“Bone Hunter” Finds, Sells Antlers

“Bone Hunter” Finds Sells Antlers SPECIALTY/SERVICES For Adam Stange the hunt for antlers started out as a hobby that turned into a family adventure that makes money Known as the Bone Hunter he sells buys and trades antlers from his Livermore Colo home The business fits in nicely with something his family enjoys - hiking His wife Chara 3-year-old daughter Nola and their yellow Labrador Willow hunt antlers with him Stange started searching for whitetail deer antlers when they lived in Wisconsin The hobby expanded when he started taking trips with his brother-in-law Craig Orth out West in the spring to look for antlers in Montana and Wyoming on public lands and where Orth hunted “After we moved to Colorado we found so many antlers we didn’t know what to do with them ” Stange recalls When he posted on Craigslist a larger buyer contacted him and offered him a job procuring antlers Now Stange runs his own business Between March and May he hikes in areas where wildlife is plentiful to look for elk and mule deer antlers plus occasional moose and whitetail deer antlers It’s not uncommon to walk 10 to 15 miles with a special backpack that allows him to stack antlers tightly together He or his wife carries their daughter in a backpack “I use binoculars There’s a lot of sitting and glassing ” he says to locate the antlers Most of the antlers are older and end up sold for dog chews “If it’s a fresh drop that’s what crafters want - brown and not chewed on ” Stange says The most valuable are trophy-size or unusual antlers that collectors want The Stanges keep the largest for their collection and sell others Prices range from $1 to $15/lb with trophies selling for more Stange sells to pet stores distributors and individuals through word-of-mouth advertising He also buys antlers He notes that people interested in antler hunting on public lands should check into regulations Some areas don’t allow antler hunting between Jan 1 and May 1 to avoid putting pressure on wildlife “It’s a lot of work The more miles you go the heavier the pack ” Stange notes But searching for antlers has been an opportunity for him and his family to see plenty of wildlife including one special outing when they saw wild horses in Wyoming Stange invites people to contact him about buying or selling antlers Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Adam Stange Bone Hunter 591 Brown Bear Way Livermore Colo 80536 ph 715 613-5788; stange00@hotmail com

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