No money in shed antlers.

[hunterofelk]

In a current thread about helicopters some replies made the impression to a reader that shed hunting was a money making business.  Let me tell you nothing is farther from the truth.  Back in the nineties, yes, but now the current price for brown elk antler is even lower than when it was when I started shed hunting thirty years ago.  Take into account inflation and it is more profitable working a day at a minimum wage job instead of busting your hump all over the mountains for antlers.
I think the hoopla over sheds these days is just bragging rights.  Our competitive nature makes us want to be the guy to find 'old mossbacks' sheds this year, post it on the internet and bask in the glory.  Reality is the growing pile of antlers in the basement with no purpose but memories.  Maybe if you can find some record book racks you could talk a taxidermist into buying them, but I just don't see the market anymore. 
I antler hunt a lot less than I use to, but I still enjoy the pastime.  I get tired when I think about all the lengths some people go to to beat me up the hill or get in the refuge before it is open.
I could be wrong about the worth of antlers, though, and I would like someone to prove me wrong.  I have a pile of elk antlers I would be willing to sell.

[boneaddict]

Lets see.....tank of gas $120.    Brown shed..........   No, not a money making adventure for me anyways.

[Maverick]

I'm sure there's still a little money in it if a guy could find enough sheds and not burn tons of money on fuel. I shed hunt for myself. I'm noy.selling any of my sheds. They're my little trophys  I enjoy the hike, looking at the wild life, the great weather and love getting the big smile on my face when I spot a shed. Doesn't matter how big!

[HornHoarder]

Like I stated on the other thread, the only place I know to sell antlers offers $8 lb for perfect fresh sheds. considerably less for bleached white ones. Like $2-$3 lb. I dont think too many people do it for the money.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I agree hunterofelk.  There is no money in selling sheds.  I get calls all the time from people asking if I want to buy sheds.  Every once in a while I will buy a few to include in a base/habitat or a large matching set.

It's not just the shed market that is going down hill.  The price of large racks are as well.  Why should somone buy the real thing when they can just buy a Reproduction that looks real.     

[Shed Stud]

Not for sale! My wife calls it hoarding, I am not ready to admit a problem yet.

[HornHoarder]

Yeah, look at my  name. Never have sold one.

[Maverick]

Ha! Id love to see an antler hoarder on that hoaders show. I think instead of people saying Omg how can he live like that. A bunch of us would be sayin, holy cow! Would you look at the size of them antlers! That guys living the dream! And of course, damn, I gotta get out and find some more sheds! 

[Arteman]

I could never ever sale my sheds.  I've been offered by a few people that want to buy them, one off HW.  Just cant bring myself to do it.  Like others said, I can tell you where I've found every one of them, and recite the day.  My heaviest is 6 pounds, and the average is around 5 pounds.  At 8 dollars a pound that's only 40 bucks, I put 50 in my tank everytime I went last year, that got me there and back with just a little extra left.  Best day was 7, but only two of those were browns, had one triple, and a few doubles, ended up with 33, and about 15 days I came home empty. Plus food and drinks, in the end id be paying somebody to come take my sheds basically.  Some people might be in a situation they can make money, but im not one of them.  Nor do I think I could stomach selling them if it was profitably.  I think maybe the only way i could justify selling them would be for a finished antler dog that will contribute to finding more, Idk.

[bow-n-head]

A horn buyer offered me 10,000 for my pile of shed antlers. I laughed him right out of my garauge

[Arteman]

Wonder what 3rd in the world would fetch though???   

[Miles]

Should I cancel my helicopter ride that I scheduled for next weekend?   I thought I would at least make enough to cover all the expenses and retire by April.

[Chesapeake]

Petsmart charges $6 or $7 for a little 5" chunk of shed antler for a chew toy. You can search the web and find similar prices for antler dog chews. I dont think any of the prices are less than about $15 a pound for antler dog chews. You can search E-bay and see sheds selling every day.
You could sell the nice ones intact at a premium and cut the others and sell by the pound.
I have purchased 5 hand made baskets at $100 to $150 a piece that each are made from 1 shed antler.
Some folks are making money.

There are folks that make money picking huckleberries, mushrooms, boughs, bear grass, pinecones, ect........

But its probably alot like trapping was for me. Spend $1500 on gas for a season just to sell $1500 in hides.

[Maverick]

Could you post a pic of one of those baskets!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Petsmart charges $6 or $7 for a little 5" chunk of shed antler for a chew toy. You can search the web and find similar prices for antler dog chews. I dont think any of the prices are less than about $15 a pound for antler dog chews. You can search E-bay and see sheds selling every day.
You could sell the nice ones intact at a premium and cut the others and sell by the pound.
I have purchased 5 hand made baskets at $100 to $150 a piece that each are made from 1 shed antler.
Some folks are making money.

There are folks that make money picking huckleberries, mushrooms, boughs, bear grass, pinecones, ect........

But its probably alot like trapping was for me. Spend $1500 on gas for a season just to sell $1500 in hides.

The baskets might cost $100 - $150 and only made out of 1 antler. . . .BUT how many hours worth or work go into each basket? 

What kinda antlers were these made of and how big?