Old, white cast antlers can be rejuvenated by following these simple
4 8 | SPORTING SHOOTER _ MAY 2018Colouring Antlers
HOW TO
F
OR many deer hunters,
finding cast antlers is like
winning a raffle. More
often than not,
environmental elements have
already taken hold, with antlers
turned white and chalky.
Over the years, I have
experimented with different
methods to bring them back to life.
I now have a streamlined process
that gives a realistic finish using
easily accessible products. The
finished product should resemble
their appearance on the day the
antlers were shed.
To bring your antlers back to life
you will need:- Condy’s Crystals (Potassium
permanganate). This can be
obtained from most chemists
or Ebay. - Stain (your desired colour)
experiment I use Cabots oil
based Walnut Satin Finish - Sandpaper
- Paint brush
- Rags to wipe the stain off
The first thing you need to do is
study live shots or mounts from
deer you already have. You need to
see where and how far a deer
normally rubs its tips and
main beams.
You will find that many antlers
are coloured more than you would
expect. Each species will be
different and this first process
will help with the initial
colouring and produce realistic
looking reproductions.
Here are the steps to follow: - MIX one – two tea spoons of
Condys Crystals with 150ml of
water – a little more if you are
looking for a really dark coloured
antler. The solution will be a
deep purple which dries brown. - PAINT the antlers with the
solution. Be mindful that you do
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