Foraging & Collecting

Shed antlers — free for the finding

Every late winter and spring, deer and elk shed their antlers and grow a new set. You can pick up loose, dropped antlers without a permit on private land (with permission), MDC conservation areas, and the national forest — but not in state parks or on national park land. And one kind of find is different, too — worth knowing before you head out.

A loose shed antler is just a dropped object

Loose, naturally shed antlers need no permit — you're just picking up a dropped object. That's fine on private land (with permission), on MDC conservation areas, and in the national forest.

Not in state parks or on national park land

Not in state parks or on NPS land, where removing natural features is prohibited.

Stop — this one is different

A skull with antlers attached is not a shed

Antlers still attached to a skull plate — or a dead deer or elk head found with antlers attached — are different. Contact MDC before taking it; authorization may be required, and carcass-movement and disease rules can also apply.

A little etiquette

A little etiquette: don't trespass to chase sheds, don't stress deer on their winter range, and leave gates the way you found them.

Before you gather

Missouri Porch explains; the landowner and the land manager decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Rules differ by land type and change over time — and eating a wild plant or mushroom is a health decision, not a website decision. When in doubt, ask the land manager, check a field guide, and don't eat anything you can't name with certainty.

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Foraging and collecting rules change and depend on whose land you're on and what you're taking — always confirm with the landowner or land manager before you gather. For a suspected poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911.

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