Removing tissue and skin/hair from skull

utbrowningman

October 22, 2012 13:32

Shot a mule deer yesterday while hunting with my son. Just a 3
point (6 point for you eastern guys). No trophy but my first deer
and my son wants me to mount the antlers. The processer gave them
back to me but I need to remove what if left on the skull. Not a full skull
just the crown. How can I do this? If this involves boiling water in the
kitchen, that is just not happening.

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  mrs102

  October 22, 2012 13:37

  I have a friend who does forensic dental work. He "cooks" the jaws in water with ERA laundry liquid, but do not know the proportions. It does however require a stove or hot plate.

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  toad67

  October 22, 2012 13:44

  Call a local taxidermist to see if anyone has beetles.

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  nmyers

  October 22, 2012 14:36

  I'd try hydrogen peroxide; it destroys dead tissue without making a mess.
  
  Neal

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  4440rk

  October 22, 2012 14:50

  If the weather is warm and you know where there is an ant hill; problem solved.[:D]

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  tsr1965

  October 22, 2012 14:55

  A local processor does the European skull mounts here by simply skinning the head, then pressure washing(good high pressure washer, not the $129.00 electric wands) the skull. After they are blasted you can set the skull plate and antleers in a 5 gallon bucket or pan that will fit, and put some warm water with bleach in to "whiten" the skull plate. Only take the liquid level to the top of the skull, and do not submerge the antler's.
  
  Best

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  Manoa-Fisherman

  October 22, 2012 15:01

  Leave it out for the flies to get to. Maggots will do the same job as ants will, just a little more gross looking.
  
  If you are going to mount it, there are cheap mounting kits you can get. The Do-All Outdoors True Classic Antler Mount Kit is the cheapest at: http://www.amazon.com/Do-All-Outdoors-True-Classic-Antler-Mount/dp/B001UI1QW2
  
  Kind of surprised that Amazon is much lower than Gander Mountain or Cabela's for the same kit.

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  utbrowningman

  October 22, 2012 15:35

  Thanks for the replies.

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  victorj19

  October 22, 2012 19:47

  It shouldn't take too much boiling (outdoors in an old pot). The boiling softens up the tissues/membranes. You then scrape off the tissue and possibly pull some off with needle nose pliers. When it starts dry up boil it a bit more. I use an old dental probe to pick out tissue from under the antler basses. When you tink you've gotten everyting boil and scrape it some more. When you know you've gotten all tissue off, use a small paint brush to apply bleach or peroxide. Do this over several days letting it dry in between the bleaching. Do this even if you decide to cover the crown with some fur, felt etc. The bleach will eliminate any smell and insect broblems.
  
  I've used the paint brush method on skull mounts with very good results. I haven't seen any difference between bleach or peroxide. Save your money and use the clorine bleach in your laundry room.

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