*Real Velvet shoulder mount

[AT Hiker]

Since the velvet hunt is getting close I thought I'd share this picture of a "real" velvet buck.
Taxidermy work on these things can be a challenge leaving room for little to no error. Every scar, tick and imperfections seems to be fully visible. Skinny necks and big heads. Tick covered ears, etc.

 

[Specializedjon]

Yep and thin thin cape. I've got two I'm working on.

 

[DWB]

Very true. Also it going to be hot. I would get them cooled down asap!

 

[AT Hiker]

Yep and thin thin cape. I've got two I'm working on.

The ear skin always seemed paper thin and fragile to me.

 

[AT Hiker]

Very true. Also it going to be hot. I would get them cooled down asap!

Cooled down, out of sun, dry, handle velvet carefully, clean up the blood…sorta a PITA really.

 

[DWB]

The ear skin always seemed paper thin and fragile to me.

Yes they are. It's like rat skin. You have to be careful to get all the wrinkles out on the backs of them.

 

[Specializedjon]

The ear skin always seemed paper thin and fragile to me.

My first velvet I went with ear liners. Removing the cartilage, it shredded the inner ear skin. Had to cotton ball some "fuzz" on the ear liner to make it look somewhat normal. I only do colored Bondo now. Hair falling out…ticks everywhere…agree PITA early on. I've had good success with Velvalok on the antlers early…like before I cape it early.
I'm saying all this to the taxidermy sen-sei

 

[AT Hiker]

My first velvet I went with ear liners. Removing the cartilage, it shredded the inner ear skin. Had to cotton ball some "fuzz" on the ear liner to make it look somewhat normal. I only do colored Bondo now. Hair falling out…ticks everywhere…agree PITA early on. I've had good success with Velvalok on the antlers early…like before I cape it early.
I'm saying all this to the taxidermy sen-sei

Lol, I'm definitely not a master.

Yeah, those ears sometimes make me wanna through the mount out the door! I use ear liners 99% of the time with a touch of red flocking on sprinkled on the glue to tint it.

I've had good luck with velvalok too. My first couple KY velvet deer I sent off to the freeze dryer, then I started tanning them with krowtan, then the last handful I used velvalok. I'm not sure the freeze dryer was worth the extra cost.

 

[Specializedjon]

I've never used Krowtan. Need to check it out.

 

[AT Hiker]

I've never used Krowtan. Need to check it out.

I'd stick with velvalok personally.

 

[Specializedjon]

I'd stick with velvalok personally.

Ya…it's working. Frickin magic in a bottle. They don't give it away though

 

[AT Hiker]

Ya…it's working. Frickin magic in a bottle. They don't give it away though

I've only used it on velvet that was done growing. It was literally "spray n pray" the first time, lol.
I know people who use alcohol essentially the same way and that might be all velvalok is, idk, but it works and I wouldn't change.

If you have issues with the velvet laying flat without loft after curing, I've found that a cup of borax in a trash bag then place antlers in it, twist it up a shake to make sure borax gets all over it. Then pull it out and start back brushing the borax off. Compressed air can help too. Adds an extra layer of bug proof and seems to dry things up a bit more to give some loft to it.

Here is a up close pic of one I did that way. Of course I had to add color back into the bare spots after everything dried.

 

[tellico4x4]

Can I get the ticks on ears mounted too?

 

[AT Hiker]

Can I get the ticks on ears mounted too?

Cost extra but for you, I'll do it 1/2 price