So far I haven't done this but am wondering if it would help keep the color better if coated. If so, what do you use? Also, could one use something to help darken the antlers a little? The 8 pt is from this fall but the 10 is quite old now. Sadly that 10 has lost a lot of size and color but perhaps part of the reason for that is we took that with us to Arizona one winter. We were amazed at how much lighter it felt after only 4 or 5 months in the dry air.
No coating on the euro mounts I have done. Others may use something. Check out vandykes taxidermy for anything you could want ie something to darken antlers Also...that drying out is exactly why the record books require a waiting period before final scoring. Hence the term "green score" Antlers need seasoned too I guess haha.
There's something that does the job, but I don't know what it is. Took a nice Mulie that had light colored horns. The taxidermist stained them darker and it actually ticked me off. It was my first 30"+ buck and I wanted him as he was. But the color has stayed, so it must've been good stuff.
Dennis the whiter ones I have seen have usually sat outside for a while. I have known a few guys that will use wood stain and get good results with it. You can try it on a smaller antler and see how it turns out.
Sean, you can see the one on the right is really white now. We goofed when we spent a few winters in AZ and took it along with us for some unknown reason. Sure made them lighter in color and lighter in weight too. Then my wife found some old antlers out in the desert. Now those weigh about like a match stick.
Back in the 70's, a coating of dark stain was applied to a beautiful 8. (Not me) I ended up with the rack and can only look at it and wonder why! I have seen racks with a coating of sealer and/or varnish type finish...still looks natural, just shinier.
I have 2 sets of 10 point antlers attached to a skull. One I found in a river while fishing, it's been sun bleached pretty white. The other I took off a buck a buddy and I dispatched after finding it hit by a car. It still has it's original color after 10 years or so. I don't think anything kept inside needs coated, unless maybe it gets hit by direct sunlight.
you could rub them with boiled linseed oil. I have no experience because I just leave mine as is. But some people do oil horns and antlers.
Taxidermist buddy of mine uses walnut wood gel wood stain, light coats whipping off quickly, just use as many coats as it takes to get the look you want. He does a lot of antler repair work, all the ones I've seen him do you would never know they where stained or repaired unless told so. ~Nathan
Thanks FarmHand, I just might try that on a couple sets of antlers. I've also wondered about something like tung oil.
