When the winter months are winding down and everyone is driving each other crazy, shed hunting can be a fantastic way to get everyone out of the house for some much-needed exercise, especially the kids and dogs.
In fact, there isn't a better way to get the kids involved in the outdoors and introduce them to hunting than taking them out to find some beautiful antlers. This time spent together as a family is a great opportunity to teach them about the circle of life and share what we are so passionate about, all the while finding a few treasures along the way. So, pack a lunch, some drinks and snacks, and plan to spend a full day afield together. Here are four tips for shed hunting with the family:
BE PATIENT
Make sure to keep the kids close and check that they are focused on searching for sheds and not getting distracted, as it can happen quite easily. Shed hunting with kids requires a little patience and sometimes you just need to take a break, let them blow off some steam and then get back to looking.
Don’t get frustrated if you have young kids out with you, as there are many things that will interest them in the woods. Take the time to explain everything to them and answer every question they may have along the way.
FIND FOOD SOURCES
Whether you're in an area with whitetail and mule deer, elk, or moose, keying in on the areas that have the highest concentrations of late winter food sources is where you’ll be most likely to find shed antlers.
CHECK BEDDING AREAS
Many times, sheds are dropped in bedding areas, or very near to them, as the deer spend lots of time in these areas. In fact, they can be shed hotspots, so when you come into areas like this be sure to take your time and scour them with a fine-tooth comb. These spots are also excellent for letting the kids wander around to look at the beds or find hair and poop on the ground. This is a lesson in and of itself for youngsters.
WALK THE TRAILS
Walking the trails is a great way to find sheds. Many times, I’ve found matched sets just laying there perfectly on each side of the trail.
Watch for natural funnels along a small strip of habitat that may take you from one big chunk of timber to another. These are places where the deer travel year after year. Remember, you and the kids will be looking for fresh shed antlers, but also sheds from previous years.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION
Keep your focus and try to let the kids go ahead and pick their trails, while reminding them to keep their eyes peeled. I don’t know how many times I’ve walked through an area and on the way back out, I’ve found a shed I had walked right past the first time. If you spot a shed well before the kids have, try to haze them towards it. Be sure you let them pick up most of the antlers to really get them involved and train their eyes to know exactly what to look for.
Shed hunting can be more exciting to young kids than you could ever imagine. It’s like catch and release hunting; you get to pick up the head gear of the big buck or bull you’ve had pictures of on your SPYPOINT trail camera, all while knowing he’s still out there already growing a new set of antlers once again.
Time in the outdoors together offers your family so many life lessons as there is always something to learn and, if you do things right, you will have shed hunting partners for life.
Article by Jeff Schlachter
About the Author
Jeff Schlachter, SPYPOINT Pro Staff for a decade, resides in Saskatchewan, Canada and is a Nationally Awarded Western Canadian Outdoor writer, penning hundreds of hunting articles for many of North American’s top outdoor magazines over the years. Jeff has made appearances on some of the most popular hunting television shows in Canada and the USA, both in front of the camera and behind the camera filming as well, tweaking his skills from some of the best in the industry. He is dedicated to sharing his wealth of knowledge with others, helping them learn more about experiencing the outdoors and what it truly has to offer.
Jeff’s hunting excursions have taken him on many amazing hunting adventures around the globe and he has taken many incredible trophies qualifying for the B&C, P&Y, SCI and Longhunter’s Record Books. He is a professional hunter, member of Outdoor Writers of Canada and is driven by a fierce passion that has flowed through his veins since he was a small child. In Jeff’s mind, hunting isn’t just a past-time, it truly is a way of life.
