When you find an antler, it can be an exciting experience. Maybe you’ve spent a long time trying to find a shed antler, which makes this achievement even more important, especially if you aren’t a hunter. There are a lot of questions you need answers to when searching for shed deer antlers, such as “when do mule deer shed their antlers?”
One of the most tempting things to do is take your new possession home and find a use for it, and this is something you can definitely do. In this post, three of the unique uses for shed deer antlers have been listed.
Home Décor
Using antlers as pieces of home décor can add a natural or rustic charm to your house. For many people, antlers are a great focal point in large rooms, such as living rooms or bedrooms, and can be incorporated into different decorative styles. While some homes will utilize faux antlers, these do not offer the same unique look as their real counterparts. Plus, for the hunters, it can be a good way of displaying their successes.
There are different ways to incorporate antlers into your home as decorative pieces. Some of the best ways to do this is by using antlers as stylish bookends, creating shelves and tables, or displaying them as wall art.
It is even possible to craft DIY projects with antlers, as discussed in the next point.
Crafting
Antlers have been used for crafts for years. This might have been catered more towards survival once upon a time, but people now appreciate how aesthetically pleasing antlers are. To some, they are even considered art. There are so many items that can be made from antlers, too, with some individuals making buttons, jewelry, knife handles, and so on.
Crafting with antlers can be a time-consuming process, particularly if you need to prepare the antlers. Preparing antlers can include cleaning, drying, and possibly even treating them. Shaping antlers to your desired form and sanding for a smooth finish will require various tools, such as a file, sander, saw, and so on. You must be careful when you do this, though, as antlers can have sharp edges, and sanding them can produce a lot of dust.
Collecting
Deer antler collecting, or shed hunting as it is also known, is a rather popular thing to do, especially in North America.
Although it has been picked up by other individuals who want to enjoy nature more often, shed hunting is primarily done by deer hunting enthusiasts. This is because collecting deer antlers in an area that you hunt can be valuable in a personal sense and even offer the chance to track a deer’s growth from year to year. Hunters will also have the best knowledge about where deer spend the bulk of their time during the winter and early spring.
The most unique antlers that are collected are often displayed in the hunter’s house for all to see. Others might form a pile outside, which many hunters take great pride in building. Some hunters are even towered over by their shed piles, although there are numerous public piles that can be added to by those who find antlers but do not want to take them home.
To conclude, if you somehow end up possessing an antler or more, there are numerous ways you can use them. Some of the most unique methods of using antlers include home décor, crafts, and collections, as outlined in this post.