{"id":8688,"date":"2024-02-19T14:40:22","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T19:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/?p=8688"},"modified":"2024-02-19T14:40:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T19:40:25","slug":"some-sheds-i-have-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/?p=8688","title":{"rendered":"Antlers I Have Found"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By Michael Maynor <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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There’s a certain mystique surrounding antlers that transcends the realm of hunting. It’s not uncommon to find articles in home decor magazines and interior design blogs suggesting creative ways to incorporate these natural artifacts into interior spaces, moving beyond the traditional deer head mounted above the fireplace. Each discarded antler carries with it a tale waiting to be discovered. From being gnawed by rodents, gradually weathering to a chalky white, and eventually dissolving back into the earth, they narrate the cycle of nature in a unique way. Shed hunting, besides being an exhilarating pastime, doubles as a method for scouting the upcoming hunting season. While the vast expanses of the Midwest and Western states may offer more accessible opportunities for shed hunting, even dense forests hold hidden treasures for the determined seeker. My own experience with shed hunting underwent a significant transformation when I purchased my hunting property, Juniper Creek, fourteen years ago. Since then, I’ve stumbled upon numerous antlers, each with its own intriguing story. Today, I’m excited to share these tales along with a couple tips that \u00a0have helped me!\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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My Small Spike – 2013<\/strong><\/div>
The first shed antler I stumbled upon was so tiny that at first, I mistook it for a broken piece of an antler. Despite its size, my excitement grew as I bent down for a closer look and realized it was indeed a small shed antler. Interestingly, my buddy had walked right past it. Despite its diminutive size, it holds a special significance for me.<\/div>
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The Matched Set – 2015<\/strong><\/div>
It took me a couple of years to come across the next castaway antlers. This time it was a matched set. \u00a0They were found in what would later be known as the bear plot. I’m proud to say that I progressed from finding a small spike to discovering a small matching set of antlers from a young eight-point buck. In late March of 2015, after a dentist appointment, I made a stop at Juniper Creek to check out the food plot. I had a hunch, and sure enough, as I walked a short distance in, I spotted the first antler lying in the open greenery of the plot. It had been there for quite some time, as the exposed side had already turned a bleached white. I snapped a photo before continuing forward, and amidst old corncobs, I found its mate, also with the exposed side turned white. I quickly took another picture before picking it up. Though they were from a small buck, the fact that they formed a matched set left me feeling ecstatic.\u00a0<\/div>
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