Elk Shed Hunting in Arizona

I will be in Arizona this weekend and was going to look for sheds in Units 9 and possibly unit 3C. I know it's probably a long shot, but does anybody have any advice on specific places within these units to start looking for sheds?

the ground

Just goes to show there's one in every group.

That answer seems a little incomplete to me. I'd look on th ground at or near the exact spot they fell off the elk.

Ok so now there's two in every group.

Water, food sources , bedding areas, fencelines would be places to start.

Just curious, and not trying to hijack, but is it still illegal to take elk antlers off National Park/Forest land?

It's illegal to remove sheds from areas designated as a "wilderness area", the rest of the National Forest is open. I'm not sure about National Parks, but I would bet they would have similar rules to the wilderness areas.

Sorry I can't help with 3 or 9, I've lived/hunted in and around Flagstaff, Winslow and Camp Verde so more familar with 4/5/6. Good luck, work the fences and just off the tops of any ridglines.

RUN! Forest RUN! I swear....

haha!

From what I have read and researched, you can take a naturally shed antler from anywhere in the state of Az. BUT, if you find a dead elk, no matter how old, you must notify the game warden before removing that carcass/ skull. If he deems it necessary to come look at it, he will evaluate it to see if it died of natural causes or if it might have been poached. If it's poached you're out of luck, keep on walking, their going to investigate and keep it for evidence. If its deemed natural caused then most of the time they will let you have it. SO says my research.

Leave Natural Objects and Cultural Artifacts
Natural objects of beauty or interest such as antlers, petrified wood, or colored rocks add to the mood of the backcountry and should be left so others can experience a sense of discovery. In National Parks and some other areas it is illegal to remove natural objects.

http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles_4.php

The "some other areas" are designated wilderness areas, which are clearly defined on Forest Service maps.

Directly from AZGFD website:

State law requires an individual to have evidence of legality when possessing or transporting wildlife carcasses or their parts. A hunting license and/or big game tag meets this requirement for wildlife lawfully taken during hunting season. However, if an individual in the field finds dead wildlife, or any part of an animal he or she did not legally take during the hunt, then that individual may not automatically possess and /or transport any of it. An exception is that there are no restrictions on the possession of naturally shed of cast antlers.

If an individual wishes to keep such wildlife parts found in the field (other than shed antlers), he/she must contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department so an officer can determine the cause of death of the animal. If it is determined the animal died from a natural cause, such as predation, disease, fights, falls, drowning, lightning, etc., the wildlife part may be possessed by the individual. If the officer determines the animal died from an unnatural cause, such as wounding loss, illegal activity or vehicle collision, no part of the wildlife may be possessed or transported.

If the cause of death cannot be determined and the wildlife part is fresh, meaning bone or tissue moisture is present and the part is not oxidized, possession will not be allowed. This also applies to parts, such as skulls, where the age cannot be determined because the finder has boiled and/or cleaned them. If the cause of death cannot be determined and the part is old (with no moisture and oxidized), possession will be allowed.



As far as the "ethical" portion is concerned antlers are unlike, petrified wood, colored rocks and some of these other more "permanent" fixtures. Antlers like wood, will eventually decay and become dust. People take wood from these places and burn it in a fire to never be seen or heard from again. What if I wanted to see that one particular piece of wood that they roasted marshmellows over? Kinda assanin, considering it is either going to rot or be put to use. I'm not going to take every antler from the state of Arizona, but I would like to get a representative of the species for that particular area. And I'm not doing it to make money or to sell for that matter.

Sorry, wasn't trying to open a can of worms. It's just nothing I would have ever thought of on my own, and I didn't want anyone needlessly getting crossways with some over-enthusiastic local authorities over a set of sheds. On a few trips I've been on, years ago, I have been specifically told to leave sheds where they lay and that it was illegal to remove them. (National parks in Colorado and Wyoming) From what I was told, it's not so much a matter of "so others can enjoy seeing them as well" but that the sheds are an important food source for indigenous rodents and canine. (field mice and coyotes chew on them) I personally don't give an indigenous rodents backside, if the law says you can pick 'em up, then pick 'em up if you want.

edited to add: Well, at least you looked it up. Now you can go forth in confidence that you are perfectly within your rights! have a great time and be safe. I really wasn't trying to rain on your parade, just didn't want you to see any needless trouble for a harmless act.

I appreciate the pushback, makes me double check what I read and found. Hopefully I find some sign of some decent animals, so I will have an idea of where to hunt here in about 20 years when I draw the tag.

Simple phone call to the AZGFD will solve the problem in an instant. They will tell you yes or no and where you can take them from.

FYI - Not trying to soapbox, but keep in mind that there are several other federal agencies that can/will write tickets. I lived in AZ for 30 years, and worked for the Forest Service for 6. Game and Fish officers in AZ are pretty decent folks, especially if it's not the first week of Dove season.
Forest Service LEO's/Prevention officers can ticket you, but only in the wilderness areas, which are clearly defined on most maps. Regular national forest properties are open to shed hunting. If your up around 9, you should be fine if your not on Park Property. I would call the regional G&F office in Flagstaff if you were going to call someone. They are pretty helpful. My 2 cents...

Well, no antlers were harmed or found during my weekend expedition. I did however talk to the folks at the Flagstaff National Parks center and asked them directly. They said if I am selling them, I must obtain a permit to pick them up. If I wanted one or two for personal use, then no permit is needed. Then on Saturday, I talked to the unit's game warden and posed the same question to him. Not against the law. So I was covered either way. Very pretty country. Defintley not what would pop into most peoples minds when Arizona is mentioned.

Glad you had a good time, sorry you didn't find any sheds. And yes, elevated Arizona is not at all what the thought of Arizona brings to the mind's eye. Pretty country indeed.