In field velvet care?

[oldleclercrd]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but it would be nice to hear some techniques on how to care for velvet. Is there something I could carry in my pack just in case I need to treat the velvet? I think there is a stage where the antlers are hard and the velvet is still intact, were there isn't a huge risk of spoiling. Im pretty sure thats a pretty small window though. Anyways, just thought it would be nice to pin up a "how to care for velvet" guide in this taxidermy thread. Thanks for any advice!

[cedarriver]

 Hi oldleclericrd,
         I've never had an opportunity to do it but if the antlers are still in the growing stage you have to inject them with formaldehyde immediately until you flush all the blood out of them. Hang them upside down and and with a small hole in the tips flush clean. From what I have heard a lot of work with mixed results. There are some safer chemicals out there to inject with but never have used them in this way.
  If they are hard horned and pretty much stopped growing there are a couple options. I took two deer in from Montana last year that were both still in the velvet in November, stags. You can have them freeze dried which I've heard is kind of expensive. On these two I left in my freezer for about a year then saturated them with a velvet tan liquid I purchased from one of my supply catalogs.
  One other option is to strip the velvet and have artificial velvet put back on. Kind of expensive too, depending on the size, but you don't have to worry about decomposing ever. I have a set of mule deer antlers in the shop now that we had done, they look pretty darn good. Any questions give me a call. Rick
 

[Kuduman]

there are allot of products on the market that will effectively preserve velvet,  check your taxidermy supply companies.
 IMO there is no substitute for freezedrying. The key is not to try to treat the velvet in the field but to protect it from being damaged until being frozen and shipped to a freeze drying facility. the only other service that I have seen that looks great and will outlast actual velvet is the artificial velvet flocking offered by Research mannikin's.
Here is a link to a kit that they sell. I like most people looked at this with some skepticism when i first heard of it but when it's done right there pretty impressive.

http://www.rmi-online.com/product_info.php/products_id/29301

PM me if you need additional information on the freezedryer I use.

Kuduman

[Blacktail Sniper]

there are allot of products on the market that will effectively preserve velvet,  check your taxidermy supply companies.
 IMO there is no substitute for freezedrying. The key is not to try to treat the velvet in the field but to protect it from being damaged until being frozen and shipped to a freeze drying facility. the only other service that I have seen that looks great and will outlast actual velvet is the artificial velvet flocking offered by Research mannikin's.
Here is a link to a kit that they sell. I like most people looked at this with some skepticism when i first heard of it but when it's done right there pretty impressive.

http://www.rmi-online.com/product_info.php/products_id/29301

PM me if you need additional information on the freezedryer I use.

Kuduman

Any pictures of this product after having been applied?  Would like to see the finished product.

[summit creek]

the best way is to have them freeze dried any taxidermist should be able to help you with that

[oldleclercrd]

Thanks for the tips guys 

[BLKBEARKLR]

there are allot of products on the market that will effectively preserve velvet,  check your taxidermy supply companies.
 IMO there is no substitute for freezedrying. The key is not to try to treat the velvet in the field but to protect it from being damaged until being frozen and shipped to a freeze drying facility. the only other service that I have seen that looks great and will outlast actual velvet is the artificial velvet flocking offered by Research mannikin's.
Here is a link to a kit that they sell. I like most people looked at this with some skepticism when i first heard of it but when it's done right there pretty impressive.

http://www.rmi-online.com/product_info.php/products_id/29301

PM me if you need additional information on the freezedryer I use.

Kuduman

Any pictures of this product after having been applied?  Would like to see the finished product.

here is a pic of an axis deer I had it done to for a customer

[throttlejocky20]

I was told by a respectable taxidermist to get them in the freezer as soon as posible. It seems that freeze drying is the way to go now a days.

[Elkstuffer]

I just had a euro whitetail done with the artificial velvet. It turned out fantastic. I was using a service that Charlie recommended out of Redmond, OR. I'll post a picture after I get it on it's plaque.