Taxidermy

[clint]

These shots are not new as you can tell by the date.
I was just wondering if you can mount a head in velvet and keep the velvet on?
Ive heard if you take a deer early you can inject it with a chemical but wasn't sure if you then had to strip the velvet off.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/clintc_photo/2.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/clintc_photo/1.jpg

[Mozza]

You should be able to get a taxidermist to inject the antlers with formalin, and that will preserve them.
I recon just wait till they harden up though;)

[Antarcher]

Mozza is right. Those stags are crackers and I would be waiting longer for them too. I saw a 34 inch head that was shot early this year and one top broke off when it hit the deck and the other you could bend right over. This stag had another 3 or 4 inches of growth to go. Once injected, it shrunk unbelievably and was no where near as impressive a trophy as it looked hwen alive.

[clint]

Dont get to excited Ant there long gone shot by contracters for national park. I had seen them a year before same size.the stag with one antler only had one the year before as well. It was ashame to hear how they went.
I spoke to a bloke a few years ago said he wanted to take a stag in velvet. I wondered why

[Antarcher]

No worries Clint. It is a shame to see them go to waste like that. I have seen mounts in very late velvet that look good, but one's taken very early do not look the best. Once the black on the tips is gone and you can start to see the marbling of the antlers coming through, these antlers are hard and ready to go. Still need to have a bath in formalin, but they usually won't shrink much if taken at this stage.

[clint]

Thanks for that ant and mozza. Thats answers my question.

[Sash]

Yes....antlers in velvet can be treated and don't need to be stripped.
Traditionally, formaldahyde and other such chemicals were used, but I don't touch it as it is carcinogenic (gives you cancer). I use another method instead that looks nicer with less shrinkage.
You will need to either freeze them or get them to your taxidermist as soon as possible....they have a blood supply as you know and will rot like a cape if left unfrozen or untreated.

[tariadamar]

u can also get a fake velvet that they spray on it looks and feels great and sometimes eadsier for the taxidermist.

[howie]

I would rather have a hard one than a softie anyday.

[tariadamar]

yes however if their is a bad year andthe horns are large but very skinny the fake spray on velvet can make them look really really good.