Velvet antlers and removing antlers from a euro mount for flying

[Stocky]

Heading to Alaska shortly to chase Caribou. Decent chance any bull shot will be in Velvet.

Ive shot a fair few velvet animals but I've always stripped them as no way to get them out of the field without damaging the velvet typically.

This however is a trip Id really like to keep it as it was shot and its a big experience trip. Has anyone had any luck preserving it or flocking their own caribou? Ive not seen anyone do a good euro velvet mount in NZ personally so not paying someone to do it as id prefer do it myself. Worst case I strip and stain it. Ive got pretty good at it now but a velvet caribou is kind of iconic.

Now part 2.
Id also like to fly it home to NZ as checked luggage which will likely mean antlers need removing. Has anyone removed antlers from a euro and reattached them? Ive heard of it done but never seen decent pictures. Id be interested in this for any species really.

Im not really interested in taxidermy or skull caps so thats out. And to be honest id prefer spend taxidermy money on doing another trip.

Thanks,
Cam

 

[SDHNTR]

Depending on how soft the antlers are, you will need to pierce the tips, inject the veins at the base of the antlers with Velvet Tan in a syringe, hang upside down, and push all of the blood out. Then saturate and brush the velvet exterior heavily with the rest of the solution. Then split the skull cap for travel. Glue and wire it back together when you get home.

 

[Stocky]

Splitting the skull caps the part im not completely sure on. Easy if its getting taxidermied but not so much for a euro.

 

[SDHNTR]

Splitting the skull caps the part im not completely sure on. Easy if its getting taxidermied but not so much for a euro.

Sorry. I missed that part. Pass on the euro and just do a horn plaque with the base covered in a leather pad.

I don’t see any way to easily make a nice finished product with a full skull mount and detachable antlers. You would see the joint.

I suppose if you just had to try it, I’d cut off each antler below the pelicle. But don’t cut all the way through. Cut 3/4 way through and then break the bone, leaving a key. That way you can put them back on at the proper angle. I would also attempt to fashion an internal male/female peg system inside the bone for strength. Then I would plaster or bondo over the joint and paint the whole skull to match. Just a thought.

 

[Stocky]

Yeh im

Sorry. I missed that part. Pass on the euro and just do a horn plaque with the base covered in a leather pad.

I don’t see any way to easily make a nice finished product with a full skull mount and detachable antlers. You would see the joint.

I suppose if you just had to try it, I’d cut off each antler below the pelicle. But don’t cut all the way through. Cut 3/4 way through and then break the bone, leaving a key. That way you can put them back on at the proper angle. I would also attempt to fashion an internal male/female peg system inside the bone for strength. Then I would plaster or bondo over the joint and paint the whole skull to match. Just a thought.

Yeh not a skull cap fan. Maybe its because we dont see it in NZ. At that point id just get taxidermy done. Ive seen a few photos just no close ups. I have an exceptionally hogh ceiling. Im sure ill figure something but theres a massive resource here of clevee people that may have done something already.