and If you find one antler, especially a big one, there should be another nearby, explains Schaufler. Region and timing of the rut are also factors. Does anyone know of an antler buyer in or near dfw area? Cookies are used optimize your website experience. We also do not buy shoulder mounts. Kerrville Antler Buyers Pays Top Dollar For Your Antlers! Texas Antler Buyers - AntlerBuyers.Com Home United States Texas Texas This page lists all of the antler buyers that currently buy in the Texas area. Of course. In August of 1993, Jennings moved to Wichita, KS and began working for Koch Industries, Inc. deer likely were spikes as yearlings. Bulls just hate the imbalance when one antler is off. Mule deer country is big. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. My goal this year is to buy 100,000 pounds of antlers this year. Heavy hunting pressure is not a factor of habitat conditions. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. We will come directly to your location for quantities of 100 pounds or Rolling terrain, good water features and very private property located in a prime location with easy access to Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. They walk too fast and look too far out front.. If you leave happy, then we're happy - guaranteed! If you can find a furniture maker that has a use for them then that would be your best money I would think. We buy deer antlers of all species - Whitetail, Axis, Fallow, Sika, Elk, Stag/Red Deer, Pere David's Deer and Mule Deer. After graduating, Justin went to work for JBS Five Rivers at XIT Feeders in Dalhart, Texas. If your dog likes to retrieve anything, a ball or training dummy or whatever, thats the game. However, this sort of regulation requires a fairly extensive education effort, as we want to be sure that hunters are well aware of the regulation change. Each year when it's time to take some animals to the auction barn, you take the calves that are just a little bit bigger. You keep those that are a little slower. 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. Walk each grid and look straight down around your feet for sheds, then move on to the next grid. Why Don't You Try This on Wildlife Management Areas First? We sat for years without seeing any buck, but now we see numerous bucks during our hunts." Hill Country Antler Art, Ltd. in Agricultural Economics. Winter gives mule deer enough stress the way it is.. Good elk antlers are big, and you can spot them from a distance. Improving the age structure of this buck herd is making our hunts much more enjoyable, because we're seeing activities that you just don't see when you have such a young buck population." We Buy Antlers. . So we have to balance our population data, with our knowledge of habitat conditions, and with our goals of increasing hunter opportunity. Most sets are bought by the pound unless they score over 350", but even at that size they can be hard to sell. Other studies of captive deer show that bucks usually shed both antlers within three days of each other. Another state has a 4-point rule, which protects all bucks with less than 4 points. Were seeing all sorts of people who just want to get out in the woods in the spring and have some fun with their dogs, says Dokken. 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. If it is raining lightly, thats fine. Western shed hunters will backpack deep into the backcountry to find shed antlers from the biggest bulls in the unit. elk Republic Ranches, LLC reserves the right to require any or all interested buyer(s) of a particular property to provide proof of financial ability to purchase said property prior to the initial showing or any subsequent showing of the property. the harvest consists of mature bucks!!! Over 90% of our business is due to repeat clients, and for good reason too. allow most of them the mature before they are available for harvest. 735 Mount Rushmore Road Custer, South Dakota 57730 Phone: 605-673-4345 Email Claw, Antler & Hide Company Bone will shine and catch your eye. Here are a few scenarios to consider: You own a ranch in good range condition. Any help is appreciated! Some people try to distinguish between young spikes and older spikes. In the male, the upper body is black (dark brown), and the belly and eye rings are white. There certainly are more one-buck counties (than those indicated in the map above) in which greater than 60% of the harvest is comprised of bucks 3.5 years of age. This strategy will allow hunters to "turn-over" we need deer antlers for heath food, we are specific on the origin of antler. I cant tell you how many sheds Ive found that I walked right by days and weeks before, he says. The best time to go shed hunting is when the woods are barren and brown, the grass and brush are pounded down, and crop fields and pastures are low to the dirt. Misdemeanor prosecutions can bring fines up to $10,000 and one year imprisonment. Walk every muddy deer trail that you can, and youll find bone. incidence of those older "management bucks" that slip through the It is under MLD III classification. Published Jan 24, 2023 11:41 AM EST. 2 were here. Call 406-404-2727 Allowing "spikes" to be available for harvest, and including a second tag to be limited to those poorer-quality animals, provides more hunting opportunity while minimizing the risk of high-grading. The hunters and landowners in that particular area were showing the most interest in this regulation, and they were the most informed as to what the regulation would entail. On average, a 350" set is worth about $400 and for every 10" above that add about $50. But you should wait to go shed hunting. After leaving McLean, Justin went to work for a group of businessmen from the Oil & Gas industry. Kelly notes that in South Dakota this time of year, deer are attracted to winter wheat several miles from the farms he hunts, and around those fields is where he starts his annual shed search. Depending on the region of Texas and the severity of drought, the incidence of spikes ranges from 25-33% of the yearling cohort. In 2010 Gary formed S&H Cattle Co out of Antlers, OK, which is an order buying and trucking company. Let us know. With just a little basic training, a bird dog can learn to find sheds, and then he can multi-task between retrieving ducks and shed hunting in spring, he says. Work from a distance, and get to know where they are hanging out. Chip is married to Audri Eilers Bowers, from Fredericksburg, and they have six children; Braden, Bryce, Brant, Brittley, Brett and Briggs. Love the business and love meeting and talking outdoors with the guys pounding the hills with the same interests! It will result in more mature age-class bucks and age is one of the 3 main factors contributing to antler development. Buy Antlers, Hill 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. Four new blinds/feeders/protein feeders are on the property located in opened areas for food plots. Through his time at the sale barn he started buying stocker calves for a number of local farmers around the area. The Labrador retriever is by far most popular, but Dokken says that any breed with a strong instinct to retrieve can pick it up quickly. Location: The gate entrance is on West Old Lockhart Road just south of West Point, Texas. Las Vegas, NV 89113. Justin successfully started and developed a yearling operation for the group out of Shamrock, TX. You may check on Craiglist or Ebay for a buyer also. . However, harvest during the second year of the experiment (2003-04) exceeded the 5-year average prior to the regulation change. There is an excitement that is hard to describe about shed hunting because you never know what you might find. The southeastern-most counties in blue (Oak Prairie Region) are those for which the antler-restriction regulation has been adopted for the 2005-06 hunting season. deer with less than a 13" spread. have velvet, stains, mold/mildew/algae, paint/lacquer/stain/sealer, or a This question has become increasingly common in the past couple of months, as the interest in this type of regulated harvest strategy continues to build. Bulls compete for pecking order all year long, and an antlerless bull knows hes vulnerable.. If you are in the state of Texas and are looking to sell your antlers, we suggest contacting one of the Texas antler buyers below first. While working for Thigpen Livestock, Jeff sorted cattle and shaped up loads to be sent to customers. Jun 28th, 2013 Hill Country Antler Art has been creating custom antler home furnishings and accessories, as well as handcrafted copper cactus chandeliers, etc. Any number of things could have caused the bucks demise: hit by a car, lost by a bowhunter last season, Hemorrhagic or even Chronic Wasting Disease. I own Great Basin Antler Buyers and have been selling shed antlers for eight years. David resides in Mt. In the graph above, you will notice that only 4% of the buck harvest was comprised of bucks 4.5 years old or older - prior to the experimental regulation. 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. Most antler crafters from the East and Midwest buy their sheds from Western brokers because of accessibility. He is interested in ALL types and ALL grades of antler (moose, elk, caribou, mule deer, white-tail & exotics). is Our Priority! This regulation, which has been in effect since the 2002-03 hunting season in the 6 aforementioned . Our antler grading process After twenty-two years with Prairie, David joined Crossroads Cattle Co. in 2010 as a buyer and seller of feeder cattle. After graduating from McLennan Community College, Jeff returned to Thigpen Livestock. One moose, two moose. Visit our Learn a new word every day. We collect a random sample of sufficient size to report these figures with a high degree of confidence. He started hunting sheds more than 40 years ago. | 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. Ohio Hunter Finds a Massive 233-Inch Deadhead Buck. This is a very strong indication that the age structure of the buck herd is rapidly improving. age at which their spread exceeds 13". In this 20 percent pocket is where bucks cast their antlers, and where you need to look. Hill Country Antler Buyers, in business since 1992, is one of the largest antler dealers in Texas. This is my favorite place to look: A scrubby, overgrown field with some browse, berries, locust trees (deer love the pods), and the like. My number is 307-351-1777. Chip Bowers is a native of Dalhart, Texas where he grew up on a family ranch consisting of Cow/Calf and Stocker operations. Go and find it. Steen then returned to A&M and earned a M.S. Kerrville Antler Buyer prices are among the highest prices in Texas! But in those same areas, only 5% of You might want to bag the hunting boots and wear sneakers or soft-soled trail runners so you can feel those big sticks you step on. Chandler Branch Creek is the main drainage and runs through the middle of the property. I also have a friend that builds antler chandeliers and furniture for over 30 years out of E. TX , he would probably be a good/decent buyer for you! Currently, 100% of the yearling bucks are vulnerable to harvest. Some nontypical antlers may be more desirable to collectors. If the area thats holding elk has drivable roads, fill up the tank and start driving. Kerrville Antler Buyers offers the best grading in Texas, which will maximize the value of your antlers and ultimately put the most money in your pocket on every transaction! Not sure of current prices. The distinction between the two is clear (now). The deer might be close, or hanging out a couple miles away. Retails for: $23 per pound. No representation is made as to the possible value of this investment or type of use, and prospective buyers are urged to consult with their tax and legal advisors before making a final determination. Terrill Ostrum is a native of Fishtail, Montana, and remains an active partner in his family's commercial Angus and quarter horse operation. Hunters who harvest mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, or other exotic CWD-susceptible species within the CWD Zones are required to bring . There is also a new one bedroom cedar cabin. Appointments only on Sundays. We have craft antler, mounts, dog chews, home furnishings, walking sticks, antler art and so much more. | ! Todays top biologists nix that idea, saying deer are probably unaware of when and where theyll lose their headgear. I feel if I treat my sellers right they will continue to want to sell to me year after year and that is what is most important to me. 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. The table to the right shows the number of legal deer brought to the voluntary check stations during each year of the experimental regulation. You need to find where the deer gather and feed from January until this time of year.. The property is dominated by thick woods consisting of multiple oak species (particularly post oak), cedar, hackberry, and cedar elm. There are a lot of shed hunters that do it year-round. Following graduation from University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science, David managed several purebred Angus operations. Kerrville, TX 78028 Improvements: There is a large barn which includes a living room/kitchen and large bedroom with an outdoor pavilion. Deer sets are usually sold by the pound unless scoring over 160" and like I said, sets can be difficult to sell if you are looking for a buyer considering the time and effort spent trying to find the right buyer willing to pay more than a by the pound price. The Life deer Mule deer winter in bush-and-shrub habitats, says Wait. Other areas do not have a population that can withstand more liberal doe harvest. They simply aren't living that long. You might find some bone in these places, or you might not. Can You Place So Much Confidence in a 3-Year Study? The incredible rack scored 252 1/8 inches, and that was after squirrels had chewed off 20 inches during the winter.. Brown or white antlers are easiest to spot on an overcast day. Hogs have been successfully kept out although there are several blinds that may hunt some of the property outside of the high fence. 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. 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. For example, the inside-spread limit utilized on the Kerr WMA has been 15" rather than 13". Some people interpret this as a strategy that will select for branched-antlered Please understand that most of what we read in the popular magazines are statements based on opinions and speculation. I actually find few antlers in the same area I hunt, its just not the place where the deer spend the winter, says South Dakota shed fanatic Kelly Kirsch, who picks up more than 100 antlers each year. Statements supporting the protection of spikes are NOT based on data. So lace up your boots and go. Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. 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. After the second year of the experiment, our phones started ringing - with enthusiastic landowners and hunters on the other end of the line. A shed hunt starts with glassing those small herds over time. We pay top market prices and grade. Be critical. What About the Kids? Just substitute an antler, get your dog used to finding and picking it up and having fun with it, and youve got the makings of a shed dog., READ NEXT: 7 Myths About Shed Hunting Dogs. While employed with Koch Industries, Jennings spent one year at Ulysses Feed Yard in Ulysses, Kansas, and then moved into the corporate office where his responsibilities included purchasing feeder cattle and calves from throughout the United States, and managing pasture cattle to supply Koch's feed yards in Kansas and the Texas panhandle. In other words, this strategy will Combine our prices with our most customer-friendly grading and you will easily leave with the most money in your pocket! The method is pretty simple: Drive every inch of the roads that the elk or deer travel and glass any possible location where they could have lost an antler. Having said that, common sense supports these hard data. Protecting the bottom end of the herd (i.e., spikes and 3-pointers) would do just that. 6630 Arroyo Springs St., Suite 1200 2022-2023. the condition, weighed, and purchased by the pound. Combine our prices with our most customer-friendly grading and you will easily leave with the most money in your pocket! For example, you may be interested in how research results from free-ranging wild-deer populations compare to the results from captive-deer studies. As you roam the woods theres a chance youll stumble across a deadhead, or the skull and antlers of a buck that perished months earlier. Sets of antlers are the toughest to sell unless they are very unique or massive. All Rights Reserved. is as follows: We do not buy antlers that A lot of the time, it is worth more to sell your smaller sets and price them per pound, instead of spending time and effort looking for the right buyer. Montana. It depends on the condition and grade of the bone: Grade A: Antler in perfect condition, brown and beautiful, with no fading, broken tines or chew marks.