Blacktail Skull Plates

[elksnout]

Son and I each took bucks this year on a late permit hunt. I would like to do plaque mounts of each. What is a decent way to clean the skull plates so they will last for many years?

[rock]

Boil them, and bleach, don't get the bleach on the horns.

[elksnout]

So boil for how long? Could you descibe how and when to apply the bleach?

[sirmissalot]

Don't boil or bleach. It's not needed plus is damaging, especially bleach...

Cut off the skull plate as usual, pop out the brain and cut off as much meat as possible, this does not need to be pretty. Give it a good coat of salt, this will dry out the leftover flesh.

Let it sit with salt on it a couple days, shake the salt off and you're good to go.

[kramer]

have them beetled. by far the best looking. but is just a personal preference.

[lokidog]

have them beetled. by far the best looking. but is just a personal preference.

This is definitely the way to go for euro skulls, but the OP is just looking to mount the antlers I think. 

Skin it, cut as much meat off as possible, scrape as necessary, scrub the inside with a good stiff bristle brush and some soap.  Let dry.  You could borax/salt the outside to help remove any meat residue if desired.

[Cascade_fisher]

+1
Beetles are awesome.

[elksnout]

No Euros. Have some already and skull mounts that were professionally done. But I'd like to try my hand at it. Just a skull mount with a leather cover guys. I just want to make sure nothing starts to rot and fall apart years down the road.

[browney5er]

I just use a short stiff bladed knife. I cut off all the meat and then I scrape right down to the bone. It usually takes a little over an hour but they turn out nice and clean and white. Here's a couple from the last couple of years.

[elksnout]

Bingo! Thanks browney5er.