Submitted by Larry Cooper on 9/16/99. ( Tradcoop@aol.com ) 152.163.189.129
I've been a amatuer taxidermist for years just doing my own work. I recently just came home with two caribou racks of my own. I removed the velvet in camp and soaked them in the lake and got most of the blood out. However there is still considerable blood in one set and even on the other set it is basically white.
How or what is the best way to remove the blood stains in the antlers and what is the best way to stain them to a natural look. I saved the top part of the skulls to make skull mounts. That was a lot of work in camp removing all the meat without the use of boiling water and I sure would hate to ruin these once in a lifetime trophies. Thanks Coop
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This response submitted by George Roof on 9/16/99. ( georoof@aol.com ) 205.188.208.101
Larry,
The best way to remove the blood soaked stains is to throw the antlers back into a lake or pond. The blood will eventually leech out, but do yourself a favor. When you retrieve them, use rubber gloves. The stench will gag you and it won't wash off easily. Let them set in the sun for a few days.
As for your bleached set, I use two products in conjunction with each other. I get a cup of potassium permanganate mixed in rubbing alcohol and a cup of 50/50 linseed oil and turpentine.
I stain the antlers with the potassium taking care NOT to stain all the way to the antler tips. Then I immediately brush on the 50/50. This softens the sharp edges of the stain. I wipe the antlers and allow them to dry. Any tips that are pourous due to the velvet not curing, it rub liberally with natural bees wax. Then I paint the 50/50 and let them dry. They dry to a realistic luster in an hour or so.
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