Preserving deer antlers with velvet

[Kenneth]

Well archery season here in CA starts in a couple of weeks and the bucks are still in velvet.  My question is:  What is the best way to preserve the antlers when they still have velvet on them?  Does the velvet rot over time?  I appreciate any advice.  

Thanks,
Ken

[mo bo hunter]

have them freeze dried. they hold the color and will not rot.

[Carcajou]

A couple weeks??    Bowhunting for deer in JULY???

You West Coasters got it made!!

[Black Gold]

Freeze dried.

[tamure]

Deer season here starts August 1, so bucks here are also still in velvet. Thanks for the question and answers. Hopefully I'll have a chance to give it a try this year.

I'm not sure if we've got it made or not. Hunting when it's 95F... better find that deer quick!

[Whip]

If you can get it to a taxidermist quick enough freeze dried is a good option.  But if you are packing in you might have to deal with them quicker than that.  I hunted Nevada one year and we packed along some stuff that is made for that purpose and is injected into the veins of the antler to replace the blood inside.  I suppose it was just some high priced formadehyde like the funeral guys use.  The stuff we used is called "Antler In Velvet Tan" and came from a place called Knoblochs is Lafayette, CO  303-666-9045.  (Unfortunately I still have the bottle I bought)    
Hey, at least I was thinking positively!  :rolleyes:

[TexMex]

[http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/15/velvet.html]
copy/paste but take the brackets off.

[Kenneth]

thanks guys.  i'll have to do a search on taxidermists in the area and i may just pick up a bottle of that velvet tan too.  hey Whip, does that stuff have a shelf life?  drop me a PM if you're lookin' to get rid of it.  thanks for the link Tex.

[Roadkill]

Balmex from Van dykes has always worked for me, but it is a lot of work.  I injected every inch of a huge 4X4 from the Kaibab one year.  Then let it thoroughly dry for a month or so before mounting it.  Take a syringe and the Balmex to camp and as you sit around the fire, inject away!
July hunting-yep-we start on 1 Aug-bound to be close to 100 degrees....presents it own problem with spoilage and such.