My taxidermists Bud and Gavin Weller from Weller’s Wildlife Studio (520) 744-3468 have mounted innumerable velvet-racked mule deer over the years. They’ve seen every possible mistake a hunter can make when caring for velvet antlers in the field. Here are their recommendations.

“From the moment the animal hits the ground, treat the antlers like fine china,” “Don’t touch them at all and get them to the taxidermist immediately. Don’t drag the buck. Get help. Let someone hold the buck’s head up when it is moved and loaded into the vehicle. Don’t drive around town showing the buck to all your buddies. There’ll be time for that after you get the mount back. Velvet is a delicate tissue and it will spoil very quickly if not treated. Heat, moisture and a lack of air circulation will spoil velvet just like it will spoil meat. Keep the velvet cool and dry. When you get the deer to the taxidermist insist on having the antlers freeze-dried. That is by far the most effective and attractive way to preserve velvet.”

I agree wholeheartedly with The Weller’s and follow their advise to the letter. Unfortunately, I do some backcountry hunts and can’t always get the rack to them in a timely fashion. Here’s what I do in those situations: I carry a small bottle of neutral buffered formalin. (This is hazardous material commonly called formaldehyde and can be hard to get. Unless you are trained in the use of this material you shouldn’t use it.)

As soon as possible after shooting the deer I make a very small hole – a tiny little X - in the tip of each point and hang the antlers upside down so any remaining blood can drain out. While the antlers are hanging I don a pair of latex gloves and gently massage the formalin into the velvet. I am extremely careful not to breathe the fumes or allow the formalin to contact my skin. I always keep Bud’s fine china analogy in mind when handling the antlers. I then get the antlers to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

Note: Formalin is a tissue preservative used to keep biopsy tissue and cadavers from spoiling. It does a great job on velvet racks by giving you a little more time to get them in without spoilage. It should only be used when no other option is available.