Gold antlers are all over the wild web and I wrote this post to bring the impossibly expensive (no thanks, retail!) or the impossible (um, those horn things are cute but where do I get them?) to the very possible for my Dear Readers. This post is your beginner’s guide to antler terminology and in person and online purchasing. It also will demonstrate the way I painted mine for Christmas, using one important paint in particular.
Antlers are the horns of the ruminant mammals cervidae. This includes deer, elk, moose, and caribou. The males of these species (and both female and male caribou) grow antlers that fall off in the wintertime. This is natural and normal and they grow back at a remarkable rate of about ¼ inch or more a day in the spring, to a size that is typically bigger than the year before. If creating a centerpiece, jewelry organizer, wreath or other rad decor is what you want, here is some size and shape info before you start searching or shopping.
Blacktail and whitetail deer horns are typically smaller than the following but would make a great centerpiece for a small or medium-sized table.
Mule deer horns are the biggest, probably, of the three species of deer discussed here. I would think they would be appropriately sized for a centerpiece of a large table, with a tall vase or candle in the middle, for example.
Moose horns are the ones that have wide palms (that’s really what they are called) that are smooth, flat, and sort of dish-like. On the moose, a big moose’s antlers can be 5 or more feet from side to side, meaning he would need a doorway of more than 5 feet wide to walk through. If you wanted a cool place to set tea lights or small objects on a long table, this would be the horn to seek out.
Elk antlers are very large, with large sharp tines (the pointy parts). I think they’d be gorgeous on a mantle, wall, or on a gate, where it would be out of the way of a rowdy child. They are pretty wicked when used as intended; in defending the original owner from attack.
Caribou antlers are large, with pointed tips and while I can’t say I have seen a shed in person, I’m sure they are beautiful.
An eye guard is the lowest point on the horn, toward the base, growing out over the cervidae eyebrow (they don’t really have eyebrows, just eyelashes).
‘Velvet’ refers to the fuzzy coating on the horns present in the spring as they grow.
These are some of the sites a person could peruse. Use the general information above to help guide your purchases.
The http://www.deerantlerstore.com is a wealth of information as well as horns for sale. I think their site is easy to use had lots of more in-depth information.
This site, http://www.antlers-for-sale.com also seemed great and offered a wide range of types and sizes of horns, including dog chews. Other than being a natural chew for Fido, they’d be good for experimenting on, if you wanted to try drilling, painting, screwing, etc.
Of course, you could acquire some horns another way. When out hiking about, you could find a shed. When you find one consider it’s color and condition. Darker color indicates it is a more recent shed while bleached white means it has been in the sun a while. The longer sun and weather have worn on the shed, the more porous and broken down the horn could be which would dictate which type of paint or craft you could use it for.
If you find one, keep an eye out for its mate. It may be nearby…or it may be miles away.
Finally, you could seek horns out via Craigslist or yard sales. This may be preferable so you could semi-arrange the horns on the spot for your intended project and feel with your fingers the surface and make paint purchases accordingly.
Typically, among those who hunt, the mantra “bigger is better” is paramount while symmetry, girth, and number of points (number of tines on either side) are also very important. What you might care about is if it will sit level on a table or flush against the wall, so you might be able to score some smaller, uneven horns for cheap. Don’t be afraid to tell the seller what you intend to use them for.
Here’s what I did. I found a primer that has stain guard because my horn’s color was uneven, some were really weathered, and I was painting them a light gold. This particular kind worked really well and is available by clicking the affiliate link below. I would highly recommend a primer for painting antlers.
And now, of course, the fun of arranging them on the boughs of my Christmas tree or on my holiday table can begin. I think mine turned out beautifully.
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