I thought I’d share a great story from one of our recent shed hunting trips with Finley and Trip.
Mid-morning we moved into an area that had a lot of fresh moose sign. It was the kind of place where you could just feel there had to be antlers nearby. We decided it was worth slowing down and really working the area.
To give the dogs the best chance of picking up a scent, we circled downwind and spread out. Anna and I split up about 200 yards apart and began walking parallel into the wind while Finley and Trip worked back and forth between us searching.
The wind, however, had other plans. It was swirling constantly, making scent detection difficult. I didn’t expect the dogs to pick up much with conditions like that, but we kept moving slowly through the area anyway.
About a mile into the search I noticed Finley suddenly change his behavior.
When Finley thinks he smells an antler, his body language changes immediately. His nose lifts into the wind and he starts zigzagging, trying to pinpoint exactly where the scent is coming from. I’ve learned over the years that when Finley does this, it’s usually worth paying attention.
Finley has come a long way as a shed dog over the years. If you want to read more about how he got started, check out Finley: An Unlikely Shed Dog.
I started following him as he worked the scent.
Unfortunately, the wind kept shifting and eventually he lost it. Instead of moving on, I decided to trust his nose and climbed up to a small high point so I could scan the area.
Sure enough, about 300 yards away I caught the unmistakable brown shine of a moose paddle antler reflecting sunlight through the trees.
Getting to it wasn’t going to be easy from where I was standing, so I called Anna and Trip over. We decided the best plan was to circle downwind and let the dogs finish the job.
As we approached the area where the antler was laying, the wind shifted perfectly toward the dogs.
Both Finley and Trip picked up the scent immediately and took off straight toward it. Trip got there first and proudly retrieved the antler.
Trip has made some memorable finds of his own too. One of my favorites is the story of Tripper’s first solo moose antler.
Naturally there were plenty of treats and praise waiting for both of them.
Every antler find like this leaves a lasting impression on the dogs. Experiences like this build their confidence and make them better shed hunters each time we go out.
It’s always incredible watching them work.
(Finley refused to sit still long enough for a photo.)
If you want to support our shed hunting adventures, you can explore our collection of naturally shed moose antler dog chews here.About the Author
Caleb Lewis is the founder of Allagash Antlers and a lifelong outdoorsman from Northern Maine. He collects naturally shed moose antlers in the North Woods with his trained shed dogs and produces premium moose antler dog chews sourced directly from the wild. Through years of shed hunting and working with thousands of antlers, Caleb has developed deep knowledge about antler durability, safety, and why moose antlers are among the longest-lasting natural dog chews available.
Related Articles
- Finley: An Unlikely Shed Dog
- Finding Moose Paddles With a Dog in Maine
- Tripper’s First Solo Moose Antler
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