08/28/2026
š¦ SO WHAT IF YOU HARVEST A VELVET BUCK THIS WEEKEND? HEREāS WHAT TO DO!
Velvet antlers make an incredible trophy, but they require special care immediately after harvest. If you want to keep that natural velvet looking its best, follow these steps:
1ļøā£ DONāT HANDLE THE ANTLERS
Avoid grabbing, dragging, tying, or hanging your deer by the antlers. Fresh velvet can be extremely delicate and can easily rub, tear, or slip.
2ļøā£ KEEP THE VELVET CLEAN
Keep the antlers out of the dirt, blood, mud, and debris. Be especially careful when loading and transporting your deer.
3ļøā£ PACK IT OUT
It may be an option to detach the skull for a skull mount or remove the cape for a shoulder mount in the field. Using a deer cart or sled to keep antlers off the ground would work well in some terrains.
4ļøā£ KEEP IT COOL
Heat is your enemy. Get your deer cooled down as quickly as possible and donāt leave the head sitting in a warm truck bed or direct sunlight.
5ļøā£ FREEZE THE HEAD/RACK ASAP
If you canāt get it to your taxidermist right away, freezing is one of the best ways to protect the velvet until it can be professionally preserved.
6ļøā£ CALL YOUR TAXIDERMIST
The sooner we know you have a velvet buck, the sooner we can help you determine the best way to preserve it.
That velvet buck might be a once-in-a-lifetime trophy. A little extra care in the field can make a huge difference in the finished mount.
Save this post and share it with someone heading out for an early-season hunt! š¦
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