Skip to main content

The Best Deer Sheds of the Year

The Best Deer Sheds of the Year

Just because whitetail season is over doesn't mean it's time to veg out in front of the TV until September. Thankfully, we don't have to wait that long to scratch our whitetail itch. It's the perfect time to get back into the field and do some shed hunting — and to see what others are finding. The racks are large and plentiful if you know where to look.

Whether you're out there for fun or to compete with your buddies for the ultimate set of sheds, it's all about the passion for year-round whitetail madness. We teamed up with Craig Bell and Shed Heads to bring you some of the best deer sheds of the year.

Beginners Luck?

First time shed hunter Amber found these impressive racks. Just goes to show that it doesn't matter if it's your first or tenth time, success is all about getting afield.

A Winter Shed Head

Ben Williams found this massive 173-inch gross, 3.5 mainframe set in New York. Nice find, Ben!

Central Illinois' Finest

Rain, snow, or shine, sheds are out there for you and Brian Gauge to find. Brian found this nice set in west central Illinois.

Shed Hunter in Training

Shed hunting is a great way to get your kids out in the field while providing an excellent opportunity to teach them a thing or two. Casey Charlton's 4-year-old son looks like he's going to be a full-time shed hunter before long.

Shed Hunting Like a Pro

Craig Bell shows off his impressive 10-pointer set.

A Shed Head

Shed Head's Craig Bell with yet another impressive set of sheds.

Ethan Bailey's Rack Room

Ethan Bailey certainly knows his whitetails.

The Great Anticipation

Jeff Schoeps with a great set he picked up. This buck carried match for eight days and had Jeff walking with great anticipation.

Collect Your Thoughts

Joe Kelly with the biggest set from his collection. Found on his private property, 214 1/8 in.

Kansas Rack

Jason Bethel: "First ones of the year here in Kansas, what a find! Match set." Awesome!

Start 'Em Young

Kelly Lynn starting out the little one right! Now that's parenting!

Dead Heads

Matt Davis: "It's a shame when you find quality dead heads on your farm."

All Grins Here

A happy Ryan Dreher poses with his matching 7-point set.

Breaking the Ice

An 8-point set like this is enough to bring a smile to any shed hunter's face.

Know Where to Look

Often times bucks will bed just off the edges of food sources, such as corn, bean or other agricultural fields during the night while feeding and drop their antlers.

A Needle in a Haystack

Sometimes the best place to find sheds is near the bedding area of a buck. Look for thick cover, cedars and other conifers, or south facing hillsides. All of these types of areas can be popular bedding areas during the winter. This shed hunter obviously did his homework.

The Rack Room

It won't be tough finding room for a giant set like this. Very nice!

The Big Score

Finding matching sheds like this 20-point set is what shed hunting is all about.

Sheds Abound

Craig Bell shows that with persistence comes great results.

Winter Sheds

Regardless of the temperature, now is the perfect time to get afield and find those sheds!

The First Set is the Toughest

Nothing breaks the ice quicker than finding your first sheds of the year. For Shelby here, this rack looks to be the first of many in Kansas.

Take a Load Off

Is there anything better than laying down after a hard days work shed hunting? We didn't think so.

Hunting for All Ages

Tyler Treft: "My daughter natalee found this matching set today in Kansas. And found 7 all together." Wonderful to see kids out and about. Great set Natalee!

Fetch the Bone

Zachary Pearson and his lab doing some training with the shed she found last year.

Craig Bell started the Shed Heads Facebook page to help spread his passion for shed hunting on social media, but he's been an avid shed hunter since he was four years old. Since then, Bell has found thousands of shed antlers. His biggest set of sheds was 198 inches, while his biggest "dead head" is 203 inches. More than anything, Bell loves shed hunting with friends and family, as well as watching others enjoy the sport.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Whitetail

198-inch Iowa Deadhead Found in September!

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Learn

How to Use Satellite Images for Deer Scouting

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Whitetail

196-inch Iowa Buck Taken by Bow

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Whitetail

The BIGGEST Typical Whitetail Taken in 2023!

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Gear

Reviewing Sig Sauer's Stabilizing Binoculars

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Whitetail

Sam Collora's 213-inch Iowa Archery Giant

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Gear

How to Pick Optics for Low-Light Scenarios

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Gear

Field Tested: Ozonics' HR 500

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Gear

Burris Expands Legendary Fullfield Line of Scopes

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Whitetail

Michigan's State Record Typical Buck!

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Learn

How to Rattle in a Big Buck

Blake Garlock explains what it takes to fill your tag during a late season morning hunt.
Learn

How to Kill a Big Buck During a Post-Rut Morning Hunt

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the North American Whitetail App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use