A Warning for Shed Hunters

An outdoor activity that has become increasing popular during the past few years is shed hunting during the winter and early spring. Male deer lose their antlers each winter and then grow a new set the following year. Sportsmen like to search for the dropped antlers, called sheds. Finding sheds helps sportsmen know the quality of the bucks that have survived that year's hunting seasons. It might also suggest some locations to set up stands the following deer season.

Some sportsmen have become serious in their pursuit of sheds. One local "young lion" searches for sheds in multiple counties. He collects as many as three-dozen sheds during a winter. Some are small antlers, but a number of the sheds he has discovered are large ones from mature bucks. Last winter he discovered a matching pair of sheds from a buck. The antlers were huge, and the young sportsman decided that this was going to be the only Pennsylvania buck he would hunt. It takes a skillful, dedicated hunter to pass up any buck other than the one he has set his sights on. I admire such sportsmanship.

Shed hunting would seem to be something the Pennsylvania Game Commission might encourage. In fact, there was even an article in a recent "Game News" dealing with shed hunting. Naturally, there is a "however" here.

In the Feb. 3, 2023, "Cuffs and Collars" section of "Pennsylvania Outdoor News," Mercer County Game Warden Mario Altieri wrote of issuing a warning "for possession of an antlered deer skull and antlers found in the woods by an individual this past summer." He went on to write that "the individual was educated about the law regarding deer parts possession, and the skull and antlers were confiscated."

So, if you find a deer skull with antlers attached when shed hunting, you cannot legally keep it as a shed, since the antlers of the already dead buck remain attached to the skull. I have to wonder how many people know that obscure rule. I certainly did not.

I have found several bucks' skulls with attached antlers while fishing. Several of these bucks' racks were nice ones, and they would have made attractive European-style mounts. Fortunately for me it would have been inconvenient to tote these racks around while fishing, so I left them alone. I can only imagine being fined for harmlessly taking one home.

Shed hunters, be careful out there. You may collect all the sheds you find, but do not even think about bringing a racked skull home.