Euro's yet?

T

trevj

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Buckskull.jpg

BuckontheCounter.jpg


This is mine from this year.

First go at a Euro.

The picture on the counter, is still wet from the stove. The one on the floor, is a while later.

This was a straight-up, hot water only job. I did not have a pot that would fit him, so he spent most of a weekend, sitting on the stovetop in a roasting pan, with water up to the base of his antlers.

Pretty pleased with the way it turned out. For a first effort, really happy!

I blew out a tiny bit of the sinus bones while poking at some of the loose material in there, but otherwise it turned out great.
Maybe spent too long on the stove, as some of the seams started to get a little loose, too.

Gotta come up with a base to put it on, now.

Cheers
Trev
 
Nothing added to the water.

Heard of soda ash, and heard of using hairdressing peroxide, as well as bleach.
I didn't want to go to the trouble until the skull was clean, and I like the way it turned out, so this is how it stays.

There was a bit of dish soap on the brush that I was using to fish around inside the skull and sinuses with, and a little of that ended up in the pot, but it really was as easy as boiling water.

The skull is pretty nice and evenly white (ish) as seen, but there are some grease stains on the lower jaws, after they dried. From the bone marrow, I expect.

I skinned the head, removed the eyes from the sockets, and trimmed away as much material as I could get from around the jaws, and just let it cook. After a couple hours, I had at it with the knife and trimmed a bunch more. Scoring the remaining flesh on the roof of teh mouth, and across the skull helped, too.

Mostly just patience and time.

Cheers
Trev
 
Nice job Trev!

I just did my runt buck last night. This time I tried the style with the teeth cut off. It really helped for cleaning the sinuses out and yet not loosing any of the sinus bones.
This one was fleshed right away but sat in a pail of cold water for a couple weeks until I had a chance to finish. The water was changed a couple times but did it ever get rank. It cleaned up fast enough but did not come out as well as last years head. That one was fleshed and boiled within two days. It came out very nice. I won't be letting them sit anymore!

Did your wife hit you with her rolling pin after having that smell in your house all day?

I welded a tub at work and use the tiger torch in the shop, it really keeps things perculating. The best thing I found so far for cleaning them is use Cascade dishwasher powder in the hot water. Doesn't make a big stink and doesn't bubble up like soda. It also disolves much of the fat in the tight areas and loosens the gristle etc....

Start to finish is about 4-5 hours including skinning the head. I haven't focused on timing it yet, may be a bit short.....
 
Wife was away for the weekend. I started on the guy, right after she left.

The house smelled much better, by the time she got home.:D

I wouldn't wonder that the long soak made the cartilige a bit softer.

I could see the dishwasher soap working really well.

Cheers
Trev
 
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Yeah, I did a skull at home....once! LOL
Cleaned up a wolf skull last winter, even I was getting the heaves for awhile.

The one thing that is the biggest pain is the cartilage in the sinuses, most of it comes out pretty good but the last bit way back in there is more like wax and you just have to bust it up with a small little tool. I found a 3/32 and 1/8" welding rod to be just the ticket as well for digging out the membrane in the brain cavity.

The Cascade also helps get it to a nice white, not quite like the taxidermist but I am not after that look anyway. I will hit it with the peroxide at home too, but that is more to kill the smell than anything, the other downside to letting it sit and fester.......

My moose should be back fromthe taxidermist soon. I fleshed it for them but it is just too big a job and I didn't want it looking like a POC when I was done.
Can't wait to get it on the wall.
 
I can't believe you did that boiling job indoors :eek: Are you divorced yet?:D

Now that you've got the skull clean, degreased and somewhat white, do the following. Wrap the skull with a white cotton rag (a piece of an old T-shirt will work) and use safety pins to hold the rag in place as best you can. Place the whole thing in a large bowl. Pour hydrogen peroxide over the skull to saturate the rag. High strength hydrogen peroxide is best (use gloves!!!) but the regular stuff from the drug store will also do. Pour on the peroxide at least twice a day to keep the rag saturated. I like to do this with a turkey baster, that way I can pick up and use the peroxide that collects in the bottom of the bowl. Keep this up for 5-7 days and your skull should turn out gleaming white :)

I've never done an entire skull, but this technique works well for my antler mounts.

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Ninepointer
 
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I found a bear skull while I was wandering about the area, AKA hunting, and dragged it home. I figure to try the peroxide wash on it to see how it turns out.

That moose mount is kick-ass! Nice looking antler mounts, too!

Cheers
Trev
 
Great news, just got an email saying my moose skull is ready....yay!!!!!
What a horrible predicament to be in when you need to use lag bolts to hang something on your wall.

Keep an eye out for pics.

Noel
 
Well I got the plaque done tonight. I will be giving this one to my Great Uncle for his 97th birthday this Sunday. :cool:
He figured it was a pretty good buck when he helped me get it from his patch of bush. Now that it is done I kinda like it too.
In all his years of hunting he never kept any antlers. Hopefully this will meet his standards....:p

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