Waterton Lakes National Park curtails antler collecting

Information bulletin

Mouse-chewed antler
Parks Canada photo

Finding an antler can be an exciting moment during a visit to a national park. While most people choose to leave the antler behind so other people can discover it, some people purposely seek out and collect antlers for financial gain.

While ‘shed hunting’ is legal in other jurisdictions, collecting antlers, and any other natural or cultural items, is illegal in national parks.

Why are antlers important?  Along with being an interesting item to come across while exploring the park, mineral-hungry squirrels, porcupines, rabbits, mice and other rodents gnaw antlers for calcium and other minerals which are important for their health. Collecting antlers removes important ecosystem nutrients and can affect wintering wildlife at a critical time of the year.



Many visitors to Waterton find antlers shed by deer, elk and moose and are tempted to take them home as a souvenir, but they must leave these wildlife ‘vitamins’ where they find them.

Antler poaching is a concern for Parks Canada. Parks Canada Wardens will continue to remain vigilant so all park visitors have the opportunity to discover these natural treasures and enjoy healthy wildlife, both large and small, in the park.