Where are the best places to go 'shed hunting' in Kansas?
TOPEKA (KSNT) - A Kansas wildlife official is sharing some tips on where people can expect to find antlers left behind by some of the state's resident elk and deer.
KSNT 27 News spoke with Levi Jaster, Big Game Program coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), about what people should know before heading outside to look for antlers left behind by deer and elk once the breeding season ends. Jaster said the best time to look for these fallen antlers is during the spring but they can be found at any time of the year in outdoor spaces.
"You can find them throughout the year," Jaster said. "Generally, the best time is just after bucks have shed their antlers. Some will start shedding in December and January but March to April-May tends to be the most prominent time of the year."
Bucks tend to shed their antlers during the winter and early spring, according to the KDWP. Jaster recommends searching for them in places where deer congregate or areas they use as bedding locations such as south and east-facing slopes with good cover.
"Fence rows can be good," Jaster said. "A lot of times jumping the fence will jar the antlers loose."
Shed hunters, depending on where they go, may expect to find antlers left behind from elk, mule or whitetail deer or horn sheaths from pronghorns. While deer antlers are fairly common, elk are only found in a few places such as the Fort Riley area though there is some evidence they are exploring more of the Sunflower State this year.
"Generally, the sheds most people will find will be whitetail antlers," Jaster said. "You'll have to be in an area where elk are common or mule deer to find those."
Hunters and hikers need to be cautions about where they choose to look for sheds. Jaster said not all lands are open for people to search for dropped antlers. Private land, for example, requires the landowners permission before exploring it for antler sheds.
"The biggest thing I would remind people is on private property you need to have permission," Jaster said. "Otherwise, its a good way to get out and get some exercise."
Shed hunting is allowed on public lands owned by or managed by the KDWP, which includes state wildlife areas and state fishing lakes. Kansas state parks and lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are also fair game.
However, walk-in hunting and fishing areas should be treated the same as private property where shed hunters get permission first before heading out, according to the KDWP. National Wildlife Refuges, such as the Flint Hills and Marais des Cygnes refuges, are also closed to shed hunting.
It is also illegal to sell antlers found on state or federal properties, according to the KDWP. Antlers which are still attached to a skeletal skull are also considered to be part of a carcass and require a state salvage tag for possession.
Antlers left in the wild do not go to waste. Jaster said the nutrients used to make the impressive racks of antlers used by elk and deer eventually dissipate back into the environment.
"A lot of small mammals do chew on antlers," Jaster said. "Generally, that can be a good source of calcium and phosphorous and some other minerals for small animals. I've found small shed antlers up in trees that squirrels have carried up to chew on. Over time, antlers do break down, the sun will dry them out and they'll eventually crumble down, those minerals go back into the soil at that location."
Jaster said shed hunters should check with their county or city governments as well to see whether or not looking for antlers is allowed. He also recommends checking out articles from the National Deer Association for additional tips on getting started with shed hunting.
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