Early spring in Northern Maine still meant plenty of snow on the ground, but the old logging roads were just barely passable. We decided it was time to head into an area where we had found antlers in the past, although we hadn’t visited it since Finley was still a young pup.
Fortunately, we were the first ones out there that season, and the spot looked just as promising as it had in years past.
This was not the first time Finley had worked an area like this. If you want to read more about how he developed into a shed dog, check out Finley: An Unlikely Shed Dog.
We started working our way up the side of a mountain, following a well-worn rub line that eventually led us into a beautiful moose wintering area. Once we reached the valley, we slowed our pace and began carefully scanning the terrain for sheds.
Within minutes of entering the area, Trip started acting like he had picked up a scent.
His body language changed immediately. He began zigzagging through the wind, circling and working the area the way a dog does when it knows something is close. Visibility was good and judging by the way he was acting, the antler had to be nearby.
He worked his way along a small stream that ran through the valley, moving up and down the bank while trying to pinpoint the exact location of the scent.
Suddenly he stopped and stuck his head straight into the water.
At first I didn’t think much of it. Labs love water, and it seemed like he might just be doing what labs do best.
A moment later he popped back up out of the stream holding a beautiful fresh brown moose antler.
It turned out the antler had been sitting right in the water.
That was Trip’s first solo antler find of the spring, and it was a memorable one.
Tripper has had some great teamwork finds too. One of my favorites is the story of finding moose paddles with a dog in Maine.
The day ended up being even better than expected. By the time we finished searching the area, we had found nine antlers total.
And I learned a valuable lesson that day — never doubt Trip’s nose again.
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.
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