Velvet bucks...

VictoryHunter · May 30, 2013, 06:37:00 PM

Anyone hunt have the opportunity to hunt velvet bucks? This year will be my first time. How do you care for velvet antlers in the field if you plan on keeping it for a mount, especially if it's hot out? I'd like to see your velvet photos.

dhermon85 · May 30, 2013, 06:44:00 PM

Never hunted them, but salvaged some off one that had been hit by a car. Put them in the deep freeze for 6 months. Still in good shape.

twitchstick · May 30, 2013, 06:46:00 PM

Yea every year. The first year I killed one that was scraped off I was pretty excited. Our season starts in August so most years they are in velvet until mid September when the season ends.

Bud B. · May 30, 2013, 07:08:00 PM

With this year's Faith bow.

The taxidermist said bugs would eventually eat away the velvet over time if I didn't treat them each spring with a pesticide. Like Raid

This little guy was near rubbing it off anyway. It was already drying up when I shot him Sept 6 last year.

KSdan · May 30, 2013, 09:35:00 PM

The way to do it right is with injections of formaldehyde. It is a dangerous chemical and MUST be used with great care. But very doable. There are plenty of youtubes about it. . . OR get it in the freezer ASAP and then get it to a taxidermist who can inject it.

Done right- it can last as long as the mount.

hawkeye n pa · May 30, 2013, 09:41:00 PM

I shot a nice eight point in velvet a few years back. Was the last day of PA's "rifle" season and took him with a bow. The strange thing was nobody had seen him all season and thats including the neighbors trail cams and its in a hard hunted area.

My son and friends got him mounted for me. Not sure what the taxidermist used.

May 30, 2013, 10:31:00 PM

We do not hardly ever see any velvet once the season opens down here in TX. I shot this deer on opening day of the 2008 season. It is one of only 2 deer I have ever seen still in velvet after the season opening. I knew as soon as I saw him I wanted to shoot him. I made a great shot and he made P&Y by 3/8"

I took my deer straight to a taxidermist who caped it out and put the horns in the freezer. He then sent the horns to the tannery where he gets the hides tanned to have them treat the horns. The mount turned out beautiful and looks great in my living room.

Bisch

Cwilder · May 30, 2013, 11:55:00 PM

Maryland started last year bow season opening the Friday after Labor Day. The first 3 days I saw plenty of deer still in velvet. But the were rubbing fast.
Looking forward too September 6th this year

twitchstick · May 31, 2013, 09:24:00 AM

In hot weather it's just like taking care of the meat get your horns out of the sun and cooled asp. Get them in a freezer until you get them to your taxidermist. If you want you can preserve them yourself. I have preserved them a couple of ways. One way I like is to freeze dry them in a freezer for a month or two. Take them out and you will be good as good as gold. Another way is to take borax and mix with water. Poke little holes with a needle through out the antlers and soak in the solution for a few minutes then store in a dark cool place. FYI they will stink a little so keep them where the wife or dogs will not get them.

Bob Palmer · May 31, 2013, 12:58:00 PM

I've got a few whitetails in velvet. Best to get in a freezer and to the taxidermy man ASAP. Of the two I have mounted, the one that was professionally freeze dried turned out the best! The other was done with formaldehyde and looks ok but not perfect. I would have had it freeze dried too but he had started to shed on one of the tips :(

The coats are thin that time of year as well....be careful with the hide!