Start Bone Collecting Today

My daughter Isabel has been obsessed with bones since she was three years old, and honestly, it’s one of the best hobbies she could have picked up. (Well, maybe not the BEST according to grandma, but definitely up there!) Over the years, we’ve built an incredible collection, and I’ve learned that finding bones isn’t nearly as difficult as people think. If you’re curious about starting your own bone collection, you’re in the right place.

The beauty of bone collecting is that you don’t need fancy equipment or a huge budget to get started. You just need to know where to look, what to look for, and how to do it responsibly. Let me share everything I’ve learned from our years of adventuring and bone hunting.

Why Start Collecting Bones?

Before we dive into the where and how, let’s talk about why bone collecting is such an amazing hobby. First, it gets you outside exploring nature. Second, you learn SO much about anatomy, biology, and the wildlife in your area. Isabel can now identify most animals just by looking at their skulls – try doing that from a textbook! Plus, once you clean and display your bones, they make incredible educational pieces and natural decorations.

Getting Started: What You’ll Need

To start your bone collecting journey, you really only need a few basic supplies:

A backpack or bag for carrying your finds
Gloves (trust me on this one – you don’t always know how fresh that bone is!)
Paper bags or containers for transporting bones
A good pair of walking shoes or boots
Optional: A small notebook to record where you found things

That’s it! Unlike some hobbies that require you to buy a bunch of gear before you can even start, bone collecting is wonderfully accessible.

The Best Places to Find Animal Bones

Open Fields and Farmland

If you have access to farmland (with permission, of course!), this is gold. Sheep fields, especially those on higher ground like moors and hills, are fantastic places to start. When sheep die on remote moorland, farmers often can’t retrieve the bodies, so nature takes its course. Check areas where sheep might have sought shelter – near rocks, old walls, or abandoned structures.

Rabbit bones are everywhere if you know where to look. Near rabbit burrows and in grassy fields are your best bets. Rabbits are prey animals, so they’re constantly being hunted by foxes, hawks, and other predators, which means their bones are relatively easy to find. Sometimes you’ll even find bones still connected with sinew if the kill was recent!

Woodland Edges and Forest Paths

The edges of woods are like highways for wildlife, which makes them perfect for bone hunting. Deer (both large and small species) tend to die near the edges of forests or along paths. When we found our first deer skull, it was right at the edge of a clearing, exactly where you’d expect a sick or injured animal to rest.

Different types of woods attract different animals. Dense, dark forests might house larger deer, while lighter woods with more undergrowth near farmland attract smaller deer species. Pine forests with clear ground underneath make spotting bones much easier than dense, brushy areas.

Beaches and Shorelines

I’ll be honest – we don’t live near any beaches, so this isn’t my area of expertise. But I’ve talked to plenty of bone collectors who swear by beaches, especially quieter ones without heavy foot traffic. Seabirds, seals, and all sorts of marine life wash up on shores. Plus, the action of the waves often naturally cleans the bones for you!

The Magic of Owl Pellets

Want to find tiny bones from mice, voles, and shrews? Owl pellets are your answer! Owls swallow their prey whole, then regurgitate the indigestible parts – fur, bones, and all – in compact pellets. Look under trees at the edges of fields where owls perch.

Finding owl pellets is like opening a treasure chest of tiny bones. You’ll need tweezers and cocktail sticks to carefully pick them apart, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Isabel loves doing this because the small skulls are so delicate and beautiful.

Roadside Finds (With Important Safety Notes!)

I’m going to be very careful about how I word this because safety comes first, ALWAYS. If you see roadkill, it can be a source for your collection, but you should never, ever stop on a busy road or put yourself in danger. Only collect from quiet roads where you can safely pull completely off to the side.

Many deer, possums, and other animals are hit by cars, and while it’s sad, these can become part of your collection. Always wear gloves, and be respectful of the animal. Also, check your local laws – in some areas, you need permits to collect certain roadkill.

Building Relationships with Gamekeepers and Land Managers

This is something we stumbled into by accident, but it’s been incredibly valuable. If you’re serious about bone collecting, introduce yourself to gamekeepers or land managers in your area. Show them you’re responsible and genuinely interested in nature, not just trying to snoop around their property.

Gamekeepers often find dead animals while doing their work, and if they know you’re interested, they might save skulls or other bones for you. They can also point you toward areas where certain animals are common. One gamekeeper even told us about a spot where foxes frequently denned, which led to some amazing finds.

Ethical Considerations

Here’s something important that doesn’t get talked about enough: bone collecting needs to be done ethically and legally.

Always get permission before going onto private land. Trespassing isn’t just rude; it’s illegal and gives bone collectors a bad name.

Check your local laws. In many places, you can’t collect bones from certain protected species. In the US, for example, migratory birds and their parts are protected by federal law, even if you find them naturally deceased.

Respect the animals. These were living creatures. Approach bone collecting with reverence for nature, not just as a treasure hunt.

Report suspicious finds. If you come across what looks like a poacher’s dump site (places where illegally killed animals have been left), consider reporting it to authorities. Yes, it might be full of bones, but poaching damages ecosystems, and that goes against everything we love about nature.

What to Do Once You Find Bones

So you’ve found your first bone – congratulations! Now what? Don’t worry about identifying it immediately. Take it home (in a bag – please, don’t just throw it in your backpack with your snacks!), and then you can research what animal it’s from.

You’ll need to clean your bones before displaying them. I’ve written a comprehensive guide on how to clean animal bones using hydrogen peroxide, which covers everything from removing tissue to whitening. It’s easier than you think, I promise!

Final Thoughts

Starting a bone collection has been one of the most rewarding activities our family has done together. It’s gotten us outside, taught us about the wildlife in our area, and given Isabel a lifelong appreciation for anatomy and nature.

The best part? You can start today. You don’t need to buy anything fancy or go anywhere exotic. Just head out to your local woods, fields, or beaches with your eyes open and a bit of patience. Nature is full of treasures waiting to be discovered, and every bone has a story to tell.

So grab a bag, put on some sturdy shoes, and start your bone collecting adventure. Who knows what you’ll find? 🦴