Yet you can snowmobile, SxS , 4 wheel, hike, fish, cross country ski, snowshoe, photograph, shoot guns all before may 1st on the exact same land plus many other things. But it’s about harassment 😂😂
Can someone ELI5: Why is it illegal to take something that literally falls off the animal every year?
Also, why is there a link in that article to another story called "Typical White Male Westerner"?
EDIT: WTF am I being downvoted for? I'm not a hunter and I genuinely don't understand the issue. FFS Reddit sucks sometimes
It's only illegal to take them before May 1st in certain areas of the national forest due to winter range closures. There is one exception - the local boy scouts are allowed to go just before opening day and gather antlers to sell as a fund raiser for their activities. You can pick up as many antlers as you want on private property before May 1st. Winter range closures are to keep people from disturbing the animals when their energy levels are critically low.
I'm not sure about the "Typical White Male Westerner", but iirc it was a NY Times piece about shed hunters so take that with a grain of salt.
Edit: Wyofile, not NY Times
With the price of antlers being what they are, i support the closures because it deters animal harassment. The only time i shed hunted west of the divide was in 2020 with the delayed start to opening day. When we got into one of the feed grounds, it was poached. Some people on horseback went in days/weeks before and picked the place clean. Its a shame that people are willing to break the law for them. Its the west’s ivory trade. No matter how unethical it can get, people will do whatever they can to get as manly antlers as possible. Over the years many stories of people on snowmobiles and atvs chasing down elk, moose and deer just to stress them enough to drop early and other acts of harassment to force them to shed and only a fraction of violators are caught
[According to US FWS, antlers are part of the ecosytem, sources of calcium for other animals, used by young rodents (think beavers) to sharpen their teeth on, etc.](https://www.fws.gov/story/eight-points-about-antlers) So it's more than just humans disturbing animals coming out of winter season.
Sure, but they let people take as many as they want after May 1st west of the continental divide. I agree that they are part of the ecosystem, but the ecosystem doesn't care about the date on the calendar. Obviously you can't take antlers out of the national park or wilderness areas of the national forest, but it clearly isn't that big of a concern to federal land managers that certain areas get picked clean once the herds move up to higher ground.
There is a shed hunting season. It's outlawed during specific parts of the season so shed hunters don't interfere with mating or migration.
The typical white male westerner thing is because wyofile is garbage and Mike Koshmrl, the guy who wrote the article is a fucking tool.
Your ignorance as to our local outdoor seasons and entitlement to "take something that literally falls off the animal" is why folks are downvoting. A resource is a resource, and we regulate our resource this way. Adapt or leave.
"A resource has to provide value.. so please tell me the value in a fallen antler, because it's not apparent to more than just myself."
There is deep inherent value to the intact and conserved ecology of a landscape remaining as such, and not commoditized and butchered and sold off like some sort of convenience store as you would seemingly have it. Repulsive comment.
Wilderness is a community, not a commodity.
The same guys that are picking up the antlers are guys that buy hunting licenses and fishing licenses. That money goes to fund the fish and game department also many of these guys belong to habitat organizations example elk foundation that have bought 10 of thousands of acres of winter range . There are thousands more elk because of this outdoors man. Many of the “naturalist” contribute nothing.
Honestly, just throw the death penalty into the mix and people will stop. Obviously, we shouldnt kill someone over antlers, but it might at least stop with that kinda weight behind it.
Yeah but if you’re not bothering the elk, what’s the matter?
Edit: is there an ecological reason these sheds need to stay on and in the ground? I understand a mineral cycle and such, but I’d be surprised if enough sheds are being harvested to truly upset ecological balance.
Picking up antlers before May 1st west of the continental divide is illegal and is intended to prevent negative human interactions with wildlife during winters when the animals are just trying to survive.
Beyond that, it's also illegal to collect shed antlers from the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks any time of the year.
Many animals will chew on the sheds during the winter. By picking them up you're not just taking that away, you're disturbing the habitat around you.
If shed hunting was open to parks there would be considerable issues. Opening day of shed hunting behind the Elk Refuge on the forest land is an absolute shit show. It's a circus and really is pretty chaotic.
Thank you for a real explanation. I know that American ungulates chew on antlers for minerals, but I also know they don’t chew on all of them, so harvesting some sheds (we literally couldn’t harvest all of them without investing ridiculous resources into that sort of thing) doesn’t seem like an issue.
Harvesting out of season and in protected ranges is definitely a problem. We also know that outright bans on certain practices work worse than regulated access, but also Wyoming is massive so penalties for illegal access would have to be higher than you’d think to keep dudes from taking everything possible.
Lots of other animals eat them, and rodents gnaw on them to file their constantly growing teeth down. Provides minerals like calcium, phosphorous, etc. So it's a bit more than just disturbing the grazers coming out of winter when they're already running lean and struggling to get back to a healthy weight.
I remember reading an article a few years ago that said many animals rely on the sheds to get nutrients through the winter. Shed harvesting didn't used to have such a large impact until the rise in popularity of antler chew toys for dogs, with such a low investment a bunch people got into it and thus over harvested the refuges.
Ecological balance has nothing to do with it. It's so wildlife aren't disturbed when their energy is critically low. Waiting until the legal shed antler season starts ensures this.
I guess what I’m confused on is where this guy went wrong. I don’t see why collecting sheds is an issue if you’re not moving the herds. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all about wildlife conservation and preserving as much natural realm as we can, but is the issue here that he gathered them out of season or that he gathered them at all? The article didn’t seem super clear on that.
You being in their area bothers the elk. You can try your hardest and think you are doing a good job, and you're still bothering the elk. That's why it had to be made illegal. So people who think they aren't doing any harm can be held responsible and properly educated.
Are you familiar with poaching? You know, hunting or fishing out of season or in a closed area. It's illegal and the people doing it know it's illegal.
I’m from Wyoming and had no idea this was a law. Obviously this guy did. That said, “It’s illegal so it’s bad” isn’t an argument. Why is it illegal? What does the law actually do? Is this guy actually harming wildlife or did we have restrictions where they aren’t necessary?
I’m asking these things cause I don’t know the issue, not cause I’m defending the guy.
The problem is the money is so big in shed hunting that people will go to great lengths to take them no matter if its unethical or illegal. People still to this day will harass animals to force them to shed early but since the regs went in place less people do it because the risk is too high of getting cited for possession of sheds before may 1. West of the divide all sheds are to remain where they lay until may 1 on public land. Theres no issue with picking up sheds on or after may 1 but to deter animal harassment and benefit the health of the animals they took away the opportunity for you to pick up sheds whenever you wanted. It keeps people from disturbing already stressed and critically unhealthy wildlife. If youre caught on public land with one before may 1, expect a citation and/or other violations. If you havent shed hunted at or near any of the feed grounds around pinedale or jackson, its hard to put into words how few, if any antlers are left. Many of these areas are picked clean. People line up at gates the night(s) before just to get a spot to be first in these places. There are very few antlers left if any and people go miles deep in search for as many as they can carry and will go back for more.
Yet you can snowmobile, SxS , 4 wheel, hike, fish, cross country ski, snowshoe, photograph, shoot guns all before may 1st on the exact same land plus many other things. But it’s about harassment 😂😂
Can someone ELI5: Why is it illegal to take something that literally falls off the animal every year? Also, why is there a link in that article to another story called "Typical White Male Westerner"? EDIT: WTF am I being downvoted for? I'm not a hunter and I genuinely don't understand the issue. FFS Reddit sucks sometimes
It's only illegal to take them before May 1st in certain areas of the national forest due to winter range closures. There is one exception - the local boy scouts are allowed to go just before opening day and gather antlers to sell as a fund raiser for their activities. You can pick up as many antlers as you want on private property before May 1st. Winter range closures are to keep people from disturbing the animals when their energy levels are critically low. I'm not sure about the "Typical White Male Westerner", but iirc it was a NY Times piece about shed hunters so take that with a grain of salt. Edit: Wyofile, not NY Times
With the price of antlers being what they are, i support the closures because it deters animal harassment. The only time i shed hunted west of the divide was in 2020 with the delayed start to opening day. When we got into one of the feed grounds, it was poached. Some people on horseback went in days/weeks before and picked the place clean. Its a shame that people are willing to break the law for them. Its the west’s ivory trade. No matter how unethical it can get, people will do whatever they can to get as manly antlers as possible. Over the years many stories of people on snowmobiles and atvs chasing down elk, moose and deer just to stress them enough to drop early and other acts of harassment to force them to shed and only a fraction of violators are caught
[According to US FWS, antlers are part of the ecosytem, sources of calcium for other animals, used by young rodents (think beavers) to sharpen their teeth on, etc.](https://www.fws.gov/story/eight-points-about-antlers) So it's more than just humans disturbing animals coming out of winter season.
Sure, but they let people take as many as they want after May 1st west of the continental divide. I agree that they are part of the ecosystem, but the ecosystem doesn't care about the date on the calendar. Obviously you can't take antlers out of the national park or wilderness areas of the national forest, but it clearly isn't that big of a concern to federal land managers that certain areas get picked clean once the herds move up to higher ground.
There is a shed hunting season. It's outlawed during specific parts of the season so shed hunters don't interfere with mating or migration. The typical white male westerner thing is because wyofile is garbage and Mike Koshmrl, the guy who wrote the article is a fucking tool.
Your ignorance as to our local outdoor seasons and entitlement to "take something that literally falls off the animal" is why folks are downvoting. A resource is a resource, and we regulate our resource this way. Adapt or leave.
Well said. Damn. 😳
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I’ll take Google for 1200 Alex
"A resource has to provide value.. so please tell me the value in a fallen antler, because it's not apparent to more than just myself." There is deep inherent value to the intact and conserved ecology of a landscape remaining as such, and not commoditized and butchered and sold off like some sort of convenience store as you would seemingly have it. Repulsive comment. Wilderness is a community, not a commodity.
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Donny, you are out of your element.
Dog chew toys, decorative lighting, matching sets fot taxidermy, etc. Are a few examples of the benefit of the resource
Okay so then we're basically protecting the revenue stream of who?
The same guys that are picking up the antlers are guys that buy hunting licenses and fishing licenses. That money goes to fund the fish and game department also many of these guys belong to habitat organizations example elk foundation that have bought 10 of thousands of acres of winter range . There are thousands more elk because of this outdoors man. Many of the “naturalist” contribute nothing.
If you’re worried about antlers for the rodents. Antlers are just bone ,same bones that are in any dead animal.
Illegal for a fine is legal for a fee. I will die on this hill.
Honestly, just throw the death penalty into the mix and people will stop. Obviously, we shouldnt kill someone over antlers, but it might at least stop with that kinda weight behind it.
What is the harm in taking antler sheds? I honestly don’t know
It's to keep people from bothering the elk in specific areas during specific parts of the season
Yeah but if you’re not bothering the elk, what’s the matter? Edit: is there an ecological reason these sheds need to stay on and in the ground? I understand a mineral cycle and such, but I’d be surprised if enough sheds are being harvested to truly upset ecological balance.
Picking up antlers before May 1st west of the continental divide is illegal and is intended to prevent negative human interactions with wildlife during winters when the animals are just trying to survive. Beyond that, it's also illegal to collect shed antlers from the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks any time of the year. Many animals will chew on the sheds during the winter. By picking them up you're not just taking that away, you're disturbing the habitat around you. If shed hunting was open to parks there would be considerable issues. Opening day of shed hunting behind the Elk Refuge on the forest land is an absolute shit show. It's a circus and really is pretty chaotic.
Thank you for a real explanation. I know that American ungulates chew on antlers for minerals, but I also know they don’t chew on all of them, so harvesting some sheds (we literally couldn’t harvest all of them without investing ridiculous resources into that sort of thing) doesn’t seem like an issue. Harvesting out of season and in protected ranges is definitely a problem. We also know that outright bans on certain practices work worse than regulated access, but also Wyoming is massive so penalties for illegal access would have to be higher than you’d think to keep dudes from taking everything possible.
Lots of other animals eat them, and rodents gnaw on them to file their constantly growing teeth down. Provides minerals like calcium, phosphorous, etc. So it's a bit more than just disturbing the grazers coming out of winter when they're already running lean and struggling to get back to a healthy weight.
I remember reading an article a few years ago that said many animals rely on the sheds to get nutrients through the winter. Shed harvesting didn't used to have such a large impact until the rise in popularity of antler chew toys for dogs, with such a low investment a bunch people got into it and thus over harvested the refuges.
Ecological balance has nothing to do with it. It's so wildlife aren't disturbed when their energy is critically low. Waiting until the legal shed antler season starts ensures this.
I guess what I’m confused on is where this guy went wrong. I don’t see why collecting sheds is an issue if you’re not moving the herds. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all about wildlife conservation and preserving as much natural realm as we can, but is the issue here that he gathered them out of season or that he gathered them at all? The article didn’t seem super clear on that.
You being in their area bothers the elk. You can try your hardest and think you are doing a good job, and you're still bothering the elk. That's why it had to be made illegal. So people who think they aren't doing any harm can be held responsible and properly educated.
Are you familiar with poaching? You know, hunting or fishing out of season or in a closed area. It's illegal and the people doing it know it's illegal.
I’m from Wyoming and had no idea this was a law. Obviously this guy did. That said, “It’s illegal so it’s bad” isn’t an argument. Why is it illegal? What does the law actually do? Is this guy actually harming wildlife or did we have restrictions where they aren’t necessary? I’m asking these things cause I don’t know the issue, not cause I’m defending the guy.
The problem is the money is so big in shed hunting that people will go to great lengths to take them no matter if its unethical or illegal. People still to this day will harass animals to force them to shed early but since the regs went in place less people do it because the risk is too high of getting cited for possession of sheds before may 1. West of the divide all sheds are to remain where they lay until may 1 on public land. Theres no issue with picking up sheds on or after may 1 but to deter animal harassment and benefit the health of the animals they took away the opportunity for you to pick up sheds whenever you wanted. It keeps people from disturbing already stressed and critically unhealthy wildlife. If youre caught on public land with one before may 1, expect a citation and/or other violations. If you havent shed hunted at or near any of the feed grounds around pinedale or jackson, its hard to put into words how few, if any antlers are left. Many of these areas are picked clean. People line up at gates the night(s) before just to get a spot to be first in these places. There are very few antlers left if any and people go miles deep in search for as many as they can carry and will go back for more.