Deer Antler Fly Tying Tool Holder

I was in Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri, not too long ago and saw a project that I immediately knew I was going to have to undertake.  The shop owner, Matt, had a unique way to keep track of and organize fly tying tools.  A patron of the store had found a deer antler shed, drilled some holes into the main beam, and used the antler as something that was both decorative and functional in which to store his fly tying tools.  Granted, there are not many steps to complete, but it is extremely important that each step be completed accurately and carefully.

Step 1- Find a deer antler

While I obviously love to fly fish, there are times of the year here in the northwestern part of Missouri where fishing (especially fly fishing) either is not possible or so slow that it would test the will of a man.  I’m talking mainly about January, February, and a little bit of March of course.  Well it just so happens that one of my second favorite pastimes just happens to coincide with this time of the year.  This is the time of year that male white tailed deer shed their old antlers because mating season is over which allows them to grow a more impressive rack the following year.  If you can locate a piece of land that holds a dense population of deer, then you have a chance to find one or more shed alters.  However, while this enterprise sounds easy enough, it can be a real challenge.  Looking for a shed antler is less like looking for a needle in a haystack and more like looking for a needle in a stack of needles.  Shed antlers tend to be light to dark brown in color and it is an unfortunate coincidence that twigs, branches, and dead grass also has a similar hue.  But don’t let this deter you from shed hunting because while it very challenging, it is equally rewarding when you find a shed.  I guess it’s similar to fly tying in that way.  Sure, you could buy a fly at a fly shop and catch a fish with it, but it sure feels better when you find it yourself.  With that being said, if you get skunked, you can probably buy some overpriced antlers at an antique store.

A nice four point shed I found last March.

A deer antler that a cousin of mine found and gave to me last year.

Step 2- Plan to drill

There are two things you will want to keep in mind during this step: how big do the holes need to be and where are you going to drill.  I used a drill bit that was 7/32” so that might be a good place to start.  I drilled into a piece of wood first to make sure all of my tools would fit into a hole that size and they did perfectly.  When planning where to drill, I would suggest you confine yourself to the main beam.  You want to drill into places that are dense and the densest part of the antler is carried in the main beam with the points usually tapering down to a narrow point.  You will also need to decide how close to drill your holes.  This depends on how large the antler is or in other words, how much space you have to work with.  It also depends on how many tools you want your antler to hold.  Finally, mark your points that you want to drill with a pencil.

Pencil marks show where I planned to drill.

Step 3- Find a buddy that has a drill press

I would strongly suggest against using a cordless drill to make your holes.  If you drill at anything less than a ninety degree angle, then your tools will fit lopsided and you run the risk of accidentally drilling through less dense bone.

A buddy with a drill press.

The drilling process.

Step 4- Countersinks and color (optional)

To dress things up a little bit, you might want to consider a couple of ideas.  The first is whether you want to countersink the holes that you drill.  This will ensure that your tools fit nicely in their spots and don’t slide out into your workspace.  This depends on how much work you want to do, how nice you want your project to look, and how dense the bone is on the antler.  If there is a question of how strong or how thick the bone is, I would suggest you try to avoid a countersink.  The final option you have is if you want to add some color to your antler.  If you have a shed that is a year old or more, then there is a pretty good chance that it will have lost all of its color and be bleached white.  If you want to darken it up and try to restore some of the original color, you can apply a coat of stain to the antler and then wipe it off with a rag.  When it comes to stain though, try to adhere to the idea that you can always make the stain darker with more coats, but you cannot make it lighter once the stain has been absorbed by the bone.  A final idea would be to just spray paint the darn thing.  I’ve never done this but have always been curious what a deer antler would look like if it were black, red, silver, or camo.  If you ever attempt one of these colors, I would love to see it…for better or worse.

The finished product.

From another angle.