Survey Finds That Wyoming’s New Shed Hunting Regs Are a Hit with Locals

As the first western state out of the gate to introduce some originally controversial new regulations around shed hunting, a recent poll is indicating that state lawmakers made the right move. 

In an unprecedented move, Wyoming lawmakers introduced legislation in 2023 that would require all out-of-state shed hunters to not only acquire a conservation stamp to chase down discarded bone, but that would also require them to give local residents a seven-day head start on the action.

The news of the legislation sent shockwaves across the west, as shed-seekers reeled at the fact that they were up against even steeper odds of cashing in on their spring finds. Despite the boos from seasoned shed hunters, the legislation captured the attention of other western states who also decided to take a cut of the action.

Following in Wyoming’s footsteps, Idaho slapped non-resident shed hunters with a new regulation that would mandate out-of-state shed hunters to purchase a $185 non-resident hunting license. Montana also got in on the action later introducing House Bill 987, which is still pending, that would see non-resident shed hunters hit with a $50 license fee in order to pick up sheds in the Treasure State.

In a follow-up to the controversy surrounding the Wyoming bill, University of California-Berkeley PhD candidate Sam Maher, who’s been studying antler hunting in Wyoming since 2023, put out a survey to over 300 shed hunters in an attempt to get a general idea of how the new regs have been received.

As a follow up to her 2023 survey, which indicated that the majority of Wyoming’s shed hunters are white male westerners who enjoy spending time in nature, exercising and are not generally motivated by making a dollar off of their findings, the recent report shows tremendous support for the newly-adopted regulations.

The results of her 2024 survey showed that an overwhelming 64 percent of all survey respondents were in favor of the new restrictions on non-residents. When it comes to those who resided in Wyoming, 87 percent of respondents expressed their approval, further highlighting the benefits the program has undoubtedly afforded local shed hunters.

In addition to gaining the thumbs up from annual shed hunters, Maher’s survey also highlighted that the new regulations also encouraged more locals to get in on the action. Approximately 22 percent of the Wyoming residents that were surveyed indicated that they “would not have shed hunted otherwise,” instead deciding to head out amid lower perceived competition. 

And as if it was any surprise, non-residents were seemingly dissuaded from heading to Wyoming for last season’s treasure hunt, as the survey indicated that 29 percent of survey respondents indicated that they were staying home in light of the new regs.

In addition to gauging general feedback on the state’s new laws, the bigger picture for Maher and her team is to highlight the need for additional management of scavenged wildlife resources like antler shed. Working alongside researchers at the University of Wyoming, Maher’s academic paper entitled “The emerging need to manage scavenged wildlife resources,” is now in the peer review process.

Calling the new shed hunting regulations being introduced across the west a “big deal,” is an understatement according to Maher. She’s been following these regulations and others like it since the state first introduced closures back in 2009, and is hopeful that her recent survey and upcoming paper will aid in protecting the experience of shed hunting across the American west.