Then the sooner you can be in the field after an antler is dropped, the better the dog's chance of finding it, right? But then again, you may want to wait until March to do your searching.

Here's why.

If the deer in your area are sensitive to human pressure or dogs, you don't want to go in before they've dropped their antlers and risk spooking them away from there. If you know of a little honeyhole that other hunters aren't likely to find, then it may be best to wait to go in until early or mid-March -- once you know that all the bucks have dropped their antlers.

If you're targeting migratory bucks on late-season hunts, the last thing you'll want to do this time of year is drive them out of their small core area, before they drop their racks.

In this case, waiting until March is a good idea.

However, if the area you hunt is heavily pressured, then it may be in your best interests to begin your search early, as soon as the deer start dropping their antlers.

Comb the area wisely. Don't let your dog stray. Slip in quietly, quickly scour the area and get out of there.

Return every couple of weeks to search for fresh drops. This will allow you to learn what bucks are there, when they shed -- and more importantly, find the racks before someone else does.

Weather conditions play a major part in a dog's ability to locate sheds. The best conditions, Waller said, are when it's overcast, but dry. Better yet, if there's a very light wind down along the ground, then the chances of a dog's picking up a scent is better. If scent stays low to the ground and dogs are working into the wind, they'll locate a lot more antlers. Labs work great under these conditions because this weather isn't too stressful on their bodies.

If it's too wet, as during or after a heavy rain, the scent could be masked. If the air's too dry, the scent can dissipate into the air, making it tough for even a dog to locate.

THE BENEFITS
With the help of dogs, some guys bring home 50 percent to 70 percent more antlers than when they hunted them alone, on foot. What's even better, they're going into these same areas during hunting season and scoring on record-book bucks.

If you're a dedicated antler hunter looking to use the best dog and find the most antlers, you can greatly increase your odds of success come hunting season. Just knowing there are trophy animals in the area will boost your confidence. And if you hang your stands in the right place, or still-hunt the same area where you found big sheds, the chance of tagging a record-book buck increases dramatically.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Haugen is co-host of the Outdoor Channel's Outdoor America and Wild Encounters TV. For signed copies of his latest book, Trophy Blacktails: The Science of The Hunt, visit www.scotthaugen.com.