Shed Antler Season 2027: Hunting Rules and Closures by State

Q: When is shed antler season?

Shed season follows the drop: across the agency quotes below, moose and mule deer cast antlers first, in early winter, and whitetails and elk follow from January into April. Where a state sets dates, it is usually a winter range closure that ends in spring: Montana, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming publish dated closures, listed in the table above with each agency's link.

Q: When do deer shed their antlers?

Iowa Department of Natural Resources puts the whitetail drop at mid January to mid March: "Whitetail deer have about a two-month shedding period in Iowa, beginning mid-Jan. and ending mid-March." Mule deer tend to drop earlier; Idaho Fish and Game names December and January for them.

Q: When do elk shed their antlers?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says: "Deer in Colorado are known to shed their antlers from mid-January through March. Elk may start in February, running through April, and moose typically drop their palmate antlers November through January."

Q: When do moose shed their antlers?

Moose drop first, in early winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife: "Deer in Colorado are known to shed their antlers from mid-January through March. Elk may start in February, running through April, and moose typically drop their palmate antlers November through January."

Q: Why do some states close land to shed hunting?

The closures protect deer and elk on winter range, when the animals are at their weakest and every flight from a person burns fat they cannot replace. Washington's agency describes its closures as protecting elk during their winter recovery period, and Oregon closes wildlife areas to protect wintering big game.

Q: Do I need a course to shed hunt?

Only where a state requires one: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Virginia name a course or certificate for shed collectors. Utah's is the Antler Gathering Ethics Course: "If you would like to gather shed antlers or horns — or parts of shed antlers or horns — in Utah from Jan. 1 to May 31, you must have an antler-gathering certificate on your person."

Q: Can I pick up shed antlers on private land?

Only with the landowner's permission, in every state listed here. Oregon's agency spells out that a shed on private land belongs to the landowner, and walk in hunting programs such as Kansas WIHA, North Dakota PLOTS and South Dakota Walk In Areas are leased for hunting, which shed collecting is not.

36

States with published shed rules

14 more listed with their agency

6

States with dated closures

Montana, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming

Winter

Next closure to begin

Montana, Wildlife management areas with game animal winter range

6

States naming a course or permit

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia

When antlers drop

Deer, elk and moose shed on different calendars

Moose and mule deer cast their antlers first, in early winter. White-tailed deer follow from January, and elk hold theirs longest, into April. Each bar below is one agency’s own statement for its state; a northern or a southern herd can run a few weeks either side.

When antlers drop, by species

White-tailed deermid January to mid March, per Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Mule deerDecember and January, per Idaho Department of Fish and Game

ElkFebruary through April, per Colorado Parks and Wildlife

MooseNovember through January, per Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Months the agency names for the drop

White-tailed deer

Whitetail deer have about a two-month shedding period in Iowa, beginning mid-Jan. and ending mid-March.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa. Read it at the source

Mule deer

For mule deer, that means around December and January, and for bull elk, March and into April.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho. Read it at the source

Elk

Deer in Colorado are known to shed their antlers from mid-January through March. Elk may start in February, running through April, and moose typically drop their palmate antlers November through January.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado. Read it at the source

Moose

Deer in Colorado are known to shed their antlers from mid-January through March. Elk may start in February, running through April, and moose typically drop their palmate antlers November through January.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado. Read it at the source

A single white-tailed deer antler lying on its side in shallow snow, tines pointing up, with dry grass showing through — A white-tailed deer shed in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming. Iowa DNR puts the whitetail drop at about two months, from mid January to mid March. “White-tailed deer antler shed at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (46107114355)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Dated closures

Winter range closures and when they lift

Montana, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming close parts of their public land to shed collecting over winter. The agencies give the same reason: the closures keep people off winter range while deer and elk are wintering there. Rows are sorted by the next date each closure lifts, and the highlighted row is the next to begin. Opening hours and later nonresident dates are on each state page.

State	Area	Closed from	Closed until	Today	Source
Montana	Wildlife management areas with game animal winter rangeNext to close	Winter, start as posted	May 15	Open	Montana Fish
Oregon	White River Wildlife Area	December 1	March 31	Open	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington	Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit	Winter, start as posted	May 1	Open	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington	L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Unit	Winter, start as posted	May 1	Open	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado	Public lands west of I-25	January 1	April 30	Open	Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Nevada	Public land in Elko, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye and White Pine Counties	January 1	April 30	Open	Nevada Department of Wildlife
Wyoming	Collection Area 1	January 1	May 1	Open	Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Oregon	Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area	February 1	March 31	Open	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado	Public lands west of I-25 in GMUs 54, 55, 66, 67 and 551	May 1	May 15	Open	Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Mule deer standing and browsing on a snowy sagebrush slope — Mule deer on winter range in southwest Wyoming. Oregon closes several of its wildlife areas over winter to protect wintering big game, and Nevada and Wyoming close public land in their shed country from January 1. “Mule deer SW Wyoming on winter range (46257596142)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

State by state

Shed antler rules, A to Z

One line per state, from the agency’s own rule. The chip says what kind of rule the state publishes: dated closures, a permit or course, a plain agency statement, or rules on possession and sale. Each state page quotes the agency’s wording in full with the link.

AlabamaImport and possession
Alabama exempts unattached bare antlers and sheds from its ban on bringing in parts of deer family animals from other states.
AlaskaAgency statement
Alaska Department of Fish and Game says naturally shed antlers, and the bones and skulls of land animals, may be kept, except in national parks.
ArizonaAgency statement
Arizona lets naturally shed antlers be picked up without a permit or inspection, with National Park Service land the exception the state digest names.
ArkansasAgency statement
Arkansas allows shed hunting on AGFC wildlife management areas and on private land with the owner's permission.
CaliforniaSale and possession
California lets shed antlers be bought and sold at any time under Fish and Game Code section 3039.
ColoradoDated closures
Colorado closes public land west of I-25 to shed collecting from January 1 through April 30 every year.
DelawareAntler trap rule
Delaware makes it unlawful to use antler traps, or any device meant to pull or collect shed antlers from deer.
IdahoPermit or course
Idaho residents gather sheds without a permit, while nonresidents need an Idaho hunting license for big game first.
IllinoisAgency statement
Illinois splits its public land: sheds may be kept from State Fish and Wildlife Areas but stay put in state parks and nature preserves.
IndianaAgency statement
Indiana DNR properties are open to shed collecting without a permit, apart from dedicated Nature Preserves.
IowaAgency statement
Iowa DNR allows naturally shed deer antlers to be collected and kept in any month, with no license.
KansasAgency statement
Kansas department managed lands are open to shed hunting, while Walk In Hunting Access land and national wildlife refuges are not.
KentuckyAgency statement
Kentucky's deer hunting regulation lists a naturally cast deer antler among the things a person may possess.
MaineSale and possession
Maine lets anyone buy or sell naturally shed deer or moose antlers without a hide dealer's license.
MassachusettsAgency statement
Since the 2025 season, MassWildlife lets anyone collect naturally shed deer and moose antlers with no permit, tag or license.
MichiganSale and possession
Michigan's Wildlife Conservation Order covers owning, buying and selling antlers naturally shed by deer, elk and moose.
MinnesotaAgency statement
Minnesota wildlife management areas allow shed antlers to be collected for personal use.
MissouriAgency statement
Missouri allows shed antler hunting on MDC conservation areas and needs no permit to find or keep a shed.
MontanaDated closures
Winter range WMAs close after hunting season until noon on May 15, nonresidents wait seven more days, and state parks are closed to shed collecting.
NebraskaAgency statement
Nebraska Game and Parks says anyone may pick up, keep, buy, sell or barter shed deer and elk antlers.
NevadaDated closures
Six eastern Nevada counties close public land to shed collecting from January 1 through April 30.
New JerseySale and possession
New Jersey names shed antlers as the exception to its rule that deer parts in hand must come from lawfully harvested deer.
New MexicoPermit or course
New Mexico allows obviously shed antlers to be picked up, and nonresidents need a Shed Hunting License to keep more than two.
North DakotaAgency statement
North Dakota wildlife management areas are open to shed hunting, and sheds need no permit to possess.
OhioAgency statement
Ohio allows naturally shed deer antlers to be picked up on Division of Wildlife lands during daylight hours.
OklahomaAgency statement
Oklahoma allows shed antlers to be collected and removed from Department managed areas when they came off the skull plate naturally.
OregonDated closures
Oregon needs no license to pick up deer and elk sheds, and seven ODFW wildlife areas close to entry over winter.
South CarolinaSale and possession
South Carolina allows shed antlers, and antlers removed from the pedicel, to be bought and sold.
South DakotaAgency statement
South Dakota allows shed hunting on land GFP owns, including state parks, recreation areas and Game Production Areas.
TexasSale and WMA rules
Texas wildlife management area rules bar taking shed deer antlers, and TPWD lets lawfully possessed antlers be bought and sold.
UtahPermit or course
Utah requires the free Antler Gathering Ethics Course for anyone gathering sheds from January 1 to May 31.
VermontAgency statement
Vermont Fish and Wildlife lists collecting shed antlers among the walking activities allowed on the lands it manages.
VirginiaPermit or course
Virginia DWR allows shed collecting on its lands for anyone carrying a hunting or fishing license or a DWR Access Permit.
WashingtonDated closures
Washington sets no shed season or permit, and parts of the Oak Creek and L.T. Murray wildlife areas close to all entry until May 1.
WisconsinAgency statement
Wisconsin DNR allows shed antlers to be collected on department lands from animals with an established open season.
WyomingDated closures
Wyoming closes Collection Area 1 to shed collecting from January 1 until 6 a.m. May 1, and until 6 a.m. May 8 for nonresidents.

A large elk antler lying in green grass with snow covered mountains in the distance — An elk shed on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, with the Tetons behind. Elk winter range in the West is where most dated shed closures fall, because the closures exist for the animals wintering there. “Shed Antler on the National Elk Refuge (53662858076)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

More states

Shed antler questions in the other 14 states

Antler and possession questions in these states go to the state wildlife agency, whose hunting regulation guide covers deer parts and the rules for its own lands.

Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Florida: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Georgia: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
Hawaii: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maryland: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service
Mississippi: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
New York: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
North Carolina: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tennessee: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
West Virginia: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

By state

Shed hunting rules, state by state

A young bull elk carrying a single antler standing among elk bedded in snow — A young bull that has already dropped one antler, among elk bedded in snow. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says elk may start shedding in February and run through April. “Bull Elk and Herd (6258537907)”, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Deer season datesArchery, firearms and muzzleloader seasons by state, from each wildlife agency.Deer rut timingWhen whitetail bucks breed in the fall, months before those antlers drop.Elk rutWhen bulls bugle in September and October, on the same animals that shed in spring.Bear seasonFall bear activity and hunting dates by state, under the same sourcing rules.

Shed antler questions

When is shed antler season?

When do deer shed their antlers?

When do elk shed their antlers?

When do moose shed their antlers?

Why do some states close land to shed hunting?

Do I need a course to shed hunt?

Can I pick up shed antlers on private land?

A bull moose with broad palmate antlers walking across a snowy flat — A bull moose near Soda Butte, Yellowstone. Colorado Parks and Wildlife dates the moose drop from November through January, the earliest of the antlered animals it names. Photo: Jacob W. Frank, NPS. “Bull moose near Soda Butte (b95e1acc-f297-4abd-8b01-bd4f25a9a6a5)”, Jacob W. Frank, Public domain

Two elk antlers lying together on pale rock below a forested cliff — A matched pair of elk sheds under Powell Point, Utah, on Forest Service land. Utah asks every collector to finish its free ethics course before gathering sheds from January 1 to May 31. “Elk sheds under Powell Point (11733263183)”, Intermountain Region US Forest Service, Public domain

Compiled September 21, 2026 from each state wildlife agency’s own pages, regulations and news releases, with the page and the date it was read on every state page. Rules change between winters, and emergency closures can be added in a hard one, so the agency page is the one to check before a trip. Start with your state in the list above.