With my lab, I just play fetch with horns, and also stash them for him to find, and layer on the congrats and treats when he brings them back. I also have him pick up any horns we find in the field before I touch them, that way he isn't picking them up based on my scent, but learning to pick them up before I touch them...you may have to lead him to the horn, and point it out, but he should figure out the game before to long....main problem I have with my lab, is that Grouse is his #1 passion, and my shed hunting grounds is lousy with grouse, so he gets distracted, and then irritated that I don't shoot the grouse he finds....

Hopefully, Lucky has mastered the basic training of "sit,stay,heel" and "fetch."

Get Lucky's toys and a few sheds and have him retreive the toys and sheds and reward him. Move the sheds and toys further away from him. Keep it fun and use an excited voice to keep his enthusiasim intact.

Work with him several times a week as to not tire him. I use an excited voice along with the rewards to let him know that the games are about to begin. Keep moving the toys and "horn" further away until you begin to hide them behind trees, bushes, and or, fence posts. This way he has to use his sense of smell instead of sight.

Continue with the toys and sheds, but now only reward him when he retreives the shed. After Lucky begins to accomplish this task begin to toss the sheds as his skill begins to improve, so he doesn't follow your scent to the shed. Don't allow Lucky to see you tossing the shed.

After a week or so of successes, take Lucky into the field for the real thing. Don't forget the rewards! When you locate an antler,lead him to it, but don't touch it. This will allow the dog to associate the antler without human scent, and his nose will become more accustomed to the shed scent alone.

As soon as Lucky locates the shed use your excited voice! An excited voice, usually a higher pitch, creates an excitement much different than the treat. Although, make sure you use the voice with the treat.

And Scott ... you might just get lucky with Lucky!

Lot's of snow here in eastern iowa but that doesn't keep me from looking for those shed's. three so far this year but thing's have slowed down lately , not from the lack of trying. good luck and don't give in to mother nature.

I saw a lot of bucks at the end of deer season. I'm looking forward to a good shed season but I won't hit the woods until March.

Congrats on a good find Scott. It looks like a dandy shed.

Some 35 years ago , I had my field trial labs digging iced down beers out of a cooler for me , before it was shown on tv comercials . Fun to impress your friends.. All I can say is to keep up with the repitition , ( The Mother Of Learning )

good find, cant wait to get my lab pup out and give her a real run. She does well with fetching and finding sheds I've hidden, hopw she works just as hard in the deer woods.

That's a nice shed. I'll be trying to find me one this year.

Hope to get back to my hunting grounds soon,in Ga last year I was still seeing bucks with 1 or both sides still on in march. I seen a picture of a coyote with a shed in it's mouth,if there was not enough reasons to hate coyotes already.