Shed dogs ?

[McFarmer]

No, not sled dogs, but rather dogs trained to find antler sheds. Anyone ever around one ? See one work ? I’ve read about them and I think this time of year that would a great way to get some exercise and watch a dog work.

Can they smell them for a distance like a bird dog ? Or do they have to stumble across them ?

What can you tell me about them ?

 

[Bob Peters]

Roxy has always loved deer antlers. When she was a puppy she got a shed to chew on. She found this one last April. I was really impressed because it was buried under a lot of tall grass, so she had to have smelled it.

 

[Matt D]

My ESS’s go shed hunting with me. It depends on the year but they find 5-12 a year typically. Via smell mostly but also some visual on large ones. There have been a few I would have never found if it wasn’t for them.

 

[gim]

Finding a sizable bull elk or mule deer shed can be worth some decent money. The caveat is that you generally need both sides.

 

[McFarmer]

I always walk the hay fields after the snow melts. A four pointer really ruins a $2,000 tractor tire. The crop fields don’t seem to be a problem, I do keep a close eye out the first time over, especially around the edges.

 

[Matt D]

 

[Quailnerd]

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Geez man that’s a lot of horn, nice job. I found a nice mule deer set last week but they do t come close to those

 

[McFarmer]

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Nice, so are they trained for that or they just like to do it ?