Title: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Kenneth on June 28, 2007, 02:19:00 PM
Post by: Kenneth on June 28, 2007, 02:19:00 PM
Well archery season here in CA starts in a couple of weeks and the bucks are still in velvet. My question is: What is the best way to preserve the antlers when they still have velvet on them? Does the velvet rot over time? I appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Ken
Thanks,
Ken
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: mo bo hunter on June 28, 2007, 02:32:00 PM
Post by: mo bo hunter on June 28, 2007, 02:32:00 PM
have them freeze dried. they hold the color and will not rot.
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Carcajou on June 28, 2007, 02:42:00 PM
Post by: Carcajou on June 28, 2007, 02:42:00 PM
A couple weeks?? :scared: Bowhunting for deer in JULY???
You West Coasters got it made!!
You West Coasters got it made!!
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Black Gold on June 28, 2007, 02:53:00 PM
Post by: Black Gold on June 28, 2007, 02:53:00 PM
Freeze dried.
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: tamure on June 28, 2007, 02:56:00 PM
Post by: tamure on June 28, 2007, 02:56:00 PM
Deer season here starts August 1, so bucks here are also still in velvet. Thanks for the question and answers. Hopefully I'll have a chance to give it a try this year.
I'm not sure if we've got it made or not. Hunting when it's 95F... better find that deer quick!
I'm not sure if we've got it made or not. Hunting when it's 95F... better find that deer quick!
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Whip on June 28, 2007, 03:07:00 PM
Post by: Whip on June 28, 2007, 03:07:00 PM
If you can get it to a taxidermist quick enough freeze dried is a good option. But if you are packing in you might have to deal with them quicker than that. I hunted Nevada one year and we packed along some stuff that is made for that purpose and is injected into the veins of the antler to replace the blood inside. I suppose it was just some high priced formadehyde like the funeral guys use. The stuff we used is called "Antler In Velvet Tan" and came from a place called Knoblochs is Lafayette, CO 303-666-9045. (Unfortunately I still have the bottle I bought) !["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
Hey, at least I was thinking positively! :rolleyes:
Hey, at least I was thinking positively! :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: TexMex on June 28, 2007, 03:20:00 PM
Post by: TexMex on June 28, 2007, 03:20:00 PM
[http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/15/velvet.html]
copy/paste but take the brackets off.
copy/paste but take the brackets off.
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Kenneth on June 28, 2007, 08:45:00 PM
Post by: Kenneth on June 28, 2007, 08:45:00 PM
thanks guys. i'll have to do a search on taxidermists in the area and i may just pick up a bottle of that velvet tan too. hey Whip, does that stuff have a shelf life? drop me a PM if you're lookin' to get rid of it. thanks for the link Tex.
Title: Re: Preserving deer antlers with velvet
Post by: Roadkill on June 29, 2007, 12:19:00 PM
Post by: Roadkill on June 29, 2007, 12:19:00 PM
Balmex from Van dykes has always worked for me, but it is a lot of work. I injected every inch of a huge 4X4 from the Kaibab one year. Then let it thoroughly dry for a month or so before mounting it. Take a syringe and the Balmex to camp and as you sit around the fire, inject away!
July hunting-yep-we start on 1 Aug-bound to be close to 100 degrees....presents it own problem with spoilage and such.
July hunting-yep-we start on 1 Aug-bound to be close to 100 degrees....presents it own problem with spoilage and such.