What’re you even doing with yourself? You’re somehow entering the 13th month of winter. Football is over, most hunting seasons have passed, and it’s far too cold to go camping and fishing.
Well, cheer up, chum. It’s time to strap on the boots and find some white gold, aka antler sheds. Look no further; here is your guide to hunting shed antlers in Colorado in 2025.
Shed Hunting in Colorado – Rules and Regulations
Now, hold up. BEFORE marching into the woods, brush up on current rules, as Colorado Parks and Wildlife has updated its rules for hunting sheds in Colorado.
The big thing to remember is the dates. They closed antler shed hunting from January 1st through April 30th on all public land west of I-25. The key words are public land. If you know someone with land or are the adventurous type who likes to knock on doors, you can get out there early and start collecting.
If you don’t have ONx Maps yet, I suggest you get some! This way, you can get the property owner’s name and contact info long before you head out looking for sheds.
There are further restrictions if you are shed hunting in Colorado’s units 55, 56, 66, 67, and 551 in the Gunnison Basin. From May 1st through May 15th, you can not hunt for sheds from Sunset to 10:00 AM. This is to protect the Gunnison Sage Grouse.
My advice: Don’t get out there and look for sheds early. There is a reason they don’t want thousands of people bothering the deer and elk when the winter is still upon them. It affects their winter migrations to have thousands of people tromping through the woods while in their most fragile state.
Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife if you have any questions about the legality of what you are doing.
Shed Antler Hunting Tips
Everyone has opinions on where to look for sheds, but I’ll weigh them in with my two cents. I follow this mantra when hunting for sheds in Colorado:
Look in places where I would like to hunt elk in the future.
Scout and look for sheds. It’s a win-win. Right?
Well, at least I think so. Nonetheless, there are a lot of disputing opinions here. Most believe they lose their bone on their winter grounds, but this isn’t always the case.
Conversely, bull elk routinely break off from the herd later in the Winter and may not follow typical migration patterns.
Furthermore, elk sheds can be found at nearly any elevation from 5,000′ to 10,000′.
This fact alone gives you an unbelievable range to look for elk sheds.
To narrow your search, I advise finding an area you would like to scout. You’ll be surprised at what you learn about deer and elk while searching for horns. Look for signs of rutting animals from the previous year, and that will give you a good starting point for placing your trail cameras for the fall.
Try searching near thick, hard-to-access shrubbery. Male deer and elk can agitate their antlers just enough to knock them off in these locations. Also, check near fence lines, as jumping up and over them can jar them just enough to shed.
The truth is you can walk miles and miles and not discover a single shed one day, and the next day, you may find 4-5 in a 100-yard radius. Like any type of hunting you never know, it’s the thrill of the chase that drives you. Shed hunting in Colorado is no different.”]
Shed Hunting Gear to Bring
I know, I know, Mr. Daniel Boone … You got this.
But here are a few items I prefer when scouting and searching for antler sheds.
Check out my write-up for the best elk-hunting boots by clicking here. You can’t go wrong with any of these options while shed hunting in Colorado. It will likely be cold, and the wet, heavy winter snow can be a problem when it comes to traction while carrying (hopefully) those heavy loads of antler sheds.
Train a Shed Hunting Dog
Now I won’t sit here and blow smoke up your butt and tell you I hunt sheds with dogs in Colorado, but I know folks who do. Dogs are an excellent resource for finding antler sheds, and if you are serious about this craft, I would consider getting yourself a shed-hunting dog. Don’t worry about going out and getting a puppy because this Shed Hunting Training Kit will help you train your adult dog or puppy quickly.
KUIU Venture 1800 Daypack
I like this KUIU day pack and have used it for several seasons. It takes a lot of walking and A LOT of miles to shed hunt in Colorado. If you are anything like me, you like having all your trinkets on those long hikes. This 1800 sq. in. pack is the perfect combination of size and convenience. Use mini-bungees or zip ties to tie the antlers to this day pack as you go.
LEUPOLD BX -2 Binoculars
There is no need to break the bank here. I wouldn’t bring your expensive hunting glass while shed hunting. The Colorado mountains can be unforgiving, and I would hate to see you break your $2500.00 Swaro’s looking for antlers.
These Leupolds are impressive in terms of price, and they are what I use for shed hunting.
Where to Sell Your Loot
As of December 2024, antler prices have been up. In addition, there is currently a booming trend in the decorative antler market. Antler chandeliers are becoming a staple of homes all across the world.
The steady Asian market makes shed hunting in Colorado particularly lucrative, as elk sheds pay $2-14+ a pound. Deer antlers can also be purchased in Colorado and fetch a decent price of $1-12 a pound. Larger and more rare racks can fetch hundreds of dollars on occasion.
Check antlerbuyers.com for current prices and resources for selling your sheds online.
I highly recommend Traders Rendezvous in Gunnison as a good local resource for selling and turning your Colorado antler shed into a work of art.
In the end, the likelihood is that you won’t get rich shed hunting in Colorado. It gives you a fantastic workout that lets you scout new hunting areas, which is worth its weight in gold. White gold.
So, get off the couch and plan your shed hunting trip in Colorado’s great outdoors. Take it from me: the feeling of finding a unique and impressive set of antlers will leave you addicted to antler hunting for life.
Like this post? Then check out our 2025 Colorado Mule Deer Hunting Guide as well.
Do you need a permit to gather horn sheds?
No sir.