Looking for Velvet Preserving Tips

[Bownsaw30]

Hey, so this is the first year that I might have a legitimate chance at harvesting a "nice" whitetail buck in velvet with my bow. It's not my goal to harvest him(s) in velvet, just that if I get a chance at him while he's in velvet I'm not going to pass on him. I'd rather him be hard "horned" less to deal with and less expensive I presume. And I just want to be prepared ie. having the products I need in my pack to preserve my trophy.

So here are the questions:
1) What do I need to do immediately to preserve the velvet?
2) How long do I have to get it to a taxidermist (should I have one lined up prior to the season start?)
3) Do I need to keep the velvet on? (will the antlers be soft/ easily broken if I remove the velvet with no other preparation? )
4) Has anybody seen a velvet euro mount or anything other than a shoulder/ half mount that looks decent?
(as a student really could use the cash in other departments, ie. food)


Thanks in advance for any advice!!!