Howto save the Velvet

[Ikeepitcold]

Early Archery is open in many states. How to take care on the Velvet

https://youtu.be/EkOV3BhJFes

 

[ScottR]

Let's see some velvet mounts. I know a few of you have them.

 

[ivorytip]

thank you for this post, I was just going to ask

 

[ivorytip]

I shot mine yesterday morning, is it to late to do this? it has not been in freezer, I cut skull plate off and its in garage. most of the velvet is on real lose and is falling off in a couple spot. my knife slipped while skinning around antler base an cut a slit in the velvet and it was solid white under with no veins or blood??? is that normal? I almost considered stripping velvet and keeping it solid white because that looked pretty cool and different. what say you?

 

[ivorytip]

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I would try. And take it to your taxi. If it's all loose you might have lost it

 

[Ikeepitcold]

The white antlers would look pretty cool as a mount.

 

[ScottR]

I shot mine yesterday morning, is it to late to do this? it has not been in freezer, I cut skull plate off and its in garage. most of the velvet is on real lose and is falling off in a couple spot. my knife slipped while skinning around antler base an cut a slit in the velvet and it was solid white under with no veins or blood??? is that normal? I almost considered stripping velvet and keeping it solid white because that looked pretty cool and different. what say you?

Call your taxidermist, not sure on how long you have. Personally I would keep the velvet.

 

[nicktrehearne]

I shot mine yesterday morning, is it to late to do this? it has not been in freezer, I cut skull plate off and its in garage. most of the velvet is on real lose and is falling off in a couple spot. my knife slipped while skinning around antler base an cut a slit in the velvet and it was solid white under with no veins or blood??? is that normal? I almost considered stripping velvet and keeping it solid white because that looked pretty cool and different. what say you?

It might be too late. The best thing you can do is get it into the freezer ASAP. This will prevent rotting and it slipping while you are looking for one of these kits, or while waiting to take it to the taxidermist. If you're not in a rush, leaving it in your freezer for a year or so will also keep the velvet. I did this with my very first deer almost 20 years ago and the velvet is still fine today...

 

[gypsumreaper]

Very cool thanks for posting have a buck tag archery Colorado and always wanted a velvet buck euro mounted on the wall


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[brianboh]

You can actually soak the antlers in Denatured Alcohol and inject as well. You can pick it up at most any hardware store. I have done a ton of mounts and skull mounts with this process.

 

[ivorytip]

I tried what brian suggested, in a round about way. we will see how it turns out. I sprayed that denatured alcohol, drenching the velvet then wrapped soaked paper towels around it and securing with zip ties then sprayed again. now covered with tarp and will spray every 4 or so hours so doesn't dry out. I prob should have soaked it but that's a lot of denatured alcohol.

 

[brianboh]

keep me posted

 

[mnhoundman]

I hit a buck with my truck once in velvet. I went back the next morning and he was bigger than I thought so I cut them off and after work I put them in the freezer in a plastic bag. I checked on them frequently, but they always would start to bleed when they started to thaw. So about 2 yrs go by and they still do. Then someone told me I needed to take them out of the bag! BINGO! Didn't take long and I took them out and they were dry and look good, had a friend put them on a plaque for me.

 

[Tim McCoy]

My son killed a velvet buck in OR. We just sat the skull cap n horns in the 95 degree heat from 9 am ish till dark, and again the next day. Was 20+ years ago, velvet is still as intact as it was upon the kill.

I think the key is getting the mosisture out or a preservative in.

 

[ivorytip]

my question is, how do I know when its done?? it has indeed been hot here, between heat and that denatured alcohol I assume its done? it doesn't stink anymore, that's a added bonus for the garage neighbors cats weren't happy with me shutting the window and keeping them from the dog food either, didn't realize how much them and the coons would go through till now!!! velvet is tight against antlers now. oh and if you do decide to use that denatured alcohol get it from Walmart, 3 bucks cheaper per can than I could find anywhere else.

 

[brianboh]

when I mounted deer I let it soak in it for a few weeks

 

[ivorytip]

oh wow, got ya.

 

[brianboh]

I am not going to say that is how long. remember the point. of DA is to draw blood out and inhibit bacteria growth. if that take a few days it will dry out and no problems. I was always doing it for customers and figured longer is better