So we have to balance our population data, with our knowledge of habitat conditions, and with our goals of increasing hunter opportunity. As can be seen in the chart below, the proportion of bucks <3.5 years old in the harvest dropped from 79% (prior to the experimental regulation) to 29% during the 2004-05 hunting season. 702.847.8747 The Hidden Antler Ranch is located 12 miles west of La Grange, Texas on West Old Lockhart Road. This means pion, juniper, mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, and sagebrush. Mature bucks in the harvest increased to 23% the first year simply because fewer bucks were harvested that year (i.e., "sacrifice year"). A 170" mule deer set can sell for a lot more if it has lots of mass or unique character like tall eyeguards or extra cheaters. Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program, Landowner Request For Technical Guidance PDF, A legal buck deer is defined as having a hardened antler protruding through the skin. In the event that an overwhelming majority of hunters and landowners request this regulation proposal, we will publish the proposal in Spring 2006. The Hidden Antler Ranch is located 12 miles west of La Grange, Texas on West Old Lockhart Road. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. In the South, a longer rut means a prolonged breeding window. Buy Antlers, Hill TOBY WEAVER (928) 205-8911 We offer fair grading and top market prices for your antlers. All exceptional antlers, especially matched pairs, bring high-dollar amounts and are often purchased by taxidermists for mounting and resale. Deer antler sets scoring over 180" can usually be sold for a decent amount. We will continue to keep a close eye on population and harvest data in order to evaluate the effects of regulations on the population. Moving to Red Bluff, California in the late 1980's, Terrill spent nine years as managing partner of Feather River Cattle Company, responsible for all aspects of the operation including genetic planning and selection, herd health, livestock procurement and marketing, and buying and selling commodities. This strategy will allow hunters to "turn-over" Any help is appreciated! Will This Strategy Select For "Narrow-Rack" Bucks? In this 20 percent pocket is where bucks cast their antlers, and where you need to look. And like any lucrative enterprise, the antler market also has its . Check your state regulations for salvage requirements, and if its unclear, call a local game warden for advice. Right now there is a big demand for antlers because there are so many different things antlers are used for like crafts, chandeliers, jewelry, dog chews, decoration, knife handles, and medicinal purposes. have velvet, stains, mold/mildew/algae, paint/lacquer/stain/sealer, or a Hill Country Antler Buyers antler@ktc.com. Bring a good binocular and a high-power spotting scope with a window mount on your drive, and youll be even closer to success. Its not only fun, but great exerciseespecially when youve been shut in for days. Get the latest news. Some people interpret this as a strategy that will select for branched-antlered The fence was built about 30 yards off of the road frontage to keep it more private. Multiple ponds on the property attract a large number of ducks in the winter. These shed antlers can be sold, used for DIY projects, or kept as trophies. Over 90% of our business is due to repeat clients, and for good reason too. Some sets are going to appeal to more people, which will make them worth more. Bone will shine and catch your eye. Gary continues to use this company to provide local farmers and producers with quality calves from sale barns across Southeast Oklahoma and Northeast Texas, which are then marketed back through Crossroads Cattle Co. Jeff Lacina was born and raised in Chilton, Texas. What About the Kids? Jeff has served as Vice President of Marketing and the lead staff person for the Nebraska Cattlemen's Market Reporting Service since 1994, and he also serves as the association's lead liaison on marketing focused issues at the national level. Most sets are bought by the pound unless they score over 350", but even at that size they can be hard to sell. The potential expansion (into other counties) of this antler-restriction regulation is not based only on the 3-year experiment in 6 Oak Prairie counties. While this is not a trophy-buck management strategy, most hunters and landowners probably would agree that it would be irresponsible of TPWD to propose a regulation that would have an adverse effect on antler quality. This web page is intended to provide Texas landowners and hunters a comprehensive overview of this antler-restriction harvest strategy. Look for gentle slopes that face south or west Most years, big mule deer are going to drop their antlers during the last couple weeks of January. in Agricultural Economics in 1990. Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm. Therefore, we're considering a much more proactive approach to improve the age structure of the buck herd, while not compromising the quality of those bucks that reach maturity. In 2002, Leslie founded Crossroads Cattle Company with his partner Jennings Steen and is active every day in sales, procurement, and managing of the business. The information contained herein has been gathered from sources deemed reliable; however, Republic Ranches, LLC and its principals, members, officers, associates, agents and employees cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information. We are now and retail and wholesale business that moves approximately 20,000 to 40,000 pounds of antler . While there, Trent played an active role in the procurement of calves for backgrounding to be shipped to the company's grow yard in Nebraska as well as replacement heifers. In the male, the upper body is black (dark brown), and the belly and eye rings are white. Rather, this is a result of far more bucks with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater - simply because there were a lot more 3.5- and 4.5-year-old bucks than ever before. How Selling Works How Selling Works About Kerrville Antler Buyers Photo Gallery Connect With Kerrville Antler Buyers As the connective tissue dissolves, the bucks antlers become loose and fall off. Hill Country Antler Art, Ltd. All rights reserved. We're simply trying to come up with a strategy that meets the needs and wishes of those managing the resource. The property is dominated by thick woods consisting of multiple oak species (particularly post oak), cedar, hackberry, and cedar elm. That is about what they were 10 yrs ago. Hunting dogs are particularly good shed finders because they quickly zero in on the calcium-phosphorous odor of antlers. Other studies of captive deer show that bucks usually shed both antlers within three days of each other. is Our Priority! So while some may think that the extra buck in the bag is a "ploy" to make antler restrictions more palatable, we are actually considering antler restrictions in some cases to make the extra tag feasible. Currently bringing $6-$10 a pound. Hunters and landowners are right to assume that a buck-harvest regulation does not directly address the need for doe harvest in many areas of the state. If they say they have studies, ask them if they have published those studies in a peer-reviewed journal. And why make "spikes" legal? However, mature bucks made up 22% of the total buck harvest the following year, when more (more than the 5-year average prior to the regulation change) bucks were harvested. Put simply, shed hunting is about scouring the woods and fields to find the antlers that deer or elk drop in late winter and early spring. Children under 13 years of age must have a parent/guardian's consent before providing The best shed hunters I know cover 7, 10 or maybe 15 miles per day in a slow, controlled pattern (more on that later). CWD is a fatal disease that has been discovered in white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and red deer in localized portions of Texas. Geoffery ("Jeff") Stolle was raised on a family cow-calf and row-crop farming operation near Wharton, Texas - on the Texas coastal bend between Houston and Victoria. A shed hunt starts with glassing those small herds over time. Tom Carpenter, I will have to see if I can find his contact info or make a call to a friend. Kerrville, TX 660-441-5822 Contact us How Selling Works How Selling Works How Selling Works Why Sell To Us? Will it result in better quality deer? To detect and manage this disease, the department has designated CWD Zones. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. My number is 307-351-1777. Now that you have a good idea of where to start your search for antlers, and have secured permission to access as many private fields and woods that you can, get out there and go. We conducted 28 public scoping meetings in those counties during February and early March 2005, at which over 900 people attended and greater than 90% of the attendees requested TPWD to propose this regulation in their counties. Elk sheds used to sell for more than WT or MD sheds sell for, 50% or more higher in price. This is a very strong indication that the age structure of the buck herd is rapidly improving. I know my neighbor sold his elk sheds to him when I lived over in that area south of there. The end result is high-grading of the buck population. Our Top-Market prices and unbeatable grading will put more money in you pocket! White antler: $6-7 per pound. | and cookie statement. Almost all (92%) spikes are yearlings, and 30 years of research data do not support the protection of yearling spikes. During the second year of the regulation, only about 31% of all bucks brought to check stations were "spikes." In August of 1993, Jennings moved to Wichita, KS and began working for Koch Industries, Inc. If they give you statistics based on the number of antler points, you should question why they are not using a parameter more indicative of antler mass. We are obtaining a sample, rather than conducting a census. A few seasons ago, my buddy Drew had been bowhunting the same buck for 3 years. Country Antler Art, Ltd., 201 East Creek St., Fredericksburg, TX Statements supporting the protection of spikes are NOT based on data. The value depends on the individual set. While working towards completion of his Master's degree Trent went to work for a cow-calf/ stocker & backgrounding operation in Central Texas. Given the fact that many of our biologists and technicians are responsible for 3-5 counties each (if they're lucky), we simply do not have the manpower to extend this education effort in many more counties than those indicated above. Terrill also brings experience in managing procurement and inventory control activities for an integrated beef company, sourcing high quality feeder cattle directly from ranches as well as through video sales and auction markets. This years drop and picked up within a few weeks or months. any personal information to the agency. An inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater. There are a lot of things to consider when judging the value of a set of antlers. Depending on the region of Texas and the severity of drought, the incidence of spikes ranges from 25-33% of the yearling cohort. 1 talking about this. David resides in Mt. 2022-2023. Grade B: Antler in good condition, still natural brown color, may be a bit dull or faded on one side and slightly weathered, probably last year's drop. The information contained herein is subject to changes, errors, omissions, prior sale, withdrawal of property from the market without prior notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Listen to your subconscious. Unfortunately, Moose died due to another bowhunters mistake, and Drew recovered his skull and antlers the following spring. Why Isn't TPWD Looking at Proposing This Regulation for my County Right Now? While at XIT Feeders, Justin managed the feed department until 2005. We are looking for antler from Europe, natural fallen. In other words, this strategy will We Buy Antlers. To confirm the meeting dates and times, please call the Kerr WMA at 830-238-4483. Any regulation that has an unexpected adverse impact on the population should be, and will be, revisited. The law was amended in 1969, 1981 and 1988 to include such things as non-native species, indigenous plants and illegal guiding and outfitting operations. TPWD would not consider a regulation that was expected to have an adverse impact on youth hunters, and we will continue to closely monitor youth-hunting participation in an attempt to evaluate the effects of our regulations on youth hunters. ANTLER: Deer, Elk, Moose (all grades needed) HIDES: Deer and Elk hidesfreshfolded skin to skin frozen or salted CATS; dry/grease (frozen flat with visible belly); Carcass Cats (if frozen visible belly) BEAVER: either dry or skinned, frozen flat folded skin to skin BADGERS: Whole frozen preferred..try not to damage skull Water: Several water wells are located on the property and groundwater in the area is good. Some 400 sets can bring much more depending on the overall quality, color and characteristics! eliminate the risk of high-grading, which is a likely outcome when many hunters Many of us have read numerous articles on the subject ("Shoot Spikes" or "Don't Shoot Spikes" or some other statements about genetics in white-tailed deer). Terrill majored in Agribusiness and Animal Science at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, and then spent eight years as foreman and manager of R.M. A comment that we routinely hear from the experimental counties is, "My kids are finally seeing bucks when we go hunting! In addition, he custom builds antler chandeliers and furniture. He dug through the leaves and uncovered a 5-point shed that scored 75 inches. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Because of these factors, mature northern bucks tend to shed first, followed by younger-age-class deer. Actually, far greater than 60% of the total buck harvest in those counties was comprised of bucks less than 3.5 years of age. The regulation for the Oak Prairie Region now reads: If this type of hunting regulation is proposed for any other county in Texas, the proposal will read exactly as written above. Here are some of the most common questions that I receive each year from people either just getting into selling shed antlers or experienced veterans who want to know what their 200 mule deer set may be worth. Antlers are easier to see when you look straight down from a horse. Michael Hanback. Utilizing tools such as the photo below has enabled hunters to easily judge a 13" inside spread; whereas, a 15" spread restriction may be more difficult to judge. elk I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. During this time he had the opportunity to intern with JBS Five Rivers at Hartley Feeders. We don't claim that this strategy has no flaws. But you should wait to go shed hunting. Jared is the owner of Great Basin Antler Buyers. After the rut, decreasing testosterone levels cause an abscission layer to form between the antlers and their pedicels. We also do not buy shoulder mounts. Not sure if he still buys them or not. Call: 801-557-2284. Like the stock market, antler market prices will fluctuate. For example, a 180 set may be worth about $150 to $200, while a 200 set may be worth . This may be considered a 1-year "sacrifice" for those accustomed to bagging a buck annually; however, modifications to this regulation (described below) should lessen the severity of the "sacrifice.". Cookies are used optimize your website experience. Last Updated: Apr 22, 2015 Quantity Required: 1000 ( Kilogram ) This buyer wants to receive quotations only from Premium Members. Chip is married to Audri Eilers Bowers, from Fredericksburg, and they have six children; Braden, Bryce, Brant, Brittley, Brett and Briggs. We pay top market prices and grade. Learn a new word every day. Why add a second buck to the bag? That surprise is what keeps me going -- for that chance to find a once-in-a-lifetime shed or something else really cool! Provided that public opinion continues to strongly support such a harvest strategy, we will draft a proposal in the fall of 2005, and request permission (from the TPW Commission) to publish in the Texas Register for approximately 60 days, beginning shortly after the Regulations Committee meeting in January 2006. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. There is an excitement that is hard to describe about shed hunting because you never know what you might find. Additionally, you can find some research results within the following web pages: It would be irresponsible of TPWD to propose regulations based on opinions and speculation. | It was once believed that bucks withdrew to a secluded place to shed their antlersaway from does and rival bucksthus avoiding a public loss of virility. Being avid shed hunters ourselves everyone gets treated extremely fair and with honesty which is a main virtue in the Antler buying world these days! [The counties in green are the remaining one-buck counties in Texas.] Quantities of less than 100 pounds can be brought to our location There has been much discussion among hunters and landowners over the past several months regarding the potential expansion of an antler-restriction regulation into their counties. age at which their spread exceeds 13". Copyright 2022 Kerrville Antler Buyers - All Rights Reserved. Can Data Obtained From Harvested Deer (as opposed to live deer) Support Such a Regulation? Call us 308-750-0700 Deer Antler Pricing per lb. This is because people find and sell lots of 160" mule deer sets or 280" elk sets. N. Joined: Sep 2018. By the way, the incidence of mature bucks that would not be legal Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. Using for furniture and home decor is going to drive the market today. Middle English aunteler, from Anglo-French antiler, from Vulgar Latin *anteoculare, from neuter of *anteocularis located before the eye, from Latin ante- + oculus eye more at eye, 14th century, in the meaning defined above. deer likely were spikes as yearlings. Can You Place So Much Confidence in a 3-Year Study? Some nontypical antlers may be more desirable to collectors. Talk to Greg for pricing on larger lots. The map to the right indicates (in blue) which one-buck counties were showing a lot of interest in this regulations, and met that criterion. 2 were here. Give us an opportunity to earn your business. While working for Thigpen Livestock, Jeff sorted cattle and shaped up loads to be sent to customers. Jun 28th, 2013 Gary Hill was born and raised in Southeastern Oklahoma with a family deeply rooted in the livestock industry. I have been collecting antlers myself for about 25 years and have sold thousands of antlers. A larger lake could easily be built in several areas of the ranch. The harvest of spikes dropped to only 20% (of the total buck harvest) during the final year of the experiment. Based on 30 years of solid data (described below), from research An inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater; Improve the age structure of the buck herd; Encourage landowners and hunters to become more actively involved in better habitat management. While greater than 90% of the attendees at those public scoping meetings requested TPWD to propose an antler-restriction regulation, our biologists noticed that there were some who did not understand the potential regulation proposal, nor the purpose for such a harvest strategy. Specialties: We Buy Antlers! Manage My Subscriptions, archive Prospective buyers of Texas real estate, New Mexico real estate, Colorado real estate, Oklahoma real estate, Arkansas Real Estate, or Louisiana real estate should investigate any concerns regarding a specific real property to their satisfaction.