Palouse Outdoors: Shed Hunting the Palouse

Spring outdoor adventures can be hard to come by when we allow routine to take priority. I don't hunt turkeys or fish the desert lakes nearly as often as I should. Instead, I tend to the property, trying to complete my seeding and get a handle on weeds as quickly as possible. But breaking away from the homestead for a quick hike into some likely deer winter covers can be done on short time and nearby on the Palouse. And why would I want to look for deer hideouts? Shed antlers.

Running the dogs one afternoon, we approached an island of black locust and wheatgrass about 20 acres in size. A white object caught my attention. Beneath a golden fold of grass mashed flat from its former snow blanket shone a heavy chunk of what appeared to be bone. It would be so sweet if that were a giant shed, I thought as I approached. You can imagine my surprise when I unearthed the only drop-tine whitetail antler I will ever lay hands on, complete with a split brow tine and soda-can base circumference.

The antler was weathered and cracked and had clearly lain there for several years. I wondered where that buck had come from. There was no other cover for miles, and we were nearly 20 miles from a brushy river corridor in any direction. How had that buck dodged the modern firearms seasons so many years to put on such character? I may never have such fortune to stumble upon a better shed in my lifetime.

Whitetails are known for their adaptation to postage-stamp patchwork covers. True to form, this guy followed the playbook, shedding where no one would think to look in a relatively tiny and inaccessible patch of cover.

Bagging elk sheds is exciting, but in my experience, it's deer in the wheat country that offer the best shed hunting. A solid rule of thumb is to seek out bedding and feeding areas. South and west aspects are the warmest this time of year and typically offer better food sources. Deer spend the majority of their time in these areas and are more likely to shed there. While well-worn travel routes are hard to pass up, I have found so few sheds on trails that I don't bother with them aside from moving into and out of covers.

You can dodge the masses by knocking on a few doors and maybe find some ground all to yourself. Small woodlots and eyebrows with a few trees to provide a windbreak should be given fair inspection. Deer will paw at the ground around these trees to create flat beds on steep slopes.

Deer generally shed their antlers from late December through March. Mule deer tend to yard up in large, visible groups on the open, grassy slopes, while whitetails commonly feed in the unseen crevasses of wheat fields this time of year.

Cabin fever pushes many big game hunters to wit's end by March, and the prospects of shed hunting are too inciting to ignore. However, there is an ethical consideration to early shed hunting. March on the Palouse can be a deadly month for wildlife as they have hit rock bottom on fat reserves and food sources. A year like the present causes little winter kill as snow accumulations are minimal and generally mild temperatures. But tough years with lingering deep snow and single-digit temperature can take their toll on deer.

Waiting to hunt sheds until about mid-April is a best practice to leave critters unperturbed when they cannot afford the additional stress and energy expense. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not set seasons for shed hunting, but does offer tips to keep wildlife healthy, such as not pushing a herd too hard or pursuing them over consecutive days. One advantage to shed-hunting the wheat country is being able to spot sheds in stubble or green wheat with binoculars before hiking through feeding or resting critters for no reward.

Additionally, respect for public and private land and landowners is paramount. Sheds are the property of the landowner where they fell, requiring permission to collect them on private land. If you run a shed-hunting dog, ensure that it doesn't run deer or elk as you hunt for antlers.

Bottom line: shed hunting is a lot of fun and a great way to get outdoors, kick the cabin fever, and grab some sun and exercise. Load up your pack, grab the binoculars, and enjoy the warmth of the sun on your back for a welcome change from winter. You just might find that shed of a lifetime.