Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: Is there an antler-hunting season and are there any rules about picking up shed antlers from deer and elk in Idaho? Answer: There are no Fish and Game restrictions on picking up shed antlers. For many hunters, hunting for shed antlers in the late winter and spring is a way to combat cabin fever and view wildlife. The rewards, the antlers, are used to add rustic dŽcor in a cabin or for landscaping in flower beds. For others, hunting for "sheds" has developed into a lucrative industry. Crafters, knife makers, and taxidermists purchase shed antlers to make items they can sell to the public. While picking up "sheds" is not restricted by the Fish and Game Department, sportsmen must be aware that wintering big game animals are sensitive to disturbance. During "green-up," when winter areas bare-off and become accessible to people, deer and elk's energy stores are at an all-time low. Big game animals can ill afford to unnecessarily expend energy to run or escape from antler hunters.