Scouts Make $$ Auctioning Elk Antlers

[mrkstvns]

First I've heard about something like this.....sounds like a cool (and profitable) idea!

https://buckrail.com/boy-scouts-antler-auction-rakes-in-big-money-for-racks/ 

 

[Double Eagle]

I got to see this in action in 2005.  This is a great win for everyone.  How cool it would be to run the refuge and gather antlers.  So much for popcorn.  This district has the right way to go about getting funded with a renewable source each year.  In addition to elk antlers, there are a lot of other things available to find.  There are skeletal parts from winter kills, deer antlers, and all kinds of things to keep scouts bug eyed.  I applaud the refuge directors and scouts in getting this continued.  If only more districts and councils could do things similar. 

One council that comes to mind that could do this is the "last frontier" council in Oklahoma.  They have the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in their backyard.  It has elk and buffalo.  Visitors are not allowed to remove anything from the refuge, but I've seen buffalo and elk skeletons near some of the hiking paths.  They have a free range longhorn cattle herd that is pretty big too.  If scouts worked a deal with the refuge to gather items like in Jackson, it may benefit both organizations. 

I could also see scouts in Michigan and the northwest working with the DNR for salmon run processing each year.  Michigan DNR used to filet salmon if you donated the eggs.  I would pay a fee for them and scouts to filet salmon.    

 

[RememberSchiff]

Nov, 2023: 

"...A total of 164 registered bidders participated, which yielded a total of $218,382, thus setting the world record for the World's largest elk antler auction, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Elk Antler Auction by the Numbers

• 1968: Year the auction began
• 8,000: Average pounds of antler that are offered for auction annually by the Jackson District Boy Scouts.
• 13,698: The record total poundage of antlers collected, set in 2014.
• $17: Average price per pound of antler
• 2,000: Amount of hours the roughly 200 scouts and adult leaders spend collecting elk antlers, cleaning them, organizing them and generally preparing the dropped sheds.
• 75: The percentage of proceeds from the auction that is donated by the Boy Scouts to be used for long-term habitat improvement projects at the National Elk Refuge; the other 25% goes towards funding the Boy Scouts’ Friends of Scouting dues. "

 (Source: Jackson Hole Traveler)

More info and photos at source:

https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/11/worlds-largest-elk-antler-auction-world-record-in-jackson-hole-wyoming-423539

Edited November 11, 2023 by RememberSchiff

[RememberSchiff]

April 25,2025:

“Instead of selling Boy Scout popcorn, we go elk antler hunting,”

"There’s a few rules to the Boy Scout shed hunt on the National Elk Refuge.

Don’t approach the bison. Don’t touch carcasses. Keep your group in sight at all times."

More at source:

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/valley/feature/boy-scouts-take-first-crack-at-shed-hunt/article_ebbb9c4b-56ba-42cc-a929-673cd18a6893.html

[jcousino]

very impressive project. i would unfortunately have to say that scout involvement violates the scouting LNT principles as this sheds provide a mineral source for a lot of small animals so removing something that is part of natural process violates leave what you find and respect wildlife.  but it does sound interesting money or principles. my 2 cents

[mrjohns2]

@jcousino I was going to say the same, but it is so neat. 

[InquisitiveScouter]

10 hours ago, jcousino said:

very impressive project. i would unfortunately have to say that scout involvement violates the scouting LNT principles as this sheds provide a mineral source for a lot of small animals so removing something that is part of natural process violates leave what you find and respect wildlife.  but it does sound interesting money or principles. my 2 cents

@jcousinoand @mrjohns2, it would have been nice to have a Wildlife Manager's perspective in the article to provide some balance and background on this. (We would hope that the area is under good wildlife management, as it is a National Elk Refuge.)

You are both correct, that, under the principles of Leave No Trace, we should "Leave What You Find".  However, for all principles, there should be an overriding understanding that the owners and/or managers of the land have the prerogative to allow activities which might seem to be in conflict with the principles.

Hunting in the National Elk Refuge is an example.  The land managers know the herd is too large for the land to sustain, so they permit the hunting of elk to cull the herd to reduce the numbers to restore a balance.

As I understand it, the elk antler hunt is a strictly managed, limited time, restricted entry event, so as to keep some of the antler resource in place.  https://www.jacksonwy.gov/668/Antler-Shed-Hunt

it is also quite funny to see the other side of this... now, some businesses are upset that the land managers and game commission are limiting the number of elk hunting licenses because the herd is getting smaller.  

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/jackson-elk-herd-hunt-season-sees-deeper-cuts-following-public-comment/article_5e6a7d56-4155-4832-8403-0b4af37f3594.html

'The outfitters blamed the herd’s downturn on wolves.

“The pressure from predation up there is horrific,” Taylor said.'

LOL... that's the mentality we really need to change...  good luck 😜

[jcousino]

I am in no way wanting to restrict landowners using good management  practices, but it looks like one thing, do something else if there is money to be made, scouting = $$