I've actually got an Arizona Governers tag holder in the field looking at a monster mule deer as I write. The deer is obviously in August velvet...still a little round and squishy. The question is if he hammers this thing, and strips off the velvet...underneath the tines are pointed right?
Thanks
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since when do real hunters "HAMMER THINGS"? No wonder PETA thinks all hunters are just blood thirsty killers. How about phrasing it like: If he decides to shoot the deer..." Comes over so much better.
Now on to the question about the velvet. Why would he want to strip the velvet? It can be preserved just like you would preserve the hide. Depending on time of the year and how close the antlers have been to shedding the velvet naturally, the bones/antlers may be really soft or fairly hard. Same goes for the antler tips. Won't know until the deer has been killed and the antlers inspected up close.
Best thing to do after the hunt is to freeze the cape and the antlers and get in touch with an experienced taxidermist who knows how to deal with velvet antlers.
It's HIS call as to what he wants to do with the deer. I'm fully aware of how to treat velvet antlers and deal with a cape. I am an experienced taxidermist. However, since only Governer's tag holders get to "shoot" deer this early in the year here in Arizona, I've not had experience with velvet at this stage in development.
Thanks for your timely response and your input.
As far as the adjective used to describe the dispatching of the woodland creature...I suppose I could have used "harvest" or something much more civilized to appease those who may not approve of what we do. But generally around here in Arizona, we "hammer 'em", "stick 'em", tip 'em over, "whack 'em", etc. Maybe we ain't REAL hunters, but we manage to keep the freezers full and hang a few on the wall. =)
Thanks again Evelyn!
well said bill. im sick of tip-toeing around antis too. i hunt because i like to kill things. hammer em!
If the tines are pointed with the velvet on, they will be pointed with out it. If they have the big bulb looking things on the tips, the antlers are still developing and no they won't be pointed.
for an experienced taxidermist, you sure don't now a hell of alot about deer do you? Ryan, you should be ashamed. Your'e the type of guy that gives all man kind a bad name, not just hunters.
Thanks John for your contribution and helpful answer! I appreciate the fact that you would take time the time to share your wisdom. What a guy!
I'm having kind of smart assed answer kind of day. The best thing to do is put them in the freezer ASAP and don't handle them too much. Wait until the weather cools off and send them to have em freeze dried. It's more expensive but your customer should understand. If it is a rare opportunity for this hunt he probably won't mind paying extra for the results of freeze drying. You can try to preserve them if they are bulbous but they will probably collapse and make divots at the tips. I've tried it many times and it doesn't work too well. If they are pointed you can tan the velvet fairly easy.
I reckon I've been there myself John. Perhaps I didn't convey the situation accurately. The outfitter called me from his cell phone. They had an incredible mule deer buck located, but evidently the other tag holder is chasing the same deer. (He claims it's a 40+ wide Arizona strip deer) His client really hates velvet and was wondering if he takes the deer this early, what will the antlers look like under the velvet. The guy paid 100 grand for the tag and wants to make sure what he's getting in to.
Here in Arizona, the only velvet I ever see in my studio is not far from ready to rub off. I've dealt with many. I've perforated, flushed and injected, I've tanned, and I've used Research's artificial stuff. But I've never stripped really spongy velvet. I did have 1 roadkill a few years ago that was early on in the velvet, and it seemed to me that when I stripped it, the tines were quite pointed and a little rubbery on the end. That's what I told the outfitter, and I was just trying to verify that with information from fellow taxidermists that have stripped "early" velvet.
I didn't mean to come over like I'm lecturing you on using proper adjectives. Personally,I don't care what you call it, we pretty much do the same here in TX. LOL. It's just, that a lot of anti's DO USE this website to strengthen their agenda. Why give them anymore ammo then they already have. That was the only concern I had.
We take care of a lot of deer in velvet on a regular basis. Preservz it is what we use exclusively in our shop to treat them. We inject the antlers, as well as wrap them in the Preservz it. It works great, and we never had a single problem with any of them in all those years. Personally, and that is only my opinion, I believe Preservz it does a much better job then the freeze drying ever will.
Its easy to preserve soft velvet antlers. Mix up a 5% formaldahyde solution and place the antlers in upside down and leave for 2weeks. 100% preserved. Hard velvet antlers need no treatment. Hope you get him.
I just took a good caribou on the tenth. It is in velvet. I plan to mount it myself, but I'm not sure as to handle the velvet. My local "taxidermist" said that it was pretty much useless to try. Please provide me with some good info as detailed as posible.