Elk sheds

[marlinman93]

Out at the gun club yesterday for our weekly volunteer day, and the work director asked if anyone wanted a couple elk sheds found on the range? I didn't want to jump in first, but nobody raised their hand so I claimed them! One is pretty fresh, and squirrels had been chewing on it a bit. The other on the left is a bit sun baked and they left it alone for some reason? I'll be cutting up the fresh one for knife handles, and maybe the older one once I check it over closely to ensure it's not going to crack. If it has cracks it will become a hat rack, or something decorative.

[RIHMFIRE]

nice!

[FLINT]

Very cool! Living in the east my whole life, the prospect of picking up an elk shed seems so foreign and exotic.

[AmBraCol]

The other day I was kindly offered a mule deer shed, but due to uncertainty of the legality of taking it back with me down south had to turn it down. It got me to thinking of my first mule deer buck and the hunt I had on Granddad's mountain land back in the 20th Century. Funny how a cast off bit of antler "speaks" to us.

[GunnyMack]

A good buddy who lives in Craig CO( the elk capitol of the world) we used to hunt on his brother in laws ranch. It seemed like no matter where you looked it the oak brush you saw antlers, elk and mulie.
Last I was out there I brought home a medium 5 point elk antler and a fair 3 point mule deer antler. I haven't done anything with the elk but I made a towel rack from the mule deer.
The last hunt I saw a spike that must have damaged both pedicles, his antlers stuck out to either side like a long-horn. Would have made neat walking sticks!

[Bill in Oregon]

An elk antler is a mighty fine article to have in the craftsman's shop.

[jeepnik]

I must be doing it wrong or going to the wrong places. But I have never once found a shed antler from any critter.

[Paladin]

Great addition, with less work, perfect.

[marlinman93]

I've found elk and deer sheds before, but always when I'm already out hunting for the same animals. But so far they've all been extremely dry and not worth using for knives. They make nothing more than wall art in my shop or garage. Deer sheds I don't even pickup as I have a pile of antlers from all the deer I've taken, and they sit in a corner in my gun room. Others are mounted on my garage walls and used to hang extension cords, and fan belts from.
These wont see the fate of others as they're the first decent elk sheds I've got hold of.

[wolfdog]

I have picked up quite a few whitetail sheds over the years this spring for the first time I found a matching pair. They were about 20 yards apart and are from a decent 8 point eastern count.

[.45colt]

I gave up looking for Elk Sheds here.......The last Elk in Ohio was killed not far from where I sit in 1840. .

[fordwannabe]

Being the GREAT fortune teller that I am, I foresee a set of Elk antler sheds in my near future! Being as great a mystic as I am..... I would be willing to bet they will just naturally fit a Ruger 44 flat top