Preserving Velvet Antlers

MuskegMan

Active Member
Messages
724
I gotta question for you guys who preserve your velvet horns - especially those who hunt early season, when it's still pretty warm out. I've only done this myself once before and had pretty good luck. I sawed off the horns in the field. When I got back to town, I froze them and order up some velvet preservative through a Taxidery supply shop. I thawed out the horns and tried following the directions. They said to inject the solution with a syringe under the velvet. This didn't work too good. So it just saturated the entire horn mass several time and finally let the whole thing dry out. I know for some animal horns (e.g. Caribou) they just soak the whole thing in a 55 gal drum of the solution.

Anyone tried preserving themselves? One problem I had was with matting of the velvet "hairs." They tended to matt down in areas. I tried a toothbrush to revive them, but not too well. Just looking for any tips from others so when I get a real nice one, I'll have it my technique perfected.

MM
 
I had mine done by a profesional with the injection method and they definately matted down. I've seen some done by the freeze dryed method and they look much better. I think they just put them in a freezer for several months (more than 12??) until they get all the moisture sucked out of them. Try going to http://www.taxidermy.net/ and search in the archives for this subject. I'm sure you'll get a lot of info there.

Carl
 
if you can help it don't freeze them first , if you think you are hunting early keep a bottle with you (in camp).freezing drys them and makes its hard to inject also if there a day or so away from rubbing. inject them EVERYWHERE coat them well ,once dry then freeze long as posible .you will have to toothbrush them . takes alot of time but should fluff back pretty good. never as good as when alive though . the only way to get the lifelike ,is to send off to have professional(artificial)done this could cost two to three hundred dollars though.remember there are blood vessels in there its important to get the injecting fluid in the vessels and use alot... I hope this helps some . good luck jack (jakstr) sheridan creek taxidermy
 
Does anyone have a number of someone that professionally does the velvet look or does freeze drying? I'm going on a September Kansas muzzleloader hunt and will probably end up shooting a whitetail in full velvet. This will more than likely be a once in a lifetime hunt for me and if I score I want the mount to look right. Cost is not an issue, I just want the best, most realistic, look possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You can post here or P.M. me if you like. Thank you in advance. Panhandle.
 
I wouldn't go with the artificial route. I have seen a couple with it and it looks terrible. And with the artificial stuff you usually have to send it off somewhere and I here there is a big problem with the artificial velvet falling off on the return trip to you. So in my opinion a little matted down velvet looks much better than the fake stuff.

alpinebowmen

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->
 
I don't know where you've seen these exampales ,but the good quality service is hard to tell from the real one and very durable. my sugestion is go to a high quality taxidermist who could send it off for you... he will have to strip it ,maybe this was the flaw . thats the key "CLEAN from bactreia"look around if you don't like ,don't do it . Remember you get what you pay for and quality varies... view the work... good luck hunting. jakstr
 
I injected the velvet myself and rubbed them down to make sure all areas were covered well. After drying completely I washed them with shampoo and a tooth brush to fluff them back up. Not sure if the shampoo hurts them or not but it seemed to work pretty good.
 
I wouldn't go with the artificial either. It is for last resort cases where you lose the original velvet.
Travis Roundy
Roundy Taxidermy

Once the artificial velvet is applied the antlers cannot be officially scored either.
 
Velvet is not "dried" per say by taxidermists. It is generally cured by injecting formaldehyde into the veins underneath the velvet. Once completely injected, a light application on the outside with a brush is common and completes the cure once it dries. This method is tried and true and will give you years and years of enjoyment on your velvet trophy. I have a few mounts cured with this method and they have not changed a bit over the years. I was recently shown how to do this correctly by a taxidermist, so maybe I won't have to lose another velvet deer when I'm way in somewhere.

There is also a fairly newer method of applying "fake" velvet to antlers that some are referring to above. I had this done recently when I lost the velvet on a mule deer after the meat locker failed to keep my mount frozen until I could inject the velvet correctly. I totally agree with Travis, if given the choice the injected method looks more natural. However, the fake is a good alternative. Just make sure you have the animal officially measured BEFORE applying.

I've attached two photos of anmimals showing both methods. The top photo shows a mule deer (far right) with the formaldehyde injection method. The lower photo shows a mule deer with "fake" velvet. Both came out fine, IMO, but the color on the injected deer looks more natural to me. Hope it helps.

Hey Travis, do you recognize the cape on the artificial velvet buck?? :)

1781nv25_002-med.jpg


BOHNTR )))---------->
 
both look great. @#it! happens no doubt. talk to your local taxidermist now that you have all this info.good luck
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom