antler traps

[Fetch em up]

Someone I know just made one last month and found an antler hanging from it the other day.  No pictures of the hanging antler, but here's what the catcher looks like...

[Shed Stud]

If the deer are in your yard to feed why try and knock off the antlers(if it could possibly hurt them)? Why not wander the back 40 and pick them up there? I personaly enjoy the hike and find. It's like a treasure hunt as opposed to going to the bank.

[trophyhunt]

Like singleshot12 said, trying to find blacktail antlers is quite a bit harder to do than on the eastside where the animals winter in certain areas. I did find my best blacktail find last year though, it was the deer I had missed in my tree stand with my Thompson center 30-06 pistol at 60ish yards!!!! Don't know what happened with the scope yet but it was dead on, anyway I found both his sheds that January. One shed was where I missed him and the other was about 80 yards away. I will try to post the pic's of them if I remember, I had them mounted on a plaque.

[HornHoarder]

I feed deer every year and find many sheds in or around my feeding stations. I have never used any kind of " antler trap" , but I do have my tricks. I like to have a large pile of alfalfa. Like several bales spread out, or I even used a large round bale this year.  Now with your loose pile of hay, pour corn over the top of it. Most of the corn works its way down towards the bottom. It forces the deer to dig through the alfalfa often with their antlers. It is a safe way to collect antlers that uses no kind of fencing or bungees. It has been working for me for years. Ive found 10 antlers so far this year on my haypile. It also helps to pour on the feed, dont be stingy. It takes me about 100+ pounds per day to feed my local herd. Attached are a few pics of my feeding station.

[Lowedog]

Those are a couple dandy bucks! 

[trophyhunt]

anyone find a feed that works on blacktail? I've tried the corn and alfalfa before and they didn't touch it. I know they like apples but it's hard to keep my 2 labs out of those.

[bow_dad]

I always walk for mine but I do know a guy who puts three cattle panels together in a triangle and then puts some feed inside the triangle.   If the antlers are ready they pop off when the deer is jumping in or out of the fence. 

He usually gets a few a year that way,  but he finds alot more burning tread.

[Co]

Thats ridiculous.

[Maverick]

I've found four whitetail sheds this year hiking. 3 fresh ones and 2 of them are a set. I had them scored at the sportsman show yesterday and they told me the buck would gross in the 140s. I havnt had a chance to try the antler traps but I think I'm gonna go natural with it. I have some alfalfa hay and I'm getting some corn tomorrow. We'll see if either of them works. My plan is to have the deer have to hit there horns againts some stick bushes I've found here and there. I figure I'll stuff the feed inside of them. Any of you guys finding sheds this year so far?

[shedcrazy]

If the deer are in your yard to feed why try and knock off the antlers(if it could possibly hurt them)? Why not wander the back 40 and pick them up there? I personaly enjoy the hike and find. It's like a treasure hunt as opposed to going to the bank.