Most of the United States are enduring a lengthy, frigid winter. Is cabin fever beginning to affect your family? If so I have a cure. Go on a treasure hunt while enjoying a nature hike. Is this something your children would enjoy? Then take your kids shed deer antler hunting. It's a nice change of pace, different scenery and good exercise. As a father it's a opportunity for quality family time. As a hunter it gives an opportunity for some late season scouting.

 Kids naturally have one of the most important components needed to be a successful shed antler hunter, curiosity. My own children, Robbie and Danielle ages nine and twelve respectfully, can't wait until the local deer drop their antlers. Normally in our part of Ohio that is around late January to late March, sooner in the south and later to the north.

 Most children love to play games. Because of the thrill of today's advanced true to life computer games kids spend more time indoors with their eyes and thoughts glued to television screens. Getting the kids out more into the woods and fields teaches them many real lessons. Watching the eyes of a child beam with excitement of a found antler, gives encouragement to explore the outdoors more often. After hours of walking and searching, that discovered antler is equivalent to a trophy to put on a shelf. A shed antler is the main treasure but not the only one to be found. Don't rush the search team. They will discover many other interesting finds. Let them explore. The more they become interested in the outdoors the longer they will carry their excitement for nature and memories of their adventures with them. Hopefully they will persuade others to get out and enjoy as well. It's so important that we teach our youth to preserve our natural environments and to carry on good management practices of them.

 Exercise, most of us know we need more of it. Especially our children who are growing up in a world of electronic recreation. On a average antler hunt we cover approximately one mile in two hours, a nice workout that includes stretching and flexing of the upper and lower body. During the shed season we try to get out at least three times a week, even if only for a twenty minute walk around our home. It's not rare to find antlers close to human dwellings, as long as you have seen deer in those area's.

 Sheds are found in all types of the deer's habitat. Bedding, feeding and watering area's have all yielded shed antlers. The best location that I have found is on travel routes. These transition areas that deer move from one site to another. Think about the most likely event when a loose antler will become unattached. Swift head movements occur more often during travel. The places we check first are where trails intersect streams and heavy brush, any situation that a buck would encounter causing him to jump. The landing from a jump will jolt the antler to release. Feeding areas are our second choice, again because of head movement. Head down feeding and then a sudden jerk upward to check for danger will send a loose antler to the ground for your search party to retrieve.

 Some antlers are dark in color and some bright depending on the deer's feed supply and genetics. Sunshine on a light colored forest floor makes the shed antler somewhat camouflaged laying on the ground. Cloudy days give the best opportunity for a find. Better still would be after a rain has fallen and darkened the forest floor. A cloudy, rainy day may not be the best for a walk but it will make those antlers stick out like a light in the dark.

  So what can you do with your find? Most collectors mount their antlers on a wood plaque for display. My kids like to carry their antler finds around showing them off so they simply lay theirs on a shelf where they can have easy access to them. I take many photos of the children with their trophies and make several copies for us to share. Antlers make a nice show and tell item for school as well. If finding the antlers is the most important part and not so much an addition to a collection, there is a market for them. Many craftsmen use the antlers for knife handles, belt buckles, jewelry as well as many other items.

 So then, turn off the television, tell the kids to get their boots on and get out there to cure that cabin fever. After they find their first shed antler you may have another dilemma. Trying to convince them it's time to terminate their adventure and go back inside.  By Robert R. Loewendick

 Bio - Robert lives in Hopewell, Ohio with his wife Linda and children Danielle and Robbie. He is an avid wildlife observer and enjoys outdoor writing as well. You can reach him by e-mail at rrloewendick@yahoo.com

Backwoods Bound wants to thank Robert for sharing this article with us. We are truly grateful.

 The type of fish expected is sand sea trout (sand trout) and kingfish (whiting) not to be confused with king mackerel. The fish are not large and usually are approximately 12 - 13 inches long. Some are bigger and some are smaller. There is no bag limit and there is no size limit. Keep what you want and throw back the rest. Both are good eating.

 There are four species of kingfish (whiting) that occupy the waters near the United States. Near Texas the two most prevalent species are southwestern kingfish, Menticirrus americanus, and the Gulf kingfish, Menticirris littoralis. These kingfishes have a subterminal mouth and a barb on the chin. These species have no air bladder, slender dorsal spines and an asymmetrical caudal fin. Both species feed off the bottom and their diet consists mainly of crabs, shrimp and mollusks. They, along with one other species, are fished commercially in the Chesapeake Bay. One species occupies the waters of the Pacific coast.

 The sand sea trout (sand trout), Cynoscion arenarius, is a resident of Texas waters. It also can be found along Mexico and as far south as the Gulf of Campeche. It's body is shimmering silver with a very light iridescent shine along the sides. The charateristics of the species include 11 soft anal rays and the gillrakers number 10 - 11. According to McClaine's Field Guide to Saltwater Fishes of North America, Henry Holt and Company, Inc. (Copyright 1978), the life history is not well known but, it is believed that the species may be migratory. They are found abundantly near South Padre Island, Texas and support part of the economy's sport fishery.

 Depending on the number of passengers and the number of those fishing there are a lot of different species caught. You may expect saltwater catfish, ribbon fish, rock fish, "piggy" perch, croaker, octopus, rays and an occasional snapper, sheepshead or black drum. Rarely, but it has been known to happen; you may land a black tip shark (usually a small one) or mackerel. However the vast majority of fish caught will be the sand trout or whiting. You do need a fishing license with a saltwater stamp. However, those under 17 are exempt if fishing with an adult.

 Next month in Part 3, Jason wraps up the article with information on items to take with you and a few recipes for cooking your catch from Laguna Madre.

ANSWER TO BACKWOODS TRIVIA:   It refers to flintlock rifles that sparked but did not shoot. Old flintlock rifles had an indentation--a pan--that held the priming powder. When the gun's trigger was pulled, sparks produced by the steel hammer struck a flint that ignited the charge. Sometimes the powder failed to ignite the main charge that shot the bullet--it just "flashed in the pan". Today the phrase is used to describe things, like athletes, that draw lots of attention to themselves but ultimately disappoint surprisingly quickly.