Anyone hear about this??

[huntcast]

I did the story in my podcast.......
The short version is that the State of Utah has banned shed antler hunting from February through April in the northern part of the state. That is ALL land, even private.
You can't walk on your own land, bend down, and pick up an antler that is laying on YOUR ground.
www.wildlife.utah.gov/news/06-12/board.php

[Hardcorehunter]

Now that is some weird thinking. After the close of hunting season the elk are too stressed to have people in they territory looking for sheds. Next thing they will ban hunting of elk there saying its too stressful for the elk to be shot. Weird!

[tailchaser]

How in the heck is that going to be inforced. I hope they have more game wardens then us.

[THE DEER HUNTER]

That may be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!! How much pressure does picking up sheds really put on the deer?

[osprey]

It's a lot different out there than it is here. Much of the west has herds that winter in specific areas and they recieve a lot of pressure from people picking up sheds, shooting video and film, etc. The animals get pushed out of the mountains by heavy snows and herd in the lowlands, which makes them accesible to people. Winter food base is already stressed due to human population growth and development. Just imagine that every day you went to have lunch or take a nap somebody jumped you and made you run a 1/4 mile when you were already weak, tired and thin. Growth in antler collecting and prices has made it a frenzy in spots out there, heard some pretty sad stories of quads and over-exuberant shed hunters on the winter ranges. May seem foreign to us used to whitetails in our habitat, but it's a good thing out there for mulies and elk in that region.

[Hardcorehunter]

Never thought of it like that. Thanks for some west coast insight.