I will be hunting in the NWT for Dall sheep in August, and the Caribou will be in velvet. There are some great "woodland" caribou in the area, and for a trophy fee of $2500 this is not a bad add-on and I'll probably never shoot a caribou any other way. The antlers would be sent back at a later date (not brought with me), and I suspect arrive pretty beat up (judging by my previous experience w/moose antlers in velvet).

Here are my options:

- Taxidermist strip and color/stain - The moose I had done in this manner is "glossy", although the taxidermist's work was poor. Has anybody had good experience with this, or will they look unnatural?

- Re-do with Synthetic Velvet - Expensive (quoted $350 for an average set and more for large racks, versus maybe $125 for coloring).

- Outfitter said they can dip them in turpentine - would this be to preserve them? And wouldn't they stink forever?

- Just take a picture…

Suggestions?

Thanks!

Bill, redo with fake velvet if its a well formed antler(ie late season velvet). otherwise you might be disappointed. if its early season, take a pic.

The reason I say this is because early season the antlers are not "hardened" so some parts will be soft and probably wont be there when you get them back. they could be much smaller than when you shot it.

you can try the turpentine, it wont smell as bad as you think. see if methanol is an option. it does work pretty good.

There is a product called Preserve-it. Most taxidermist know about it or can get info on it. Some claim that it will preserve velvet if injected into velvet ASP after kill. It is not expensive.

The idea is to inject into the knurl of the antlers (base) into the veins feeding the velvet (fresh) and push out blood through the tips which you have punctured to begin with. Then paint the velvet with solution. This product is $25.00 or so per litre. The manufacturer is Rittel's from Mass.

I have used this product on deer antlers in velvet by just soaking them in the solution. It does work...to a degree. The velvet stays on but does not keep its "plump" look...

Bill

My caribou was shot in August. The outfitter injected and painted the velvet in the field with a preservative. He mentioned that it was like formaldehyde but had no significant odor. I do not know what product he used but this was 8 years ago and my trophy still looks great. The outfitter told me that he had to take greater care when transporting antlers still in velvet. They did not stink when they arrived.

You might want to post this question on another taxidermy forum and see what others recommend. I did a google search and found this site:

http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/

Good luck.

I've had the same experience as Ron L, no problems. I wouldn't recommend the "Taxidermist strip and color/stain" as most I've seen look fake.

You can order formeldhyde from some of the taxidermy companies in quart containers. Get some, and some syringes from the local farm/feed store. After youve shot you bull and the horns have been removed begin injecting the formeldhyde. Push in a little at a time wait 20 minutes, hit it again. Do this to each point on each antler. You can then either continue to fill the antlers from the tips or as was suggested, start at the base. Hang the horns to drain but keep pumping the stuff in. You can brush it on the outside as well. Be sure to wear gloves and googles as formeldhyde is bad stuff. Let your horns dry and have them shipped home. You can go one step further when you get home and have your horns freeze dried.

Hugh

Prick the tips of soft antlers with a pin or nail so the injected preserving fluid will force out the blood.

Preservz-it is the non-carcenogenic version of formaldehyde.
There is also a product called 'antler-tan' for velvet antlers but i havnt used it.

shehuntz,

Ive tried the antler tan and didn't get good results. It could have been the condition of the antlers at the time, but I wasn't crazy about it. Youre right, Preserv-it is a much safer alternative than formaldehyde. I still like formaldehyde with the proper precautions as it really works.

I try to get the formaldehyde in the tips first and then go to the base. I think you get a better chance of saturation by starting at the tips. The holes from the syringes work as drain holes when you begin injecting from the bases.

What animals do you have in Aussie with velvet?

Hugh

Red, sambar, fallow & chital deer, hughiam.

Thanks for the heads up on the antler tan.

Thanks guys, this is good stuff and I'll chat more with my taxidermist. My problem with any of the chemicals would be that I'll be in the NWT and on a backpack hunt, so just getting the antlers, meat and hide back to main camp will be a chore. And I'll probably have the antlers sent down afterwards. I think what I'll do is, if time permits, hunt for a real good caribou, and perhaps spring for the faux velvet treatment. I'll follow-up post down the road how it works out.

Joel, note that the outfitter says that at this time of the year the antlers will be hard and fully developed…but you raise an excellent point that until a few weeks ago I never gave thought to.

Thanks again!

shehuntz,

I should have been able to guess the sambar, but was thinking maybe Rusa. I didn't realize you had the other deer species. Mostly I hear of people coming your way to go after the buffalo and banteng.

Are you in a humid or dry part of the country?

Hugh

I used to live in a temperate to humid part of oz but I now live in the cold part of the country
A long way from the buff & banteng.

I forgot to mention the rusa!

I never heard of Aust. being cold. I guess its all relative. I guided a pig hunt a few weeks ago and it was -31*F. That was cold!