Preserving deer antlers with velvet

Kenneth · 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

mo bo hunter · June 28, 2007, 02:32:00 PM

have them freeze dried. they hold the color and will not rot.

Carcajou · June 28, 2007, 02:42:00 PM

A couple weeks??

Bowhunting for deer in JULY???

You West Coasters got it made!!

Black Gold · June 28, 2007, 02:53:00 PM

Freeze dried.

tamure · 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!

Whip · 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]"

Hey, at least I was thinking positively! :rolleyes:

TexMex · June 28, 2007, 03:20:00 PM

[http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/15/velvet.html]
copy/paste but take the brackets off.

Kenneth · 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.

Roadkill · 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.