5 DIY Projects For Shed Antlers
Finding sheds can definitely be fun, but what do you do with the collection you've amassed? The answer is quite a bit. From decorating your home to interesting crafts and gifts, here are some of the best ways to make use of your antlers -- and even a few ideas that a wife or girlfriend may enjoy.
Antler Bottle OpenersAntler is actually pretty easy to work with if you have the right tools. Want to have the coolest bottle opener on the block, or even give the most unique gift to your friends this season? Try making your own antler bottle openers. The easiest way is to buy a DIY bottle opener kit for making a bottle opener out of wood. You won't need all the pieces -- just the opener, connector, and barrel tube. Use a hand drill to hollow out a space large enough for the barrel tube. Apply CA glue to the tube, insert it all the way into the hole, and let it set. Use a sander if necessary to trim down the antler material down to the tube so the bottle opener connector and opener will fit. If you want a rounded contour on the antler, you can use a Dremel tool or a belt sander.
Antler Gun RackWant something more manly that doubles as decor? Try this rustic antler gun rack. Mount pieces of antler to reclaimed barn wood (stained or untreated) for attractive, easy storage for your favorite hunting rifles. This project can be as simple or as complex as you like, but the most difficult part will be orienting the antlers so the guns will sit in the notches between the tines. To safely secure the antlers to the wood, use 1/4" all-thread rods that can be bent. Drill a couple of inches then use a 1/4" tap and thread the hole in the antler about half an inch to get the rod started into the antler. The rod will cut its own thread.
Antler Coat RackThe same principle behind the gun rack can also be used to make a rustic coat rack in no time. Use reclaimed barn wood, pine, or your choice of wood then attach four or five sections of antlers to serve as hooks. Sand or miter cut the sheds if necessary for them to sit flush against the wood. Drill a hole in the wood, put a bolt through and epoxy it with 1/2" of thread sticking out. When the epoxy sets, use a Dremel to cut off the bolt of the head then put it through the hole, put on a nut, and tighten it. Another option is drilling the shed and filling it with glue and a wood dowel.
Antler Candle HolderNeed a quick but thoughtful gift for the woman in your life? Or more feminine decor she won't try to toss? Turn a shed into a tabletop antler candle holder. All you need is the shed antler, a screw driver, a drill, screws, candles, and copper caps. You can leave the shed as-is or you can paint it with whatever you have on hand. Start by drilling a hole into the copper cap then set it over the antler and mark the spot. Drill a hole in the shed for the screw, then attach the copper cap to the shed. Use a lighter to drop wax from the base of the candle into the cap then insert the candle. Add anywhere from one to five candles, depending on the size of the antler, for an impressive candelabra that takes no time at all.
Custom Hunting Decal
This idea is a great choice if you want to cut down the size of your collection, have used up the rest of these ideas, or you simply want a more unique and interesting way to show off your shed antlers. Your significant other may even have a greater appreciation for an artistic whitetail decal over a pile of shed antlers in the basement. Order an exact replica of your favorite trophies to decorate your man cave, garage, fireplace mantle, and more without taking up space. Whether you want a mule deer decal or a moose decal, your decal is sure to get attention and bring back all of your favorite hunting memories.
How to Be Successful Finding Deer Sheds
Shed hunting is a popular side activity for many hunters outside regular seasons. You can find deer antlers in the winter lying in various spots around the woods. Successful shed hunting involves knowing the movements of deer in the area you’re searching and using a methodical approach to investigating the terrain you’ve chosen to look. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when setting out to find sheds and where you’re most likely to be successful in your hunt.
1. Find where the deer are feeding. Search for the areas with enough vegetation to sustain a group of deer through the winter months. In the woods this involves looking around clear cut areas and hard mast like acorns and nuts. Around farming areas this might mean looking around tall crops like soybean and corn. Windblown hilltops where the snow isn’t as deep and the vegetation is poking through are also good areas to look.
2. Find where the deer are bedding. This involves looking around for areas that offer thermal protection from the elements and security cover from predators. South-facing slopes get more sunlight and the snow melts quicker, exposing the vegetation underneath the snow earlier in the year and providing an ideal environment for deer. Bedding areas tend to be around a quarter mile from the food source in thick, hard to reach brush.
3. Search the travel paths. Once you know roughly where the bedding spots are, along with the likely location of the feeding spots, look in the area in-between the two locations where the deer frequently travel. After the feeding and bedding spots, this area is one of the places the deer spend a lot of time and your chances of finding sheds improves.
4. Look around the jump and bumps. The “jump and bumps” are areas where a buck is forced to jump or where he may stumble while walking or running. These are places where the loose antlers may become dislodged and fall to the ground. Fences, steep ditches, creeks and various rocky areas are good locations to find sheds.
5. Look for the Bits and Pieces. Don’t look for a full antler all the time. Often it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for just the tip of the tine or the curve of a main beam in the grass or leaves. If you’re on the lookout for full antlers, you’re likely to miss a lot of potential finds which are more hidden.
6. Change your perspective. Gain a perspective above ground by standing on a large rock or downed tree and scan the ground from a higher vantage point. You can also crouch down and search the ground around a feeding or bedding area instead of just standing and looking around the ground at eye level. These different perspectives can help you notice sheds that might otherwise escape your notice.
7. Use Optics. Using optics can help you find more sheds. It’s quicker and more effective to cover large patches of open ground using a good set of binoculars. Make sure you bring a high quality pair with you to help you focus on the areas where you think you see a shed from afar-especially if its in a hard to reach area. It can save you the time and trouble of navigating the terrain only to find that what you thought was a shed was a branch poking out of the leaves.
8. Plan your path. Check the places that are easily accessible first. These include roads, fields and other open areas where people are more likely to pick up the sheds. Afterwards, check the woods, thick cover and high grass. This is where the best antlers are usually found.
It takes time to find sheds. Expect to walk for miles and use a good portion of a day if you want to increase your chance of success. But when you’ve found that prize shed, the feeling you get makes it worth the effort. Once you’ve found your new trophy, you can take a picture of it and send in the photograph to us. We’ll make you a custom deer decal you can put on your truck to show off while you drive to your next hunt.
1. Find where the deer are feeding. Search for the areas with enough vegetation to sustain a group of deer through the winter months. In the woods this involves looking around clear cut areas and hard mast like acorns and nuts. Around farming areas this might mean looking around tall crops like soybean and corn. Windblown hilltops where the snow isn’t as deep and the vegetation is poking through are also good areas to look.
2. Find where the deer are bedding. This involves looking around for areas that offer thermal protection from the elements and security cover from predators. South-facing slopes get more sunlight and the snow melts quicker, exposing the vegetation underneath the snow earlier in the year and providing an ideal environment for deer. Bedding areas tend to be around a quarter mile from the food source in thick, hard to reach brush.
3. Search the travel paths. Once you know roughly where the bedding spots are, along with the likely location of the feeding spots, look in the area in-between the two locations where the deer frequently travel. After the feeding and bedding spots, this area is one of the places the deer spend a lot of time and your chances of finding sheds improves.
4. Look around the jump and bumps. The “jump and bumps” are areas where a buck is forced to jump or where he may stumble while walking or running. These are places where the loose antlers may become dislodged and fall to the ground. Fences, steep ditches, creeks and various rocky areas are good locations to find sheds.
5. Look for the Bits and Pieces. Don’t look for a full antler all the time. Often it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for just the tip of the tine or the curve of a main beam in the grass or leaves. If you’re on the lookout for full antlers, you’re likely to miss a lot of potential finds which are more hidden.
6. Change your perspective. Gain a perspective above ground by standing on a large rock or downed tree and scan the ground from a higher vantage point. You can also crouch down and search the ground around a feeding or bedding area instead of just standing and looking around the ground at eye level. These different perspectives can help you notice sheds that might otherwise escape your notice.
7. Use Optics. Using optics can help you find more sheds. It’s quicker and more effective to cover large patches of open ground using a good set of binoculars. Make sure you bring a high quality pair with you to help you focus on the areas where you think you see a shed from afar-especially if its in a hard to reach area. It can save you the time and trouble of navigating the terrain only to find that what you thought was a shed was a branch poking out of the leaves.
8. Plan your path. Check the places that are easily accessible first. These include roads, fields and other open areas where people are more likely to pick up the sheds. Afterwards, check the woods, thick cover and high grass. This is where the best antlers are usually found.
It takes time to find sheds. Expect to walk for miles and use a good portion of a day if you want to increase your chance of success. But when you’ve found that prize shed, the feeling you get makes it worth the effort. Once you’ve found your new trophy, you can take a picture of it and send in the photograph to us. We’ll make you a custom deer decal you can put on your truck to show off while you drive to your next hunt.