methods for turning white antlers brown?

[wa-hunter]

was wondering if anyone had any tips for turning white antlers brown. my archery blacktail had velvet that was starting to slip when i shot it so i peeled it all off and now the antlers are pure white. would like to get them brown if possible and was wondering what you all thought. tried dark walnut stain on an old shed that i had and it turned out looking ok just don't know if there is any better method.
thanks!

 

[River Rat]

Wood stain will work use real light color like early American.

 

[Team Kabob]

Shoe Polish will add brown too


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[gonhunting247]

I'll bring a couple different kinds to work. I know a lady co-worker that might be able to get them to you. The one I like is sold by Van Dykes and is basically an oil base stain. You need to go with real light coats until you get the desired darkness. The other I've used comes in reddish or brown tint and it is water based. It is from Research Mannikins or McKenzie I think. It's a little more finicky if the antler is not evenly clean or has any oil type substance on it. The plus side is, it sands easy with light sand paper towards the tips, adding the realistic lighter tips to your mount. Both turn out great with a little bit of messing with them. If you have an old chewed shed horn you could try each and use the one you like best.

 

[Orion/CO]

I had the same problems a few years ago. I shot a mule deer buck on Labor Day weekend and it was still in full velvet. It took a few days until I finally got hold of a taxidermist, and by that time he said it was too late. He said that I needed to inject the velvet with formaldehyde right away in order to preserve it, but since it had been a few days (in 80 degree temps), that all I could do was strip off the velvet and then try to stain the antlers. So I stripped off the velvet (which the antler was bone white just like yours) and he said I needed to use Manganese Permangenate to stain it (yeah right, I couldnt find that anywhere). Anyway I tried a few different wood stains and yes, it looks okay from a distance, but up close it looks like I colored it with a brown crayon. Sorry I dont have an answer for you, other than it would have looked a lot better if you could have kept the velvet on (as I regretted I didn't do too)

 

[HiMtnHnter]

I had the same problems a few years ago. I shot a mule deer buck on Labor Day weekend and it was still in full velvet. It took a few days until I finally got hold of a taxidermist, and by that time he said it was too late. He said that I needed to inject the velvet with formaldehyde right away in order to preserve it, but since it had been a few days (in 80 degree temps), that all I could do was strip off the velvet and then try to stain the antlers. So I stripped off the velvet (which the antler was bone white just like yours) and he said I needed to use Manganese Permangenate to stain it (yeah right, I couldnt find that anywhere). Anyway I tried a few different wood stains and yes, it looks okay from a distance, but up close it looks like I colored it with a brown crayon. Sorry I dont have an answer for you, other than it would have looked a lot better if you could have kept the velvet on (as I regretted I didn't do too)

DON'T use stain! Get some wild antler magic and follow the direction. Works well.

 

[gonhunting247]

I had the same problems a few years ago. I shot a mule deer buck on Labor Day weekend and it was still in full velvet. It took a few days until I finally got hold of a taxidermist, and by that time he said it was too late. He said that I needed to inject the velvet with formaldehyde right away in order to preserve it, but since it had been a few days (in 80 degree temps), that all I could do was strip off the velvet and then try to stain the antlers. So I stripped off the velvet (which the antler was bone white just like yours) and he said I needed to use Manganese Permangenate to stain it (yeah right, I couldnt find that anywhere). Anyway I tried a few different wood stains and yes, it looks okay from a distance, but up close it looks like I colored it with a brown crayon. Sorry I dont have an answer for you, other than it would have looked a lot better if you could have kept the velvet on (as I regretted I didn't do too)

Although I've never used it personally, you can get Manganese Permanganate from some of the taxidermy supply companies I listed in the post above(at least back 10yrs. ago it was available) I have heard it works well, but have had good luck with the other products too. I've successfully colored the palm of a half stripped moose antler with the water base product. It was a little nerve racking, because it's permanent, but it turned out great!

 

[wa-hunter]

thank you guys for the tips. gonhunting247 i have lots of old sheds i can experiment with. thank you very much for dropping that stuff off at the office. now i just have to get her to go to work! lol i will post picks when i get it done.