I want to make a few projects out of whitetail deer antlers. I have heard that deer carry certain deseases. How do I go about sanitizing the antlers without destorying their color? Any ideas? Thanks. Bob T.
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Bob,
I'm not sure where you got the information, but the diseases deer carry usually aren't transmuted through their antlers. I would say never, but there are some epizootic diseases of the brain that MIGHT be of some danger. Once removed, the antlers are bone (if it's living or dead bone causes hot debate around here) that is stained with a combination of blood from stripping velvet and the flotsum gathered from trees and saplings such as pine, maple, fur, or anything else convenient. Personally, I see no reason to sanitize anything. One other word of advice, read up on your specimen. Leonard Lee Rue has an excellent book, "The Deer of North America" which may better explain the rote memory I'm spouting from (I have to use as much as I can before the Alzheimer's takes it all). LOL