An incredible find in a most unlikely place

That's Andrus' grandson at left with the massive antlers. In the middle, Andrus is pictured with the huge buck he enterered into the Endeavor's Whitetail Classic this year. The bottom photo shows the enormity of the antlers as they would have been on the elk's head.

When it comes to prize possessions found in the outdoors, a nice set of sheds from a big, whitetail buck ranks up there as one of the best; and if you are lucky enough to live in the elk range or know where to search for elk sheds, a set of their massive antlers is even better.

So when Ron Andrus watched as an enormous 10x8 bull elk dropped the 10-point side of its antlers in his backyard two weeks ago, the veteran outdoorsman was able to walk just 60 feet from his house and add an amazing outdoor piece to what is an impressive, and growing, collection.

Andrus is probably not the first person to see an elk shed an antler. He might not even be the first person to witness the shedding of such a monstrous antler (it weighs 15 pounds).

But it's practically certain he's the first person to watch any of that happen in Gaines!

Yes. Gaines, a village mostly in Tioga County and partially in Potter County, miles and miles from the Pennsylvania elk's home range, in the southern reaches of Cameron and Elk counties, Potter County's neighbors to the southwest.

"I had been telling people for months Pam (his wife) and I had been seeing an enormous bull elk in our yard," Andrus said. "But nobody wanted to believe us. That's why I carry the antlers around in my truck!"

Andrus has been watching the elk for several months. It has hung around his large tract of land in Gaines for six months, coming and going at relatively regular intervals.

When Andrus read the Endeavor's Winter Journal and a story written by Benezett outdoor writer Carol Mulvilhill about "shed hunting," something clicked.

"I just got so excited because I realized I had one of the largest bull elk anywhere roaming around on my property," Andrus explained. "I couldn't wait for him to shed those antlers so I could get out there and try to find them."

Andrus said he would have walked "for days" if necessary, but as luck would have it, he didn't need to.

After the bull dropped its largest antler in his backyard as he stood watching through the picture window, it traveled less than 100 yards into the woods and dropped the other.

'It's 10 days later and I'm still excited about it," Andrus commented. "It's literally unbelievable."

What made it so unbelievable is that the elk "completely disappeared" just weeks before the typical time an elk of its size would drop its antlers.

"I was devastated," Andrus remarked. "I just couldn't believe it. We hadn't seen him in weeks."

But that changed and when the bull came back, it was bearing gifts.

"I told Pam not only was he back, he 'brought' his antlers," Andrus explained. "It was like he delivered them to us."

The antlers add to what is an impressive collection of outdoor items and memories Andrus can hang his hat on.

In 1995, he harvested a 500- pound black bear. Over the years, he has killed many nice buck, but none like the 10- point he shot this year. Making that kill more special was the fact that Andrus chased the buck all season in 2006, but was unable to get a clean shot. He later found the bucks perfect, 8-point sheds- both sides!

"To find his antlers, and I know they were his, and then finally get him, is really amazing," Andrus said. "I just feel so lucky."

It's probably a little more than luck, though. Andrus is no stranger to the woods, having been self-employed as a logger for much of his adult life.

"I spend a lot of time in the woods, but I've never found anything like this," he said of the elk antlers. "This is just a complete blessing."

Andrus, who is still carrying both sheds in his truck, isn't sure what he'll do with the antlers, although he did say he would "probably" have them mounted.

"I'm really not sure yet," he said of his plans for the antlers. "It's been 10 days and I am still just so excited about finding these that I haven't had time to think of much else."