Got Lucky and Got my Elk Horn

[bearmanric]

Got 67.0 lb. of elk tine's so didnt have to go to Idaho. not easy getting Elk horn's very expensive by the Rack. now need to get more whitetail. going to sell call's in alot of store's soon. that is why i need so many. plus website and shop will be done soon. getting ready cant find stuff in the fall price go's up too. Rick.



Elk tine's


what i make out of horn and antler predator calls

Elk horn Howler


whitetail Howler


Elk horn openreeds

[billythekidrock]

That whitetail howler looks amazing. What do you put on them for a finish? Does it turn yellow?

[bearmanric]

Deft  wont yellow. and i polish with white diamond polish. amost all callmaker's use Deft . Rick

[Michelle_Nelson]

OK I got a dumb question.  What kinda calls do you make.  Varmint calls or anything and everything?  I like the look of that whitetail Howler!

You said whole Elk sheds are spendy.  What do you think I am looking at for a 350+ Class Set of mattching sheds?  I need to find a set when I get out their to mount for a display.

[bearmanric]

Michelle i'll ask Rich. also check out ebay. lot's of big horn's on there. i make all kind's of varmint call's lot's of Howler's and i use alot of african horn's too. axis. Pere Davids Deer, whitetail. couse Deer Elk. moose.you name it. Rick

[Krusty]

Michelle,

If you are looking to buy a matched rack, try the Ace Hardware in Ellensburg (in old downtown).

There is a guy who works there that hunts sheds, he's always got a bunch hanging in the rafters.

Rick,

Many of the fur buyers deal in antler too, and the trapping sites are another good source.
There was a guy on Trapperman looking to sell 100+ pounds of whitetail just the other day.
I recently listed three local fur buyers, in a post on this board.

Dick Stewart lives just on the other side of I-5 from you.

Krusty

[boneaddict]

Ebay had a 350 set go for $860 this last week, and one that went for $480 that was not quite as nice coloredand slightly smaller.  Probably one of those arizona bulls.  You will find that anything 350 and above, the price sky rockets. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

I was watching Ebay all through Deer Season.  I bought some pretty nice matching sheds from a guy off their.  Bought a 170"+ matching set of Mule Deer sheds for $102.  They are a bit fadded but have a little of the natural color.  I will add a bit of minwax to them and bring the color back out.  I also bought a 130" matching set of Columbia Blacktail Sheds from the same guy with all original color.

I think the 350" matching sets of Elk Sheds on their were going for about $250 - $500.  Of course that depends on the condition!  I'd rather mount a set of sheds so I can use the removable antlers.     

[boneaddict]

you probably know this, but mixing dirt with min wax really makes it natural.  If you care to know the whole process let me know.  I HATE stained antlers, but I found a way that makes them natural enough you can't tell.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yeah, can you send me the process through PM?  Never hurts to learn something new. 

I use 4 or 5 different colors of MinWax in my shop.....  I even use oil paints.  Every deer will be different.  I also use fine steel wool, laquer thinner, rags.  I have gone as far as rubbing them on different types of trees to add that wood shaving into their antler burs.   

I am deffinalty not into the slap some stain on a set of antlers and call it wonderful.  It will take me a few days of work to restain a set of antlers.  I will post pictures of the Mule Deer sheds I have once I get them stained. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

boneaddict,

I was just thinking about this.  I saw an artical a few years ago about how to train a dog to find sheds.  I plan on getting a Choc Lab when I get out west.  Thought about attempting to train Him/Her to shed hunt! 

[boneaddict]

I worked a little with my bassett, sort of promising, though she would get on a squirrel or any scent for that matter and I may never see her again.  I do know that several people are using labs for it.

[boneaddict]

let me look into what color, for sure and type and I will get that to you.  Its the best I HAVE EVER seen for staining antlers.  If I add hour number 25 and 26 for the day, I can even get you a picture. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

I don't stain sheds if they are beyond hard white condition.  I hear people all the time say how they hate stained racks.  How they look fake and that it doesn't look natural.  Yeah I would say that is true for 80% of those who try to do it them selves or let someone do it that doesn't know what they are doing. 

The trick is for me to use layers of different colors and blending.  Rubbing off excess stain between coats and use as little as possible. 

I had a guy bring me a European mount that had been siting in his tree in his back yard.  Nice little Texas 10 point.  Squirrels had gotten to it and chewed all but 2 tines and parts of the main beam.  They were still in hard white condition thank goodness.  Anyway after about 4 hours and some epoxy and staining they looked just as natural as they could get.  I think I still have pictures of it but since I am in the process of packing I doubt I will find them.

[boneaddict]

I'll get her done.  I need to make sure I'm telling you the right info.