Velvet Care Tip

The fake velvet that the taxidermist puts on antlers look just as good if not better IMHO. Alot less hassle then trying to preserve the real stuff.

Mineral spirits injected in the velvet. I've also used a small knife to poke a bunch of pinholes and then poured acetone over the antlers. I still have that rack from 20 years ago and the velvet is perfect. I did a couple in mineral spirits last year too.

However, I'm going to defer the question to my son tonight. He just went to work for Animal Artistry a few weeks ago. I'll see what they suggest. I'm going to save a fortune in taxi costs in the future!

Check out the website for Animal Artistry. They do amazing work!

http://www.animalartistry.com

The fake velvet that the taxidermist puts on antlers look just as good if not better IMHO. Alot less hassle then trying to preserve the real stuff.

You must have had or seen better work than the fake stuff I've seen, because it didn't look to great IMHO. :)

Congrats on your son Mark, they are a HUGE taxidermy company correct? And yes very good.

"MuleyMadness" wrote:

The fake velvet that the taxidermist puts on antlers look just as good if not better IMHO. Alot less hassle then trying to preserve the real stuff.

You must have had or seen better work than the fake stuff I've seen, because it didn't look to great IMHO. :)

Congrats on your son Mark, they are a HUGE taxidermy company correct? And yes very good.

man i didn't want to go first but----- i absolutly cant stand fake velvet, it looks like the "flocking" we did as high school kids in wood shop.
IMO i would strip the velvet off a deer and get it mounted hard horned LONG BEFORE i would do fake velvet.
and i really want a TRUE VELVET muley on my wall someday

Here's a little tip I wrote a few years back on this very subject. It's geared towards the back-country hunter but will help some here as well.

Generally when archery seasons begin out West, most monster mule deer will still be in the velvet stage of antler development. Many hunters want to preserve their velvet trophy, but are either not able to get it frozen and preserved or get it to a taxidermist in a timely manner. As a result, the velvet slips and they no longer have the ability to mount it with the velvet on. Here's what I've done over the years that's worked for me.

If you want to properly preserve velvet antlers IN THE FIELD, you will have to inject & brush them with formaldehyde and/or some of the new less toxic chemicals (4 in 1 solution works great as does Knobloch's antler in velvet tan). I personally prefer the 4 in 1 solution to Velvet Tan, as it was easier to use for me, however, both will work. A very respected taxidermist whose specialty was velvet antlers taught me this technique.

First, (using rubber gloves and eye protection) take a razor blade and make very small incisions at the tips of all points (no more than 1/16"). Next hang the antlers upside down, allowing the blood to drain. Starting at the bases inject the solution into the veins (you'll see and feel them) that follow the antler. You will begin to see the solution "push" out blood towards the tips. Continue injecting the solution as you work the untreated blood towards the tips. When you reach the ends, make sure you've treated ALL the veins on each antler. You'll quit injecting solution when the color of the solution is the same coming out as it was going in.

Allow the antlers to hang upside down overnight. After the solution/blood has stopped dripping out the ends, use a very fine painters brush and lightly brush the velvet with the solution. This will prevent bugs from entering the velvet that has no blood. After allowing the velvet to dry, lightly "brush" out the velvet to give it the natural uniform look. Remember; wear eye protection and gloves when using formaldehyde or any other chemicals. Slow down and don't be in a hurry to finish. If done correctly, your trophy will last forever.

"MuleyMadness" wrote:

The fake velvet that the taxidermist puts on antlers look just as good if not better IMHO. Alot less hassle then trying to preserve the real stuff.

You must have had or seen better work than the fake stuff I've seen, because it didn't look to great IMHO. :)

Congrats on your son Mark, they are a HUGE taxidermy company correct? And yes very good.

Never had a mount done with it myself, but there's a taxi up here named Cory Wright that I stop and BS about sheds and Blacktails with. Looked at some of the velvet he's applied for guys, and it really didn't look that bad. I'll quiz him about the next time I'm in town.

Never been a big fan of the fake stuff, just deosn't look right...Unless they've come out witha new process... (???)

One of my best friends is a taxi and he has examples of lots of different styles of care for the velvet on the antlers. My least favorite of them all is the fake stuff. It looks to good to be real. Freeze dried or injected seem to look the best to me. If you are on the mountain to long to get it to a taxi in a couple of days your only option is to inject them or strip and go hard horned.

Personally I would strip them if the velvet was lost. I am not impressed with the fake stuff. Does not look even close to me.