Why is shed hunting so popular now?

[Itsbeef]

I used to shed hunt a lot when I was living in Wyoming. Since moving to Montana a few years ago I’ve noticed a lot more pressure. Guys getting out super early before bulls drop and bumping them and some of my favorite spots getting shut down. Also seen so much more on social media and it’s kinda ruined it for me.
Wanted to hear your thoughts.

 

[Shed God]

It's a sport. Getting out. Maybe make u a legend. Famous.

My dad started horn hunting in the early 80s. Crazy huge chalk and whites. Big browns hard to find. Me and my 3 brothers all grew up doing it. In high school and middle school my class mates thought it weird. My Dad taught us alot about hunting and shed hunting. The problem is right now people can profit off it. Wasn't like that when I grew up. Landowners let u go. Give u the key. Like a crazy idea. Go looking for horns. Big money now. I could tell u some crazy $*)Q!#@$ storys. But uh what I think wish they worth nothing. But with game farms and bs. Natural antlers more popular than ever. I think and what I know is this. Over time more tags were given out so less quality animals. So less great sheds. 15 to 20 yrs ago in mt the age class was there. Not the sport. Over time anyone that draws a tag a professional hunter but usually fills there tag on a lesser animal. So quality not there. Natural consequences of bad management. 30 to 40 yrs ago fwp didn't have to manage. Not alot of trophy hunters. Meat hunters and family time. Now days everyone a killer and post there bullshit. Heavy hunters. Liberal tags. Miracle trophy's exist.

 

[Shed God]

It's natural consequences.

 

[hank4elk]

Dunno.
Never did it.
Have 2 elk I found hunting. One I took the bull the next year.
Both were near my truck.

It's a racket now.

 

[Shed God]

Iam not trying to challenge anyone or anything like that. Just saying. My dad has a 428 elk antler if the other side matched. He found the set from yr before. Too. He has huge mule deer sheds. All prior or at the beginning of LE units. So otc. Biggest change. Huge pressure hunting. Which reflects the animals that survive and shed. God dam miracle in most LE units a 150 muley or 300 bull. Just my opinion

 

[Shed God]

The 428 elk shed scored by Fred King. The 269 deer shed scored by the raculotar guys. I get 271.

 

[brymoore]

Influencers and the money available when you sell the sheds.

 

[Elky Welky]

Monetize anything and people will come running.

 

[Elky Welky]

Honestly I or the people that I know don't make alot of money off of shed hunting. I spend more time and money doing it because it's my thing.

I know a fair number of folks in the Elkhorns that make money off of it, mostly dog chews.

 

[The_Jim]

Do yourself a favor and leave those participation trophies rot on the ground.

 

[Shed God]

Dog chews are popular. I try to locate. Then try to live with an elk god until he sheds. I chase hugens

 

[The_Jim]

Imagine needing "content" so bad that you would make this video...

 

[Shed God]

On u tube and bs. Most those dinks are horn buyers. Too. Don't respect them. they sell bs

 

[Itsbeef]

I know a fair number of folks in the Elkhorns that make money off of it, mostly dog chews.

Do the have private land access in the elk horns?

 

[Shed God]

I would venture a guess. Just my thought. Those u tubers and popular hunters. Wouldn't do very well. On public land in mt

 

[Itsbeef]

Do the have private land access in the elk horns?

Reason I ask I spent some time up there last spring and constantly glassed nice bulls down on private.

 

[Shed God]

U glassed nice bulls on private. Sounds like mt

 

[Forkyfinder]

Wish the sale of all antlers could be illegal, personally. Know of someone that travels all around doing it to make money, and apparently does well.

Most people here probably know, but wildlife actually need them for calcium - and i think we are past the point of impacting things during critical calving time.

 

[Elky Welky]

Reason I ask I spent some time up there last spring and constantly glassed nice bulls down on private.

@Shed God is right, that's MT in a nutshell. To answer: some of them do, some of them don't. I won't divulge some friends' honey holes.

 

[Shed God]

Every unit in the state is way over rated by the odds to draw. If u had a time machine. It would be crazy otc and LE public