Self Control or State Control

[bow4elk]

"They used to go out in April or May, but as shed hunting has become more popular, more and more people are going out earlier, to the point that it's become a factor in the survival of the elk," said Pat Fowler, Washington's wildlife biologist for the Blue Mountains.

"Most elk won't start dropping antlers until late February or March, but we have guys who are out there watching them already. The shed hunters run those hillsides every day and that tends to break up the bull groups, reducing their security, and send them into the deeper snow on the north slopes when they should be down lower where they can expend less energy and find more food.

"I've been trying for years to get some sort of season on shed hunting to prevent disturbing elk on their winter range, but I haven't got anywhere. It would be difficult to manage since the elk are private ground as well as national forests, neither of which the Fish and Wildlife Department controls."

[agchawk]

A few bad apples will always spoil the barrel. If everyone that covets shed antlers cared about the overall health of the wintering herds then this issue would never get risen. However, there are folks out there that want those sheds, or a chance at them, before anyone else and will hit the hills with no regard to the animals they impact.

This state would not be the first to institute a shed hunting season...and will not be the last either.

Myself, I'd support this measure. I'm sure I'll get flamed for that comment but so be it. I am aware that it will not stop everyone because some folks just don't care and laws never seem to stop these types anyway. But, if it offers even a little more protection to wintering herds then I am on board. Unfortunately I believe that my first sentence applies.

There are TOO MANY folks out there that just cannot practice self control...or just refuse to do so.

[bobcat]

I wish it were illegal to sell antlers. I think that would solve the problem.

[ThePascoKid]

I don't think they should be out this early either but I don't see how they can police this issue, if your out shed hunting and haven't found one that your carrying your basically just hiking, what's to stop people from going "hiking" and just stashing the antlers somewhere no one else will find them until later.  I guess you'd basically have to close the area to all activity.  Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't mention anything about snowmobilers, maybe he is one.

[fishunt247]

What bobcat said. That's perfect. I know some guys in Yakima that don't hunt at all, but since you can make money off of shed antlers, they go like crazy. I'm not going to say with these guys that they go in closed areas and sell them for drug money, but...

[jackelope]

there are areas in the blues that are currently closed to human entry, just like oak creek. cummins creek is one that comes to mind.
it opens around the spring turkey opener.
the problem is the bad apples are the guys who are selling the sheds, not the guys who like to pick them up and save them as a hobby, like a lot of folks on here.

[DOUBLELUNG]

there are areas in the blues that are currently closed to human entry, just like oak creek. cummins creek is one that comes to mind.
it opens around the spring turkey opener.
the problem is the bad apples are the guys who are selling the sheds, not the guys who like to pick them up and save them as a hobby, like a lot of folks on here.

I usually agree with Jackalope, but gotta dispute that one.  Both colectors and sellers get so competitive for antlers they forget about the welfare of the antler growers.  Ram poaching was pretty well handled by not allowing "pick-up" skulls.  I'd hate to see the same for shed antlers, but those rotten apples are such selfish a-holes, I doubt there's another alternative.  And yes, I say this with at least 100 deer and elk sheds in my garage. 

[jackelope]

And yes, I say this with at least 100 deer and elk sheds in my garage.

but you're doing it the right way.

[BLUEBULLS]

I agree with most on this. It is an unethical thing to do (run game around on the winter range) but I spend a ton of time in the blues and try my hardest to watch game from a distance. I'm not sure about other areas but the Elk in the blues are extremely healthy. I've found maybe one or two winter killed elk. They generally do not get much snow that lasts for a period of time. They need to do more to stop poaching if they want to save the blue mountains elk herd.

also, I hardly see anybody near the elk when I'm up scouting.

Kill cats and stop poaching, that's what will save the herd.

just my 

[ELKBURGER]

There is so much pressure to be the first ones out there. A friend of mine has shown me pictures from a guide of a 400 class bull in the blues. The guide had pictures of the bull days before it shed plus the matching set days after. I believe they were the set to the gov tag bull. Dont know if the guide sold the set to Agnew or not. My friend makes multiple trips over there in early march. I dont think hes aware of the impact on the herds but then again, maybe he doesnt care.

[boneaddict]

This last year I showed great restraint and found about 3/4 less than I normally do.  This year will be the same.  granted this hand is slowing me down but I have decided again not to press them much.  Then I get someone on here that nails be about picture taking.  Well, for the most part I don't get that close.  I did bump into a few elk the other day but they never moved 100 yards from where I saw them.  I did practice restraint.  My wife even said why didn't you go look for that antler,you know where they were bedded.  No thanks I said.  I'm just one guy though.  I bet there are 30 other newbies out there scouring the hill in my place. Now they will have more bone in their garage than mine.

[big rack attack]

When I first started hunting for elk antlers 12 years ago I went in the middle of May and found antlers and no signs of people.  Now when I go hunting there are snowmobiles and epically quads that run over every ounce of land I used to hunt.  It is not the people on foot as much as the people on the quads and snowmobiles that are chasing the elk into the dangerous areas trying to make their antlers fall off.  I look for sheds from Oak Creek towards Chinook Pass and there is  guys that spends weeks driving quads through the rattle snake, the Nile, and the little natches . i can hike all day and have a hard time to find a place were a quad hasn't gone.. the authorities don't even care about the quads driving around on forest service roads or all over the hills. i have complained several times to the authorities and they just say there ain't much they can do. so if there is a season on antler hunting it will only stop the honest guy that loves the animals and the guy that don't really care will still be out there causing all the damage

[509er]

I believe we will have a shed season in the next few years.  A lot of guys lack the self control to wait. Sleds, quads, horses, people on foot, the animals don't get a break.  Most bucks here in the basin have are still packing or just beginning to drop, yet some guys have been chasing them for weeks, in Wenatchee and Entiat it is even worse, usually they push the deer out of the area.  I have been told by a friend these guys know who they are and what they are doing, they hide their vehicles out of sight and sneak in in the dark.  Shed hunting brings out the worst in some people.  With the amounts of people shed hunting these days, I for one would kinda like to see a shed season, at least then the bucks I find would not get chase out of the area by somebody before they drop.  Hell, maybe they could give bonus points for turning in people picking up sheds before the season, maybe that would help keep some people honest.  Like I said, I believe it is coming.

Disclaimer:
               This is not intended intended or aimed towards any one person, I am talking about shed hunting as a whole.

[bowhuntin]

I just read an article about shed hunting in BUGLE that the RMEF puts out every couple of months and some states have some serious penalties for those that push wildlife off the winter ranges while looking for sheds. Fines, loss of hunting privileges, or losing points that they have built up for special draws. It may not stop those that are lawless but some of those penalties would go a long way of keeping people that hunt and look for antlers off the winter range.

[wastickslinger]