Shed horn season is quickly approaching and in order to hunt for sheds individuals must take an educational ethics course and obtain a certificate of completion. Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with Conservation Outreach Manager, Brandon Behling who spoke about the details.

“The popularity of getting out there in the hills and looking for sheds has really grown over the years. I know growing up it was a few of us would go out and it just wasn’t the popular thing. But now, as soon as the animal start dropping their antlers, we see the hills fill up with people out hiking,” said Behling. The ethics course covers why hunters need to be respectful to wildlife during these winter/spring months and it also discusses how to be respectful to private land owners when shed horn hunting.

“We just want people to understand the impact that people can have on the wildlife. Especially, in the winter months when they’re trying to keep those fat reserves and stay healthy. We don’t want people giving the animals undo stress that can be detrimental to their health,” said Behling. By taking the ethics course folks will learn how to gather sheds without stressing the animals.

This ethics course allows you to get out in the field and collect antlers between Feb. 1 and Apr. 15. Gathers can obtain a free certificate by completing the online Antler Gathering Ethics Course, it’s important to know that you must complete the course every year. “It’s a little bit of a quiz, so there’s a little bit we provide some biological information in there and then it’s a multiple choice, a couple of true or false questions, just to make sure that you are reading and have a basic comprehension of the information,” said Behling.  You must have an antler-gathering certificate on your person while collecting shed antlers or horns. It’s important to remember that the certificate does not authorize you to trespass on closed areas or private lands to collect shed antlers or horns.

The course is offered online and can be accessed easily from your computer by visiting https://wildlife.utah.gov/ If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the DWR office at (435) 613-3700.