Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Pete112288 on August 25, 2013, 11:00:14 AM

Title: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: Pete112288 on August 25, 2013, 11:00:14 AM: My dad and I have shot several blacktail bucks over the last few years that have antlers that almost look bright orange-red. I love the color when we first get them. But even if I keep them out of the elements while taking the skull cap off and cleaning it or cleaning the skull, it always seems to fade some and turns more brown then red.
I put a clear coat on them when I get the skull all clean, thought about doing that before I even do anything else, once I get it home. I wonder if that will work. I attatched a photo of one of my bucks that have the reddish color but my dad's fork last year was twice as red looking as this
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: ICEMAN on August 25, 2013, 11:04:47 AM: Great question.

Tagging along on this one...
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: bullcrazy on August 25, 2013, 11:47:51 AM: Tag
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 25, 2013, 11:57:38 AM: Here is what I use ...works great :tup:
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: bullcrazy on August 25, 2013, 12:45:51 PM: I'd imagine the same techniques could be used for favorite sheds?
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: MtnMuley on August 25, 2013, 12:59:43 PM: I'm not of putting some type of lacquer of horns. I understand what you're saying about wanting to preserve the "shiny orange" look of the horns, and the reason they look that was is moisture on them. I'm sure if you want them looking that way that satin finish stuff that B45 stated would work fine.
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: MooseStock on August 25, 2013, 04:20:49 PM: Just wipe them down with linseed oil on a rag....cheap,easy works well and lasts.....Les
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: blacktailer on August 25, 2013, 09:06:12 PM: Old English furniture scratch cover is a great way to bring color back to antler without giving a hard shiny finish like a lacquer or urethane. Another good product to put on both antler and horns is Scotts liquid Gold. It puts a great natural looking protective finish on. Works great on Sheep, Goat and Antelope horns
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: Bean Counter on August 25, 2013, 09:11:13 PM: Quote from: blacktailer on August 25, 2013, 09:06:12 PM
Old English furniture scratch cover is a great way to bring color back to antler without giving a hard shiny finish like a lacquer or urethane. Another good product to put on both antler and horns is Scotts liquid Gold. It puts a great natural looking protective finish on. Works great on Sheep, Goat and Antelope horns

Will Old English bring back the brown color on a faded white antler (ie, a shed)?
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on August 25, 2013, 09:25:10 PM: Tag
Title: Re: Best way to preserve antler color?
Post by: blacktailer on August 26, 2013, 10:14:53 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on August 25, 2013, 09:11:13 PM
Quote from: blacktailer on August 25, 2013, 09:06:12 PM
Old English furniture scratch cover is a great way to bring color back to antler without giving a hard shiny finish like a lacquer or urethane. Another good product to put on both antler and horns is Scotts liquid Gold. It puts a great natural looking protective finish on. Works great on Sheep, Goat and Antelope horns

Will Old English bring back the brown color on a faded white antler (ie, a shed)?

It will in a lot of cases. I have taken pure white antler and brought them back to very natural looking brown antler. It seems to depend a lot on how pourous the antler is much like different types of woods take stain. I would advise to play with it a bit on a "test set"