Your information is correct as far as I am aware, heard this somewhere before. Where on the north island is your friends farm would be great to get some shots with the antlers if he doesn't mind.
DaveA wrote:
I believe that this antler condition is referred to as being in "velvet". They keep the velvet until the antlers are fully formed, then polish the velvet off by rubbing the antlers on brush/trees prior to rutting.. I have a friend on the North Island who farms red deer. The "crop" that he sells are the fully grown antlers that are still in velvet. Asian buyers come to his farm to purchase the antlers that have been sawn off.