Not sure if this is the right forum to place this under...moderaters, feel free to move to correct spot if not!

I was gifted an elk antler last week and looking for repair options. A total novice at this.

I'm not an expert on the terminology, but it looks like it's the tips of the G4 and G5's. It actually had quite a bit of velvet on it when the guy found it I was told...it was a deadhead. It's been hanging in an open barn and is quite weathered now. Those broken tips...I'm guessing 3-6 inches broken off...are almost sponge-like; dry sponge, anyway. Not calcified. All of the lower ones are calcified and hard. I was planning on filling the cracks, etc with Dap Plastic Wood X and then sanding down...but several areas are a bit chalky and not sure how sanding will work. When I powerwashed it, the aforementioned tips got really soggy, but have since dried out. I'm thinking I need to drill some wire in to hold any kind of compound/clay that i use to finish the tips.

Any experts on here willing to give a beginner tips on repairs of these, and/or any other thoughts?

The guy that does by european mounts on deer said the skull is too far gone that it won't hold or be improved by bleach. He suggested just painting the skull. But that's the easy part...want to get the antlers figured out first.

Thank you for any help.

I've repaired several broken or missing antlers using a two-part product called Apoxie Sculpt. Just follow the directions by mixing part A with part B. I've had great results by drilling into the antler and installing a piece of stainless wire for support, then molding and shaping the product into the size and shape you want. After it has dried completely, you can then paint the repaired area to match the existing antler. I haven't tried to stain any of this product, but that may work as well. 

You might want to practice on another antler until you get the hang of working with this product.

I've repaired horns and antlers with "Bondo" (for automotive repair). Works well, just follow directions. Can be painted over.

Jack

Potassium permanganate is used to dye faded or whitened antlers back to original brown colour.
Dont know how it would dye a filler compound.

maybe ask on taxi dot net.

thanks all. Being a novice at this, I'm looking for the simplest method that still yields good results. appreciate the replies.