Antler Cleaning and Care

We suggest leaving the antlers in as natural a state as possible. The only antlers that should need preservation techniques are velvet antlers.

Antler care starts with at the beginning of antler possession. First, if you care the antlers the right way, in the beginning, you will have fewer problems later on. Don't boil them for a long time. A quick 10 minute or less boil to assist in cleaning can be ok, but no more than a couple of minutes if possible. Antler contains protein substances that can be boiled out of them. This material helps hold the bones together, so you want to leave it in there. These substances also decay with weathering, most prominently if left outdoors. 

Antlers should keep as is, if kept inside, without further antler care except for cleaning with a dust cloth or dusting device. Although, over the course of years (10+) you may get some chalkiness on the outside of the antler. This is probably due to oxidization, with direct sunlight accelerating it if the antler is close to a window or sunlight source. The only place to keep a valuable shed antler is indoors, preferably in an environment where temperature and humidity are controlled year-round. The easiest shed to preserve is fresh. Ideally it has lost little of its natural brown color and is as hard and strong as an antler sawn off a deer's pedicel. Even one as fresh as this will fade, soften and go chalky if left outdoors, even when sheltered.

Antler sheds found when antler shed hunting are often over a year old. Even these shed antlers, which now may be a little weathered, should hold acceptably if kept indoors. If you feel your older antler sheds need some kind of antler care be careful or you will risk making them worse.

Some sites or posts suggest floor wax, bees wax, linseed oil, and varnish. We do not suggest any of these. Linseed oil will cause yellowing over time. Also soaking in linseed oil is reported to make the antlers more brittle and break easily. A light coat of varnish will give antlers a deer brown color and reduce oxidation, but isn't suggested.

 If you feel the need to treat your antlers, use only animal oils on them if possible. Second choice would be vegetable oils or olive oils. Part of the beauty of these natural antlers is the organic feel and the context of their existence.