Shed hunting is a popular pastime for many but before you head outdoors, remember, you must complete the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Antler Gathering Ethics course, which is required when shed hunting between January 1st and May 31st in Utah. “During winter, big game animals, especially deer, often have a difficult time obtaining enough nutritional food,” shares DWR Once-In-A-Lifetime Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson. “As a result, they often survive on fat reserves they have built up before winter. If the animals receive constant pressure from people and repeatedly have to run or move, they can use up the fat reserves and energy they need to make it through the winter. Being disturbed briefly once or twice isn’t too significant, but we have over 20,000 people who routinely shed hunt in Utah each year, so ongoing, repeated disturbances can be detrimental to deer.” You can find the free 2026 course on dwrapps.utah.gov. About 20,000 people take the mandatory course each year to look for shed antlers in Utah.
