Shed Hunting Illinois 2021 Update

The 2021 shed hunting season is kicking off in Illinois! We have just a handful of bucks across our properties in Pike and Calhoun Counties that have shed one side and have only seen a handful that have already shed both sides. Over the next several weeks, bucks will begin shedding in our area. With a very mild fall and winter this year, it’s looking to be an “average” shedding season. After Valentine’s Day is when most shed hunters in our area begin to really put miles on the ground searching for antlers, that is if there’s not much snow on the ground..

2021 Shed Hunting Illinois/ January Update

I would say approximately 25-35% of bucks in the Pike/Calhoun Counties have started shedding. Driving around and glassing in the evenings, I’ve noticed whitetails are still hitting harvested corn and bean fields routinely. We have a few inches of snow on the ground in our area with more forecasted after this weekend. The extended forecast looks to bring more extremely cold air for the next 7-10 days. This should really concentrate whitetails close to quality food sources as the temperatures and snow pile on, deer will be trying to preserve as much warmth and energy as possible.

This is one of my favorite times to move trail cameras on high quality late season food sources to help monitor particular bucks movements to help gain an edge on finding their sheds later this winter. I like to place them in easy to access/ check areas to help keep the deer as undisturbed as possible. It’s just a waiting game now before you find the first shed of 2021!

For more tips and tactics on shed hunting check out our shed hunting blogs-

• What a Hard Winter Means For Shed Hunters
• Finding Match Sets
• What a Mild Winter Means for Shed Hunters
• Finding the Other Side
• Main Shed Hunting Page

Zach Jumps
Zach@HeartlandLodge.com

Last Updated: February 10th, 2021