Rewards of Shed Hunting
By: Richie Elam
This past winter I decided that I was going to work with my fourteen month old yellow lab, Chance, to find shed antlers. So, I began working with him around my apartment, in southeast Ohio, with an antler I had found off of a little fork horn the previous season. When I would work with him I would always ask him, “Where’s your bone?” He soon got the concept when I would say “bone” that he was looking for an antler. I started him in the apartment by hiding the antler in different spots and letting him find them. Once he would find it, I would reward him. After I felt confident that he knew what I was talking about when I would ask him, “Where’s your bone?” I started hiding different antlers outside in tall grass and fencerows. He picked up the concept rather nicely.
Time came and it was time to hit the woods. I was actually traveling back to my hometown in southwest Ohio for the weekend and Chance and I were going to dedicate some serious hours in the woods. We started looking on a farm that had an overgrown pasture on it. It was an area I knew that the deer were using for bedding. Ten minutes into our hunt I saw chance acting “birdy”. I followed him and he led me to a complete set of a little five pointer. Chance and I were both so excited. I was actually in shock somewhat that I had taught my dog to find antlers. He did not bring them to me but I would never have looked where he was leading me, so I gave him credit for the find. We continued scowering over the ground for the next couple hours and I ended up finding one side off of a little eight pointer. So in two hours of hunting our first trip out the score was Chance 2 and Richie 1.
The next day Tim Payton and Matt Hiatt, who are also part of Cole Outdoors Advisory Staff, accompanied Chance and me. We were going to be looking in an area that we hunted this past fall. It was the farm that Tim actually got a shot on a mature eight pointer, but was not able to capitalize. The same evening another giant came into the alfalfa field we were hunting and teased us as he stood just out of bow range. Our goal this trip out was to find his sheds. After about an hour we were working up a hillside and I saw Chance acting “birdy”. I knew that he was on to something. I followed him and to my disbelief their lies the left side of the giant Tim and I had seen the past fall. It was by far the largest shed that I had in my possession and to think my dog found it. I called for Tim and Matt to come over. I asked Tim, “Does this look familiar?’ We continued hunting but ended up with only the one shed. After the day was over the running scoreboard was Chance 3 Richie 1.
So far Chance and I have found a total of 10 antlers. It has been so much fun working with him in the woods and cannot wait to get back out. I encourage all of you to try working with your dog in finding sheds, it might just pay off!
