BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 4 2026
In recent years, shed hunting in Maine has exploded in popularity. Social media, online markets and rising demand for moose and deer antlers have turned what was once a personal passion into something far more competitive — and at times, cutthroat. Stories circulate of stolen spots, sabotaged areas, false online accusations and even threats exchanged between people who all claim to love the same woods. I turned shed hunting — particularly for moose antlers — into a business. Not out of greed, but necessity. The antlers I find help pay for gas, food, gear and the ability to continue traveling and searching in the North Maine Woods. I’ve received threats simply for monetizing something others believe should remain untouched, or reserved for a select few. Shed hunting doesn’t have to become a battleground. There is room for passion without hostility, competition without cruelty and success without sabotage. ~ Drew Maciel