Hunters urged to minimize stress to deer, elk while looking for shed antlers

Oregon officials are asking shed antler hunters to follow six guidelines this winter and spring minimize stress to big game.

Many hunters and their families use late winter and early spring to search for the antlers shed by deer and elk. Buck deer usually shed their antlers from late December through March, while bull elk from late February through early April.

Oregon’s six suggestions include:

o Don’t approach animals or follow the same ones on a daily basis.

o Respect road and area closures, most of which are in place to protect wintering big game.

o Don’t take vehicles off established roads. The ground can be waterlogged and off-road travel can damage habitat. Travel by foot or horse instead.

o Don’t be in the same spot every day.

o Keep dogs under control.

o Don’t trespass on private property. Antlers shed on private land belong to the landowner under Oregon law.

“Shed hunters and their dogs can pressure, stress and exclude deer from the very ground that was set aside to help them survive the winter,” said Chase Brown, assistant district wildlife biologist in The Dalles.