Top 10 Places to Find Bones

Where to Find Sheep Bones

If you live anywhere near farmland, sheep bones are probably the easiest ones you’ll come across. Seriously, they’re everywhere once you start looking!

The best place to search is in sheep fields up on hills or moorland areas. Here’s the thing: when sheep die close to the farm, farmers usually remove the bodies. But up on the moors and mountains? It’s too difficult to get to them, so nature just takes its course.

These high-up areas can be pretty harsh environments for sheep, and unfortunately, quite a few don’t make it. Some die out in the open, but make sure to check sheltered spots too – like under rocky overhangs or near old stone walls where sheep go to get out of the wind.

One word of warning though: you probably won’t find a complete sheep skeleton all in one place. Foxes and other scavengers pull them apart and drag the bones all over the place. Isabel once found a sheep skull and then spent an hour tracking down the leg bones that were scattered like 50 feet away!

Where to Find Rabbit Bones

Rabbit bones were actually the first ones we ever collected, and they’re PERFECT for beginners. There are tons of rabbits around, and lots of predators that hunt them (foxes, hawks, owls), so you end up with plenty of bones to find.

Your best bet is to look near rabbit warrens or in grassy fields. We’ve found rabbit bones just sitting in our backyard near the fence line where rabbits like to hang out.

Sometimes you’ll even find bones that are still held together with dried tissue or sinew, which means they were killed pretty recently. It’s actually really cool from an educational standpoint – you can see how the skeleton connects!

Where to Find Deer Bones

Okay, so there are different types of deer, and where you find them depends on the species.

Red Deer

Red deer are the big ones, and they’re pretty secretive. Because they’re large animals, you’ll usually find most of the skeleton together in one spot (unlike those scattered sheep bones).

In our area, red deer love pine forests that border open fields or moorland. The best places to look are at the edges of woods or along trails. We found an amazing red deer skull right at the edge of a clearing – the deer had probably gone there when it was sick or injured.

Roe Deer

Roe deer are smaller than red deer and less skittish around humans. They’ll live closer to towns and on farmland, which makes them easier to spot.

Once you find woods where roe deer hang out, you should be able to find bones. Pine forests are great for searching because there’s less undergrowth blocking your view. You can actually SEE the ground!

Sadly, a lot of roe deer get hit by cars. Isabel and I have actually found several baby fawns at the side of the road. It’s sad, but if you’re going to check roadkill, just make sure you’re being super safe and not putting yourself in danger from traffic.

Where to Find Fox Bones

Not gonna lie – fox bones are tough to find. We’ve only found a couple of fox skulls in all our years of searching.

The main problem is that in rural areas, farmers and gamekeepers often shoot foxes (especially during lambing season), and they usually dispose of the bodies. So you really have to get lucky to stumble across fox remains.

When we did find fox skulls, they were at the edge of wooded areas. Also, pro tip: be SUPER careful with fox teeth because they fall out crazy easily. Isabel lost a canine tooth from her first fox skull just from carrying it home!

Where to Find Badger Bones

We haven’t found any badger bones ourselves because there aren’t many badgers where we live. But from what I’ve read and heard from other bone collectors, the best place to look is near badger setts (their burrow systems).

Here’s what’s interesting: badgers often die inside their setts, and then months or years later, another badger will dig out the old tunnels and push the old bones to the surface. So check the soil piles near active setts!

You can also find badgers that have been hit by cars along country roads, though that’s obviously pretty sad.

Where to Find Mouse and Vole Bones

Okay, this is one of my FAVORITE things to do with Isabel because it’s like a treasure hunt!

Mouse and vole bones are way too tiny to just find lying around. But there’s a hack: owl pellets!

Owls swallow mice and voles whole, digest the meat, and then cough up pellets containing all the fur and bones. It’s disgusting and AMAZING.

Look under trees at the edges of fields where owls like to perch. When you find pellets (they look like gray, fuzzy lumps), take them home and carefully pick them apart with tweezers or cocktail sticks. You’ll find the tiniest, most perfect little skulls and bones inside!

Isabel has an entire collection of mouse skulls from owl pellets, and each one is like finding a miniature work of art.

Where to Find Bird Bones

Bird bones can be surprisingly tricky to find in good condition. The problem is that predators usually crush the skull and other bones when they kill birds.

We walk through woods with TONS of pheasants and lots of foxes hunting them, but we hardly ever find pheasant skulls. When we do find bird bones, it’s usually been lucky finds – like a woodcock skull or a duck skull near a pond.

One good spot to check is around the base of hawk or buzzard nests. Birds of prey bring prey back to their nests, so you might find bones below them.

Also look around fence posts that birds of prey use as hunting perches!

Also Look For: Beaches

I’ll be honest – we don’t live near any beaches, so this isn’t somewhere we’ve personally searched. But SO many bone collectors have told me that beaches are absolutely incredible for finding bones!

If you’ve got access to a beach (especially one that’s not super crowded with tourists), check the tide line. You’ll find all sorts of seabirds, fish, and sometimes even seal or dolphin bones that wash up.

One of my online bone-collecting friends found an entire seal skeleton after a storm. I’m so jealous!

Also Look For: Gamekeeper Sites

This is a controversial one, but I think it’s important to mention.

In some rural areas, gamekeepers have spots where they dispose of animal remains – things like deer heads if they’re not keeping the antlers, lower leg bones, foxes, crows, and other animals. These sites are sometimes called “gamekeeper pits” or “bone yards.”

If you happen to find one of these spots, it can be an absolute goldmine for skulls and bones. But here’s the thing: these are usually on private property, and you need to be respectful and get permission before taking anything.

I’m NOT talking about poacher sites here, which is different. If you find evidence of poaching (where people are illegally killing animals), that should probably be reported to local authorities rather than treated as a bone-finding opportunity.

Also Look For: Gamekeepers Themselves

This might sound weird, but actual gamekeepers can be some of your best resources!

Gamekeepers manage land and wildlife, and they often know exactly where certain animals can be found. If you approach them respectfully and show genuine interest in bones and nature education, many of them are really helpful.

Our local gamekeeper has given us a couple of specimens over the years, including an amazing fox skull that Isabel still displays in her room. He knows we’re learning about anatomy and nature, and he appreciates that we’re not just being disrespectful to the animals.

Always be polite, explain what you’re doing and why (education!), and never expect anything. Building these relationships takes time, but it’s so worth it.

General Tips for Finding Bones

After years of bone hunting, here are some things I’ve learned:

Walk slowly and look down. I know this sounds obvious, but when you’re out hiking, it’s easy to just look at the scenery and miss what’s literally at your feet. Isabel has gotten so good at spotting bones – she’s like a bone-finding bloodhound!

Check areas where animals naturally shelter. Think about where animals go when they’re sick, injured, or trying to hide from predators. Under bushes, in hollow logs, near rock piles, in abandoned buildings.

Return to good spots regularly. If you find bones somewhere once, check that area again in a few months. Nature is always doing its thing, and new specimens appear all the time.

Respect private property. Always get permission before going onto private land. Most landowners are cool with it if you ask nicely, but trespassing is NOT okay.

Stay safe. Don’t put yourself in danger for a bone. That means not climbing sketchy cliffs, not stopping on busy roads, and being aware of your surroundings.

What We’ve Learned

Honestly, finding bones has become one of our favorite activities to do together. It gets us outside, teaches Isabel about anatomy and the circle of life, and we always have something to look forward to on our walks.

You don’t need any special skills or equipment – just your eyes and a willingness to get a little muddy. Start with the easiest bones (sheep and rabbits), and you’ll gradually develop an eye for spotting them.

And remember: every bone tells a story about the animal it came from. That’s what makes this hobby so fascinating!

Happy bone hunting! 🙂

Got questions about where to find bones in your area? Drop them in the comments below! I love hearing from other bone collectors!