Another Taxidermy Question

LIK2HNT · Jul 16, 2007

Since someone already asked about how to treat velvet. I would like to know if anyone has been successful doing an European mount in velvet. I have tried, but the steam from boiling the skull slipped the velvet. I now have to send it out and have artificial velvet put on it. I have another one to do from today that I just put in the freezer. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Bill

Packout · Jul 17, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jul-17-07 AT 06:13AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-17-07 AT 06:13 AM (MST)

Like these: (scroll down the page when you get there, bottom right)

www.sagebasin.com/euro_gal.html (I would have posted a picture, but I have no idea how)

I just wanted to show you that it can be done. Velvet Euros are one of the hardest mounts to complete. Best of luck with it. You can PM me and I will give you some hints.

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nmtaxi · Jul 17, 2007

It can be done using the maceration method. The velvet has to be preserved fisrt, then the skull soaked in water, and the tissue rotted off. It's very smelley, and could take several weeks.
Another method would be to cut each antler off just below the burr, preserve them seperately, simmer (not boil) the skull as normal, and re-attach the antlers afterwards.

marley · Jul 17, 2007

wrap a plastic bag over the antlers covering the velvet and tie it off and then use the beetles to strip it clean. works!

balz · Jul 17, 2007

NM Taxi,
Thats just how I learned to do it. Thats the only way I know how and you ain't kiddin its stinky

Jordan

balz · Jul 17, 2007

Marley,
Be careful with that before I learned what NM Taxi was saying did that with a spike bull from Utah. Ended up ruining the velvet. The beetles may not be as bad but regular old magots did a number on those horns lucky for me it was one of my buddies elk and he was cool about it.
Jordan

kilowatt · Jul 17, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jul-17-07 AT 09:56AM (MST)[p]Bill,
Do like nmtaxi said and then when it starts to really smell, get out a large fan and blow that sticky smell to your back neighbor who is a jerk. LOL

Congrats on the new buck.

Brian

LIK2HNT · Jul 17, 2007

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Daniel, I do not want to cut the antlers off, but the maceration method sounds like it might work. Should I change the water once a week or every few days? Should I use the same soap etc that I use to boil out (simmer) the skulls? Right now the antlers are in the freezer. Latter this week after I get the meat cut up and packaged I will pull them out and apply velvet tan. And start the maceration process.

Thanks again
Bill

P.S. Brian that is exactly where I was planning to do this. The fan would be to obvious so I will leave it out of the process.

nmtaxi · Jul 17, 2007

I'll usually change it out about every 2 weeks. In the maceration process, if it ain't stinkin', it ain't workin. But, since it's summertime, probably once a week, and spray the skull down with a hose each time you chance the water, and try to pull some of the tissue off with pliers.
I would leave the soap out of it until you degrease. A lot of times the soap with stay at the top, and since your skull won't be completely submerged, it might stain the bone yellow or blue depending on the type of soap.