what to do with velvet???

[CoryTDF]

Well i got my buck this year and it was in velvet. I pulled off the velvet and rubbed blood an dirt on the horns. I went home and hit them with some fine sandpaper and 0000 steelwool i have them looking OK.

What methods have you used to make the horns look natural and velvet free? If you have pictures that would be a big help.

Thanks,
Cory

[joebear]

well cory it would have been better if you just left the velvet on. as far as getting them to look like they did not have any velvet on them I would say drop them off at the taxidermists and have him stain them and do the job. next Early buck you shoot carry around salt water and a needle and just inject the velvet and  just leave it on it will turn out looking better in the long run.

[boneaddict]

Do you want it mounted like it was in velvet or hard horned.  There are a couple staining methods that will make them look very natural.  There are many that WILL NOT.  You can also have them "RE-Velveted" if you'd rather have that.

[CoryTDF]

I'll have to post the pic when i get home. There really was no way for me to save the velvet. When the deer was thrashing around he tore it pretty badly. I didn't help matters when i grabbed the horns and tore the Velvet on both sides. In the pictures i flopped it back over and kinda held in place. Next time I'll be a little more carfull.

[stickslinger]

you can ask that question on vandykes taxidermy .com, they have a slew of taxidermists that can give you all sorts of tips and tricks