, all whitetail buck shed their antlers annually. Male (bull) elk grow a new set of antlers every year, beginning when they are 1 year old. In the past 4 years I have found 45 shed antlers. Dogs can make excellent shed hunting partners when properly trained. They are so natural looking, they should be permanently attached to the deer’s head. It can take as little as 24-48 hours for the antlers to actually … When you're hunting for deer antler sheds and you spot one side, look nearby to see if the other side of antlers is around. This is usually the result of some kind of injury (or maybe deformity) of the testicles. The next logical question would be: When do Deer shed their antlers? Collecting shed antlers in national parks, national wildlife refuges or national recreation areas is also illegal. Related Pros and Cons of Deer Hunting. Mule deer, whitetail deer and other ungulates shed their antlers once a year. I was surprised to learn this fact that they really do shed their antlers. There comes a time in the off-season when whitetail deer hunters all over the country become obsessed with collecting deer antlers. Female caribou also grow antlers, though not as large as those grown by males. … Deer with poorer conditions, live through harsh winters, and have limited nutrition based on their habitat will shed their antlers earlier. Related Elk Hunting Licenses in the State of Colorado. What Time of Year Do Elk Shed Their Antlers? Between January and April, you are more likely to find deer antlers that have shed. Generally speaking, antler points do increase within a particular deer as it ages, but there is no rule here. Western shed antler hunting is truly its own season, and any outdoorsmen should be excited to get involved in a season that allows them to be outside and hunt for a set of trophy shed antlers. Well, all except stag bucks, which typically are bucks that have injured themselves (testicles). Weird looking antlers can also result from … Simply put, as a buck gets older, his antlers get bigger. It’s no secret that most of us who hunt love antlers, and the ability to collect them without expending a single round or tag is an alluring prospect and quite easy if you get out at the right time. Deer Antler Shed Hunting Tips. Explore America's Campgrounds . Males of all deer species – elk, caribou, moose, mule deer, Coues deer, white-tailed deer and black-tailed deer – grow antlers. It happens during the first quarter of the year. Deer that are in good condition, live in a mild climate, and have a high-quality habitat will keep their antlers well into the spring months. As deer seasons come to a close across the country, the inevitable question of, “when should I start looking for shed antlers?” fuzzes our deer hunting wired brains. … They aren’t a permanent part of the deer’s body. By Joe Shead. Be meticulous and systematic in order to increase your shed hunting success. This obsession corresponds with the time of the year when deer shed their … Deer that don’t shed their antlers are commonly called “stags”. Both antlers may fall off at exactly the same time, or one antler may be held for weeks or months after the first antler is shed. Did you know that deer shed their antlers? Each year in Virginia, the Department receives calls in late December about deer hunters shooting shed-antlered bucks. It is referred to as shed hunting, so take a hunt-like approach to searching for them. This means it is unlawful to sell antlers cut off a wild deer from California — even a deer lawfully harvested by a hunter. Understanding where to look and what you are looking for will result in more found sheds. … Deer lose their antlers every single year, but do you know why? The intent of the law is to prevent the sale of antlers from wild California deer.