IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL TO DO TO DEER ANTLERS IN VELVET BEFORE TAKING THEM TO THE TAXIDERMIST? I AM PREPARING FOR BOW SEASON AND WOULD HATE TO GET A NICE RACK IN VELVET AND THEN NOT TAKE CARE OF IT PROPERLY.
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The only guaranteed way to preserve it is to rope the deer and drag him to the taxidermist and shoot it in his parking lot.
Velvet antlers are covered with blood gorged living tissue and all efforts to preserve it depend on that blood not spoiling or the velvet getting dinged along the way. You should especially avoid grabbing the antlers with your hands (The heat will almost guarantee loss of velvet) while dressing and cleaning the animal. Get the rack into a freezer (best) or a fridge until you can be sure the taxidermist is available.
George is right for the most part, It will be impossible to handle the
antlers with out touching them, so take several pair of surgical gloves
with you, put them on before handling. this will prevent bacteria from
transfering from your hands to the velvet, and more importantly will
reduce the transfer of body heat from your hands to the velvet. As George
said, get them in the freezer ASAP. once frozen, your not out of the
woods, but you can breath easier.
How about artificial velvet. I just returned from Labrador with two very nice Caribou. The outfitter took the velvet off due to new shipping regulations. I have been told this is better and last much longer than the natural velvet.
I do not know what company does this, so if any one knows let me know so that I can track this with my taxidermist.