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ToughCountry
Guest
I shot a smaller bull this year and would like to make a european mount. I have skinned the head and just looking for what to do next. Any tips would be helpful. I hope it turns out. Thanks guys.
elkantlers
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 3,719
You can take it to a taxidermist and they will do it for you. Or, you can get a steel drum and a propane burner and do it yourself. Basicly you put the skinned head in and fill with water to just below the antlers, turn up the heat and let the water get hot. I don't like the water hot enough to boil but dang close. you can buy some caustic soda to put in the water and that will help break down the tissue and grease. this can be bought from a taxidermy supply magazine. Then, just let it cook for a while and periodically pull it out of the water and scrape of flesh that will start peeling away from the bone. get a wire coat hanger and make a hook on one end, stick this in the skull and scramble the brains. This will help them come out easier. You will need to add water once in a while to keep the water level up. keep cooking and scraping until the skull is clean.
When it is clean paint a mixture of calcium carbonate (get from taxi supply) and hydrogen peroxide, mixed to a pancake batter consistency, on the skull and let it set for a few days to a week and then just wash it off.
That is the way I do it. somebody may have an easier way (such as beetles)to clean them, but this works pretty good.
When it is clean paint a mixture of calcium carbonate (get from taxi supply) and hydrogen peroxide, mixed to a pancake batter consistency, on the skull and let it set for a few days to a week and then just wash it off.
That is the way I do it. somebody may have an easier way (such as beetles)to clean them, but this works pretty good.
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WACATHUNTER
Guest
I do it the exact same way as elk! I just throw some dawn in whenI boil it to degrease it. It seems to work just fine and I am sure any dish soap will work. Finding a pot big enough for an elk may be difficult though. Good luck and lets see some pics.
WACAT
WACAT
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daverp
Guest
I've done a few coyote skulls, and it is such a darn unpleasant process, now I just freeze them and ship them off to a guy with beetles. Much better way to go. No mess, no cracked teeth.
If you do some checking around your area, it's likely a taxidermist will have dermisted beetles and clean it for you. Well worth the $30 or so bucks they'll charge.
If you do some checking around your area, it's likely a taxidermist will have dermisted beetles and clean it for you. Well worth the $30 or so bucks they'll charge.
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ToughCountry
Guest
Hey thanks guys. I am going to go ahead and try it this weekend.
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300WSM
Guest
I agree with what the others said, but A trick I like, which if the bone is good you don't have to paint it, is too throw some bleach in the water after you have it all cleaned up. This will whiten it up and have a real natural look too it. I don't think the bleach has any bad effects on the skull, I've been doing it for a few years and haven't noticed anything. Just keep the horns out of the water if at all possible so that the nautral brown or gray color doesn't get bleached off. Good Luck!
"Tenderloins - a carnivores' candy"
"Tenderloins - a carnivores' candy"
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wehunt
Guest
One trick I have learned is when you have boiled it to a point where the flesh starts falling off, take a pressure washer and hit it with the high pressure water and all the flesh comes off real easy. Good Luck.
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Steelermadman2002
Guest
Just did my 1st deer head. It boiled/simmered for about 4 hours, at different intervals I scraped off the meat, continued to boil. I then took the water hose with a sprayer and sprayed of the rest. The idea of a pressure washer is great, I bet it would save a lot of time.
I then soaked the head is peroxide for 2 days left in the sun for another. The skull is white as can be. I then took a spray sealant and sprayed it (from Home Depot). It turned out great.
I had my bull done by a taxidermist and I was charged $180.00 (I called many and this was the best price).
Its an all day project.
here is a great link to guide you.
http://www.hidetanning.net/SkullCleaning.html
I then soaked the head is peroxide for 2 days left in the sun for another. The skull is white as can be. I then took a spray sealant and sprayed it (from Home Depot). It turned out great.
I had my bull done by a taxidermist and I was charged $180.00 (I called many and this was the best price).
Its an all day project.
here is a great link to guide you.
http://www.hidetanning.net/SkullCleaning.html
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South_slope
Guest
I have found before boiling the skull, I cover it in a bag and leave a small hole in the top. I leave it in the tree in the back yard and let the bugs to most of the work for a couple weeks. Last year it only took me 30-40 minutes to boil it before I took it to the car wash. I also add just a little bleach.
Be careful when using a chlorine based bleach, too much will turn the bone to yellow. 40 vol Peroxide and Clairol Basic White 2 does the best job and wont yellow. Also, change out your boiling water often and keep it clean. Add a little dawn dish soap to help break up the grease. If you keep boiling in the same old greasy water the skull will absorb it, discolor and stink. Keep your peroxide mix moist by putting the wole head into a clear plastic bag. When peroxide dries up it no longer is active, no matter how long you leave it on for.
Eric
Eric
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AZbowhntr
Guest
I just got my mount back from the taxidermist today. It was a buck but it only cost $125 and after seeing what was involved I wanted nothing to do with it. Besides if I would have done it in the back yard my wife would have killed me. Good luck with yours.
brushstomper
Active Member
- Messages
- 198
I am thinking about doing the same thing with the buck I got this year. Can any one post some pictures of their completed mounts for us to check out? Thanks Brushstomper
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ScottM
Guest
An elk from a few years ago, CO
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ClorideRUS
Guest
I decided to try a euro myself this year. The only thing I did differently than the other guys was I wraped the skull in old T-shirts and then soaked it directly in the peroxide. It turned out pretty good. I used 40vol perxoide which is about 8%. You can get 35% which I bet would work better, however it's considered hazardous material and they charge a bunch to ship it.
Good Luck!
RUS
Good Luck!
RUS
hotdiggity
Member
- Messages
- 7
The easy way I have found it scrapping off all of the excess meat and then letting it soak in a warm bucket of water for a couple of weeks (you don't have to buy more equipment and all you need is a relatively warm spot to put it). It's not as harsh to the bone as boiling and it turns out looking nice. If you want it white you can use some hydrogen peroxide. Just look up skull cleaning on google and there are a bunch of sites that tell you how. Some of these folks are zoologists and do it all the time and know the best ways.
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Hornseeker
Guest
I found an awesome product for the initial boil...its soda ash, or sodium carbonate...I get it at a pool and spa supply house. You put in about 1/2 cup of this stuff while boiling and it flat jelly's all the meat...couple pokes in the brain case with a coat hanger and you are dang near done...
Then, I'll boil it in clean water with a bunch of dishwashing soap...degreases it....Then finally I hit it with the 40 Vol peroxide to make it super white.
Good Luck All
Then, I'll boil it in clean water with a bunch of dishwashing soap...degreases it....Then finally I hit it with the 40 Vol peroxide to make it super white.
Good Luck All
