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"Keaton Heath, 14, of Pittsfield, heads out in to the woods at this time of year to hunt for antlers shed by deer or moose.Each year, they drop their horns and begin growing new ones. They lay on the forest floor and soon can become gnawed at the tips by mice and other smaller animals for the calcium they provide.Just as he does in the fall when he is deer hunting with his grandfather, Roger Heath of Barnstead, and his dad, Carter Heath of Concord, Keaton said the time in the woods is valuable on many levels.\"For me, I use it as a way to hone my skills,\" he said. \"You move carefully and quietly to take clues from nature.\"It is the deer he loves and learns about. \"You learn about their behavior,\" he said.Sometimes, after the winter has receded, in those same woods, he finds an antler. He and his father have found about 15 over the years and his father is active in the New Hampshire Shed Hunters Association, a statewide organization dedicated to the pursuit of shed antlers.For the Heaths, the antlers are kept as prized possessions, each with their own story, and are not for sale. Some are larger than others. Some are in better condition, found in some cases only hours after their release.Deer and moose can walk around for days or hours with one half the set still on their head, something which I would like to see.Shed hunting, as it is known, is actually growing. I thought it only happened in places like Pittsburg but I am wrong.19003418Serious shed hunters are not saying where to go anymore, but they are finding sheds statewide.Keaton said he found his first shed antler in a small wooded area in Pittsfield not far from home with his friend, Chase Gaudette.\"It was a big day,\" he said with a broad smile.So far his largest has been a five-pointer two to three years ago in fresh condition.At Pittsfield Middle High School, it is a lot more socially acceptable, he said, to hunt for antlers than deer themselves.\"It's a lot better than hunting (there). It is more acceptable,\" he said.Keaton's father, said deer provide a great food source and nothing at his house gets wasted. It is local, natural, pesticide-free nutritious and cellophane-free good earth option, he notes, especially when enjoyed with roasted vegetables.Antler sheds are out there. A key is to go where you find deer droppings, Keaton said. Look on south facing slopes and bring a scope or binoculars. Look where deer bed and feed.If you know of a deer yard, go after the snow melts in spring and don't stress the animals too early. The sheds might only be a few inches sticking out of leaves and the color is similar so it is not easy to find them.You would want to go before black fly season which in Central New Hampshire is likely about two weeks off and even later in the North Country.Ticks are already out there.Carter has a pair of insecticide-laced pants he wears specifically for shed hunting. He also tucks his cuffs up against his ankles to keep ticks out.It indicates, by the way, the state record holder for a shed is Rob Richardson with a scored antler at 76 5/8 inches. Carter holds the second highest scored antler shed at 71.That compares to the overall record for a shot buck in NH, taken by John Klucky known as the \"Klucky Buck\" in 2006.That buck, taken in Merrimack County had a gross score of 199 inches, Carter said.The two of these guys will be able to enjoy another off-season looking for the likes of Klucky Buck's brother's shed.The NH Shed Hunters Club has a website with information and photos at www.nhshedhuntersclub.com.Paula Tracy writes about the outdoors for wmur.com and can be reached at paulatracy@roadrunner.com."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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