Late-Season Partial Velvet and European Mounting Concern?

I have a skull from a whitetail buck that was testosterone challenged (PC for no gonads!) that I would like to skull mount, and have some concerns. The majority of the rack is normally calcified, (as it was just taken 1 week ago) but the bases are still partially in velvet and there are several large points that were broken off and are still bloody.

First, I'm affrad the antlers may separate if I don't proceed the right way. Second, I would also like to clean up the bloody areas to make them look more similar to the remaining rack. So what should I do to ensure a proper skull mount? (I would rather do a high temp simmer over a few hours instead of a several week soak due to my suburban location, but certainly appreciate your suggestions...)

I also have pictures. So if anyone's interested in seeing what I'm describibg just let me know! :)

Thanks!
Jason

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Partial velvet euro-mount

Jason, If i understand your question...you want to do the European mount and at the same time preserve the velvet that remains on the antlers. Much has been written on this site concerning european mounts and you might benefit from using the orange "search" button to the left. Velvet has also been discussed extensivly. Boiling the skull is quicker but does damage to the bone and the moist heat will likly damage the remaining velvet as well. I prefer to saw off the antlers, preserve the velvet, rot the skull, clean the skull, cut the skull as needed, drill through the skull starting in the center of the pedicals, drill the antler bases, anchor screws in the skull, attatch the antlers to the screw "studs", do finish sculpting and repairs w/apoxiesculpt, airbrush a bit of bone color over repairs and attatch to panel. Enjoy, Aaron H.

Partially correct

Thanks for the reply!

Actually there is very little velvet, so I don't really care if it stays or goes. I would rather have the bloody parts and remaining velvet just look like the rest of the "regular" calcified antler... You'd have to see it, it's hard for me to describe accurately.

My major concern is that the bases are not secure because of this unfinished calcification. Will they harden naturally due to lack of blood flow? Or will they start to separate from the skull? I know this is a weird situation. I didn't know if anyone had a similar experience or knew the biology of the antler once an animal is taken...

Thanks again,
Jason

need pics

send my pics & maybe I can help