All you guys with the magical elixir, magical mud techniques ever try just beating them up same as the original owner did?? I took a set with me after elk horns as it is a truly pathetic year for elk and passed some hours getting them back to #1 condition.
I've reead that the velvet blood is a crucial element in the process of coloring of antlers so right off the bat I whacked my finger between the horns and the tree and got that good base layer of scarlet on 'em.
After I had the red&gooey on there I started with some green sage, moved on to dormant rabbitbrush, then some juniper brush.
Let that set in while applying first aid to my finger, then went for a lodgepole, greased them up and got double duty as it clotted my blood flow with the sap. While still VERY sticky I went for a light pile of gopher dirt and sprinkled until tacky went away.
After a week of finger healing I went out and pretty much repeatd the process. I figure I have about 6-8 hrs in them which wouldn't work for a generic 180 set but for these ones (202+) it was worth it to me, this includes sanding little varmint chew marks and filling hairline cracks with filler.
They still have a green tint to them but this is browning as they sit and some final polishing on dead sage should clean up the tips just right.
before
after
I've reead that the velvet blood is a crucial element in the process of coloring of antlers so right off the bat I whacked my finger between the horns and the tree and got that good base layer of scarlet on 'em.
After I had the red&gooey on there I started with some green sage, moved on to dormant rabbitbrush, then some juniper brush.
Let that set in while applying first aid to my finger, then went for a lodgepole, greased them up and got double duty as it clotted my blood flow with the sap. While still VERY sticky I went for a light pile of gopher dirt and sprinkled until tacky went away.
After a week of finger healing I went out and pretty much repeatd the process. I figure I have about 6-8 hrs in them which wouldn't work for a generic 180 set but for these ones (202+) it was worth it to me, this includes sanding little varmint chew marks and filling hairline cracks with filler.
They still have a green tint to them but this is browning as they sit and some final polishing on dead sage should clean up the tips just right.
before
after
