Mike: What are antlers going for these days? I have a big pile I might want to unload if the price is right.—Dave
For starters, depends on the condition and grade of the sheds:
Grade A: Antler in perfect condition, brown and beautiful, with no fading…no broken tines or chew marks…this year’s drop, antler picked up within a few weeks or months.
Grade B: Antler in good condition, still natural brown color, may be dull or faded on one side and slightly weathered, probably last year’s drop. May have slight broken tine or chip.
Grade C: Antler faded and weathered to white and chalky, on the ground for 2 or 3 years.
What are they worth? These are spring 2016 estimates; I’ll update the figures every year or so.
Shed addict Mike C., who goes by The Antler Collector on Facebook, says whitetail sheds are running $9 a pound for for Grade A, $4 for grade B and $2 for Grade C. Prices are down right now because the market is flooded with antlers, so you might want to think about holding onto your whitetail sheds for a while.
Also, the deer farm market has killed the price of smaller wild antlers, but they are still moving, albeit slowly.
The Peak Antler Company in Colorado buys elk and mule deer antlers suited for building furniture and lighting products, and uses smaller antlers and scraps for dog chews. Their current shed prices:
Grade A: Roughly $12 a pound
Grade B: Roughly $10 a pound
Grade C: Roughly $4 a pound
These are baselines, but keep in mind that prices vary according to the quantity and condition of your sheds, and the simple economics of supply and demand.
If interested in a cool antler auction plan to attend the Elkfest Antler Auction in Jackson, WY this May 21, 2016.
I have attended twice and had fun just watching the auction of antler from all the Elk off Jackson Hole Refuge. This year I was out there in March and there was some where around 8,000 Elk on the Refuge.
Kelly