Velvet Ruined, Now What?

[AZ4life]

I shot a very nice buck by my standards in the AZ Archery hunt at the end of the summer. I have killed many deer growing up, but never quite mount worthy. So being naive about mounting/caping/velvet care, I didn't do ANYTHING right to be able to have a nice mount. The conditions (100 degrees, miles from the truck, and hundred miles from a town and another tag to fill) didn't help. I of course ended up having to strip the velvet off.

The horns are really white. They can be stained i've heard, but they are also quite porous up on the points so I think they would look funny... Anyone had this happen?

Any way to have the velvet look back? I have found some synthetic stuff available back east, but it doesn't really look good to me.

Also, anyone know how much capes usually cost if you have to buy one? Ideally I could just get another buck next year and use that but I'm curious.

Thanks for any input-

 

[nfh]

i would be looking into some taxdermist and take the antlers it and have them look at it and maybe they might have a mount with fake velvet on it.

capes can vary. i have bought a couple of capes one cost 35 bucks only because to help me out since i was a student back then and my last one cost 75. that was my personal experence on the capes. but anywhere you go cost will vary

 

[TR175]

There are several types of velvet that can be put back on the horns by a taxidermist. In my opinion it will look better than perfectly preserved velvet anyways.

As far as a cape goes, I'm sure that will depend on the area and taxidermist. Anywhere from $50 to $150 would be my guess. Good luck!

 

[longshooter338]

Synthetic velvet definately yhe only way to go no formaldahyde to inject and its shot on staticly and it looks great !

 

[Gator]

+1 longshooter
I have see some mounts that look awesome with the fake velvet.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

 

[bucktaxi]

There's some good fake velvet out there and some bad. Request photos of previous deer done by the person doing the velvet, and see if you like it.

 

[moose]

fake velvet is the only way to go, have had several done, kind of pricey, but worth the final out come....