saving velvet antlers
- Thread starter sigfour
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R
redrabbit
Guest
Formaldehyde. Inject every 1/4" into the veins. Wear goggles.
There are also companies that flock bare antlers with artificial velvet.
There are also companies that flock bare antlers with artificial velvet.
slamdunk
Moderator
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- 10,389
No need to inject, formaldahyde is SUPER absorbant.
Injecting does work, but very dangerous.
We use it out on the mountain in our outfitter camps, just simply rub the stuff in the antlers.....USE RUBBER GLOVES!!
If you get some on your skin by accident, you'll beleive me when i said it's super absorbant. x(
Injecting does work, but very dangerous.
We use it out on the mountain in our outfitter camps, just simply rub the stuff in the antlers.....USE RUBBER GLOVES!!
If you get some on your skin by accident, you'll beleive me when i said it's super absorbant. x(
E
elkantler75
Guest
put the rack in the freezer as soon as possible after harvest. let them freeze dry for a few months and then mix up a borax and salt solution. dont be stingy with the borax and salt! let the rack soak for a couple days then pull it out to dry. soak it and dry it a couple more times. no need to change out the solution. let it dry completely and feel the tips of the antlers. if the velvet still slips around, continue the soaking and drying until there is no more slipping.
BGbasbhat
Very Active Member
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- 1,068
I spoke with Marietta Weller at Weller's Wildlife Studio's in Tucson, AZ about this topic a few months ago.
[http://www.wellerswildlifestudio.com/]
She mentioned to just keep the antlers a cold and dry as possible till you can get them to the taxi. Once you can get them to the taxi, have them freeze dry the rack, and it should be good.
HOWEVER, Randy Ulmer (who takes alot of his animals to Weller's) states when he cannot get the rack to the taxi in a decent amount of time he uses the formeldehyde technique. He also makes small cuts on top of the antlers and hangs them upside down to drain the blood.
[http://www.wellerswildlifestudio.com/]
She mentioned to just keep the antlers a cold and dry as possible till you can get them to the taxi. Once you can get them to the taxi, have them freeze dry the rack, and it should be good.
HOWEVER, Randy Ulmer (who takes alot of his animals to Weller's) states when he cannot get the rack to the taxi in a decent amount of time he uses the formeldehyde technique. He also makes small cuts on top of the antlers and hangs them upside down to drain the blood.
3
3Toes
Guest
I have used this technique in the past with good results.
Get a large shot needle and have it in camp. Needle should have about a 1 /32 inch opening. Mix borax and salt with water. Liquid should a little be milky. Hang the antlers upside down, and using the needle make a nmber of holes in each antler tine. Make sure you get each tip.
Here is the tough part. Feel just above the burr for small dips or canyons in the antler. These are the blood vessels that supply the velvet. Insert the needle into the small reverse ridge and inject the solution. You have to go along the antler not directly in. You are finding a vein just like a doctor, nurse, or paramedic, and unfortunately a number of other people in different situations do. Leave the needle inserted and unscrew the back refill and inject more solution. The solution will force the blood out of the antler through the holes you made in the tips. When you hit the vein right you will know it because blood will just run out the tips.
You will have to find a vein in each antler tine. You do this by just working you way down the antlers. Keep forcing the borax and salt solution in until you don't see anymore blood coming out.
Hang upside down and let dry. After a couple of hours I use a rag to gently rub down the velvet, forcing what ever liquid is left out of the antler. Then keep them as dry and cool as you can. This is a lot of work, but will save the velvet.
Get a large shot needle and have it in camp. Needle should have about a 1 /32 inch opening. Mix borax and salt with water. Liquid should a little be milky. Hang the antlers upside down, and using the needle make a nmber of holes in each antler tine. Make sure you get each tip.
Here is the tough part. Feel just above the burr for small dips or canyons in the antler. These are the blood vessels that supply the velvet. Insert the needle into the small reverse ridge and inject the solution. You have to go along the antler not directly in. You are finding a vein just like a doctor, nurse, or paramedic, and unfortunately a number of other people in different situations do. Leave the needle inserted and unscrew the back refill and inject more solution. The solution will force the blood out of the antler through the holes you made in the tips. When you hit the vein right you will know it because blood will just run out the tips.
You will have to find a vein in each antler tine. You do this by just working you way down the antlers. Keep forcing the borax and salt solution in until you don't see anymore blood coming out.
Hang upside down and let dry. After a couple of hours I use a rag to gently rub down the velvet, forcing what ever liquid is left out of the antler. Then keep them as dry and cool as you can. This is a lot of work, but will save the velvet.
