Don Hoard, at right, and Shawn Hansel were in Dolores Tuesday morning buying antlers. Hoard and Hansel buy antlers for Wild West Designs, of Jackson, Wyo., and Idaho Falls, Idaho. The company makes chandeliers and furniture out of antlers. This is the time of year deer, elk and moose shed their antlers, and a good-sized, good quality elk antler, such as the one on the top of the trailer, is worth about $130. The two were in Dolores on Tuesday and on Wednesday and plan to return in about four weeks. One man makes as much as $20,000 collecting antlers in New Mexico, Hoard said, adding, "You have to hike a lot."
Joe Lewandowski, Colorado Parks and Wildlife southwest region public information officer, said that anyone can go out on public land and look for antlers without getting a permit.
"However, we ask that people don't harass wildlife," he said.
Deer and elk start shedding their antlers in February and March.
Shannon Livick/Dolores Star
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