08/29/2026
Last post I talked about how to take care of your bear, this time it's all about velvet antlers.
With archery season starting next week, the bucks will still be in velvet. You/I can preserve the velvet IF its handled correctly.
1️⃣ First off, velvet is live tissue and must be treated as such. I tell hunters to treat the velvet as you would treat the meat---get it in a cooler asap. (I have cooler space for clients)
2️⃣ Next, try not to "handle" the velvet antlers with your hands. And keep the antlers from bumping, rubbing, dragging on the ground. If possible have one person handle the head (by the ears or neck) the whole time the deer is being field dressed, loaded and caped. Anyone who has delta with velvet antlers knows how easily that velvet can come off.
When I get a velvet buck in, I can perseve what he has at the time, but I cannot put back what has been rubbed off.
Remember, the better you take care of your animal in the field the better your mount will look when finished!
