Antler

[hsingyihsingyi]

Anyone got any ideas where I can get some antler,cheap. I live in the south but I don't hunt (turn pens instead). I took someone else's advice and have also been going to my local flooring specialist and they have been giving me wood for pens. I'm suppose to pick up some blistered maple on Monday.

Anyway, does anyone know where I can find some antler like I found the wood. The wife is getting upset about me spending money on wood. I can order wood faster than I can turn pens...just like turning new things. Ideas?
Thanks,

 

[DocStram]

Jay,
I'm not a hunter either so rounding up antlers for my pens wasn't easy at first. But, there are a number of ways of rounding up antlers without having to pay. I'm not certain where you live in the South (I'm in Middle Georgia) but try doing the following:

....... see if there are any deer-meat processing shops in your area, hunter often take their deer to be butchered at those places

....... start getting the "word out" with relatives, neighbors, coworkers. Somebody is bound to know a deer hunter.

..... when you do run across a deer hunter who gives you some antler, BE CERTAIN to give him an antler pen. Once her/his pals see it you're gonna get lots of free antlers

..... take a look at ebay and watch for antlers. But, be patient and don't overpay.

.... If none of the above strategies work, let me know. I have some Elk Antler down in my shop. (I prefer turning Elk as opposed to deer) I may be interested in selling some of the blanks.

Good luck with your "hunt"

 

[Rifleman1776]

Meat processors are unlikely to have any antler for you. Hunters will usuall cut off the head before bringing in. Besides, they would belong to the hunter, not the butcher.
Your best bet might be to check flea markets, antique shops and such. Even though I'm a hunter, that is where I get most of mine, scavenging. Or spend the big $$$ and order from commercial sources.

 

[hsingyihsingyi]

Thanks. I'll take a look into some of these ideas. I have talked to a friend of mine who is a hunter and he said that if he got lucky he'd get me some, butI had not thought about some of the other ideas.
Thanks,

 

[tnilmerl]

My experience is that naturally shed antlers are a better quality and easily to work that non-shedded antler. Hunters may have some sheds, but you may have better luck 'striking gold' by contacting some ranchers or large land owners in your area. If any deer species of reasonable numbers grazes or roams their property, then sooner or later they will shed. If you're lucky, they may even let you walk the property yourself and pick up whatever you can find. The trick is to know when shedding season starts, and to walk it during that period. Sheds are full of minerals and calcium and are prime fodder for all kinds of varmints and critters.

And, I agree with DocStram, give an antler pen to the land owner. They may have a stash out back of the barn they suddenly remember and let you fish thru.

-travis

 

[Mudder]

Try here:

http://www.hideandfur.com/

I've also found a lot at tag sales and flea markest and I have a standing order for the folks at work that if they can find antler (and I showed them an antler) of decent size for a few bucks I would make it worth their while. Paid 10 bucks for a decent 8 point rack on Monday and that doubled the money of the guy who brought it to me.He was happy and so was I. []

 

[Mudder]

Originally posted by tnilmerl
<br />My experience is that naturally shed antlers are a better quality and easily to work that non-shedded antler. Hunters may have some sheds, but you may have better luck 'striking gold' by contacting some ranchers or large land owners in your area. If any deer species of reasonable numbers grazes or roams their property, then sooner or later they will shed. If you're lucky, they may even let you walk the property yourself and pick up whatever you can find. The trick is to know when shedding season starts, and to walk it during that period. Sheds are full of minerals and calcium and are prime fodder for all kinds of varmints and critters.

And, I agree with DocStram, give an antler pen to the land owner. They may have a stash out back of the barn they suddenly remember and let you fish thru.

-travis

Just a little side note.......

Did you ever wonder with the thousands and thousands of bucks that shed their antlers every year why the forest floor is not littered with them? One reason is that they are eaten pretty quickly by chipmunks, field mice and squirrels for their mineral content.

Don't believe me?

http://www.fellowshipofchristianhunters.org/Outdoor%20Journal/Shed%20antlers.htm

 

[tas2181]

If you get antler from a freshly killed deer - let it dry out for a few months before turning. (They wait 60 days to measure them for scoring for Boone and Crockett/ Pope and Young) I would think 3 or four months to be more than enough if stored in a dry place.

Tom

 

[hsingyihsingyi]

Thanks for the comments. The website, http://www.hideandfur.com/, seems to have a little of everything and their prices seem reasonable for what I'm looking for. The bull horns look particularly interesting, especially if the color of the black and white ones goes all the way through.

 

[reed43]

Before you order these bull horns ask if they are solid or hollow inside. I seem to remember asking some time back and they tokd me they were hollow. not good for pen turning.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by reed43
<br />Before you order these bull horns ask if they are solid or hollow inside. I seem to remember asking some time back and they tokd me they were hollow. not good for pen turning.

Correct. Bovine horns are mostly hollow. Usually only a short section at the tip is solid. And the material itself is problematic for turning. African cape buffalo horn on the other hand is very thick and has a lot of solid material to work with. I haven't turned any but opinion vary about it's turning qualities. Some very nice pens have been posted made with buffalo (not to be confused with American bison) horn.