It’s that time of year, shed hunting season is upon us! Whether it’s deer, elk, moose or caribou, sheds are sheds. Some people live for this time of year. The chance to get out and stretch their legs and hike around the mountains they love and call home. To others, it might not have the same draw as when the antler is attached to the animals head. Either way, we all enjoy the outdoors and each seek our own way of finding what makes them special to us.

On that note, here are a few tips for finding sheds this spring…

First off, try and locate areas animals winter. Usually south facing slopes where the sun melts the snow off first and greens up first in the spring. The animals will hang out in these areas to avoid deeper snow on the north facing slopes. You might find larger groups of animals congregated this time of year and this is a good way to locate both bucks and bulls.

Second, look for some thicker cover areas on south facing slopes that the animals might bed. Thicker cover spots can be good for knocking antlers off their heads as they walk by as the time comes for them to fully shed. The larger bucks and bulls are generally going to hang out in this thicker cover anyways. They don’t get big and old without still hiding like they often seem to do during hunting season.

Third located travel corridors. If the animals are heading back up the mountain as the snow is melting they likely will travel the same general trails year after year. These can be great places to follow and locate sheds possibly higher-up on the mountain.

Fourth if you find a particular buck or bull that is still packing, keep tabs on him. He likely will hang out in the same little area until the snow allows for travel back to his summer hiding hole. You can likely find his sheds in a small circle around where you’ve located him if he did drop and move off.

Hopefully these tips will help you round-up some sheds this spring. Good luck!