New Rule Greets Shed Antler Hunters This Season
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish now requires non-residents to purchase a license to hunt shed antlers
Out-of-state shed antler hunters heading into New Mexico's forests this spring face a new requirement: a $200 license to take home more than two antlers.
Shed hunting, the annual pilgrimage into the woods to search for fallen elk antlers, involves secret spots, sales, and different laws from state to state.
The popularity of the spring-time activity has prompted a new New Mexico law.
“All non-resident shed antler hunters must purchase a Shed Hunting License to possess more than two shed antlers,” states the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish rulebook.
Out-of-state antler hunters can be fined $325 for possessing more than two antlers without a license.
The law is similar to that in other Western states. It allows visitors to still take home a souvenir from the forest, but regulates out-of-state hunters who aim to profit from antlers.
The law went into effect on January 1st. Beginning April 1st (the start of the 2026 hunting license year), non-resident shed hunters must purchase a license. They’re good for one year, and may be bought online or at qualified license vendors like The Highland in Cloudcroft.
New Mexico residents do not need a license to hunt for shed antlers.
Asked where his spots are for finding sheds, Cloudcroft local Chad Barnes laughed and said with a smile, “I can’t tell you that.”
Sports, Seasons, and Sales
Barnes is packing up his camping gear and horses to go shed hunt in the Gila Wilderness for a few days. “A shed hunt is just an opportunity for everyone to get into the woods. It’s like an adult Easter egg hunt,” he says.
Savvy shed hunters keep their go-to spots a secret.
Locals say the search is getting harder as more people enter the forest looking for the same antlers. The competition leads to long hikes to reach more remote spots and the desire to be first in the woods when antlers begin to fall.
Pickup trucks dot the road near trailheads and at popular elk hangouts. The flurry of activity spurs comparisons to piñon nut harvesting in the fall or cherry-picking season.
Some states establish a set calendar season for shed hunting to prevent human pressure on wildlife.
Wyoming closes some elk wintering grounds until May to prevent shed hunters from disturbing the animals. Utah requires early-season shed hunters to take an Antler Gathering Ethics Course prior to setting out into the field.
“That was originally suggested that there would be a (shed hunting) season, and that did not pass,” says Melissa Garnett, Public Information Officer with NMDGF, about New Mexico’s new law.
The article continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage Therapy:
“I think it’s great,” says Barnes about the new rule. “Any chance to generate more revenue for us New Mexicans is awesome…I think a lot of people have benefited from out-of-state, and (the new law) is probably going to be a good thing.”
Some shed hunters observe elk herds during the months and weeks prior to shedding season to better understand where they may drop their antlers come spring. Others sport specialized glasses used for foraging mushrooms to help spot antlers in the woods. Dogs can also be trained to find antlers.
Shed antler hunting has gained popularity over the years as elk tags have become more competitive under the state’s hunting lottery system.
Shed hunting offers an opportunity to still pursue the “ghosts of the forest,” as elk are sometimes called, without the bloodshed or pressure of filling an expensive hunting tag.
Male (bull) elk drop and regrow their antlers annually, making their pointy appendages some of the fastest-growing body parts in the animal kingdom. In and around Cloudcroft, they typically shed their antlers from late March through April. Their new horns will be fully grown in time for mating season during the fall.
Possession of antlers still attached to a skull is different than finding fallen antlers by themselves. Game and Fish requires people to contact a local conservation officer to take a “deadhead,” or a skull with antlers still attached. It’s advised not to move a game animal’s skull in the woods, as the animal may have been poached.
There’s a growing market for sheds. Hunters sell their antlers to wholesale buyers for around $15 per pound in some areas. In turn, those buyers may resell them for use as dog chews, antler chandeliers, and for western-style decor. A typical single antler from a full-grown bull weighs between seven and ten pounds.
“You know, people make money on them. So it draws in not just the outdoorsman, but the people who are really trying to make a buck this time of year,” says Barnes.
Brown-colored antlers fetch the highest prices as they are freshly fallen from the elk. White antlers or “chalks” as they are sometimes called, go for less money as they have been hardened and bleached by the sun.
Antlers are a good source of minerals for dogs and for the forest animals that find them in the woods. Mice, squirrels, porcupines, and even wolves and bears chew on the fallen horns, according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
“I have five trophies in there that I’ll never get to hunt, or kill anything that big in my life, but I have five on my wall because I shed hunt,” says Barnes. I’ll never be able to afford or kill any of those big guys. So it’s the only way I’ll get my trophies probably.”
“I can bring the kids. I can bring the wife. Everyone can join in and there’s no expectations,” says Barnes about shed hunting. “If you find one, it’s like, holy crap, this is so cool. If you don’t, you really didn’t expect to find one anyway. It’s just a fun time, and it’s addicting.”
Video: Reporter Drew Gaines finds a shed antler in the Lincoln National Forest.
The Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by Cloudcroft Art Workshops:
Promote Your Business
Learn about sponsorship opportunities for your business in support of the Reader. Contact us for more information at sponsorship-info@cloudcroftreader.com
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like:
Cloudcroft Art Workshops
Enhance your artistry while enjoying the beauty and coolness of the mountains!Noisy Water Winery
Family-owned winery crafting thoughtfully made wines from New Mexico grapes, inspired by mountain living.Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage
A cozy space for yoga and massage therapy at the Village PlazaOsha Trail Depot
Your destination for unique, hand-crafted treasuresThe Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsSacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulLaughing Leaf Dispensary
Discover a world of wellness at Laughing LeafInstant Karma
Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
Eclectic gifts & original artworkFuture Real Estate
Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
The Southernmost ski area in New Mexico.Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
✨ Book your glow-up today✨The Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest + Mountain Provisions, Goods & FineryThe PAC
Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft—Pickleball in the CloudsPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
For all the ways you love to connectBre Hope Media
Professional photo and video services
