collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Boiling Deer Skulls.  (Read 8197 times)

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Boiling Deer Skulls.
« on: April 04, 2013, 03:05:40 PM »
Yuck. Just started boiling two half antler skulls I have that were given to us by a member on here. Just as something to have on my wall for deco.. Was still lots of matter/hair/skin on them so Im getting them all cleaned up to put on some plaque mounts.
Fun lil project. Alittle practice for when I decide to do my own down the road. Atleast Ill know what I have to do.


So far, Boiling them in water, a small 2x2 and a much larger 3x3. Removing all the skin/hair/matter from the skull with a skinning knife and brillow pad. Just trying to get it clean for the most part.

Next I think Im gonna do a nice wipedown with pure bleach on just the skull part, then leave them overnight.
Tomorrow Ill try to find a good wood varnish or something along those lines and cheap, to give it a nice finished look.

Then eventually get them mounted.

Hows all that sound, to all you guys that have been down this road before?

Ill post some photos in a bit.

I forgot to mention the stench... Yummy, Smells like cooked roadkill/leather..  :puke:
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline tjthebest

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 340
  • Location: Snoqualmie Valley
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2013, 03:10:04 PM »
Dont use bleach. Use hydrogen peroxide. you also might want to try and degrease the skull as well.
Camp Wapiti Death!

Offline Bean Counter

  • Site Sponsor
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 13624
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2013, 03:10:48 PM »
Boiling is the quick and dirty method. Boil too long and you'll weaken the bones and make it susceptible to fracture. If you need it done quickly but have more patience then just boiling it then i would turn the propane stove down adjust simmer it. Use lots of Dawn dish soap to keep the grease from subducting into the skull. Bleach will also weaken. I haven't used it and peroxide whitens just fine.

Offline elk247

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 1684
  • Location: Skagit co.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2013, 03:11:10 PM »
Theres a good link on here about diy european mounts. Lots of taxidermist input. Carfeful with the bleach. I did a nice 3x4 buck years ago and the bleach made the skull very brittle.

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2013, 03:12:40 PM »
Ok no bleach then!
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20872
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2013, 03:14:46 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!

Offline Bean Counter

  • Site Sponsor
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 13624
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2013, 03:16:06 PM »
Lol; that's just cruel.  :chuckle:

Offline NRA4LIFE

  • Site Sponsor
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6057
  • Location: Maple Valley
  • Groups: NRA
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2013, 03:19:55 PM »
throw a bit of borax in the boiling water also.  That will turn the gunk into a jello like substance and degreases it pretty good too.  HP for the finishing whitening.
Look man, some times you just gotta roll the dice

Offline NoImpactNoIdea

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 298
  • Location: King County
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2013, 03:23:09 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!

Sage advise.

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2013, 03:29:40 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...


PICS!
I am, most definetly... In doors right now.. Lol doing it on my kitchen stove! Good thing my girls not home.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2013, 03:30:11 PM »
throw a bit of borax in the boiling water also.  That will turn the gunk into a jello like substance and degreases it pretty good too.  HP for the finishing whitening.
I have some on hand actually, about how much does it matter?
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline Becky

  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 5481
  • Location: Roy
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2013, 03:30:32 PM »
Better make sure this is indoors....to much fresh air will ruin the scent...

PICS!
I am, most definetly... In doors right now.. Lol doing it on my kitchen stove! Good thing my girls not home.

 :yeah: ... ^^^ I WAS JUST TYPING THAT.

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2013, 03:31:21 PM »
Pics on the way.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Offline elk247

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 1684
  • Location: Skagit co.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2013, 03:35:21 PM »
Dear god! I hope not. I have two keg shells one for boiling crab and one for skulls. They are labled and not interchangable.

Offline Smossy

  • Illiterate Woodsman
  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 6672
  • Location: Spanaway, Wa
  • Slow down and enjoy the moment.
Re: Boiling Deer Skulls.
« Reply #14 on: April 04, 2013, 03:39:28 PM »
Here we go.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Today at 06:25:45 AM]


My first blacktail! by hunter399
[Today at 05:41:00 AM]


2025 Montana alternate list by bear
[Today at 04:40:03 AM]


Restraining Order to Prevent Sherman Wolf Removal by huntnphool
[Today at 12:06:09 AM]


I bought this beater Win 06 as a scrapper outer, it turned into a fixer upper by Rigby416
[Yesterday at 11:09:17 PM]


Getting the hang of hanging on to mallards! by metlhead
[Yesterday at 09:21:59 PM]


It was a great year by St.Clair5x5
[Yesterday at 09:12:58 PM]


F150 Ecoboost Guys by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 08:39:07 PM]


North Idaho 2025 Rifle Bull by bearhunter99
[Yesterday at 07:45:44 PM]


Pathfinder's Opening Day Deer by bigmacc
[Yesterday at 07:12:41 PM]


3 pintails by metlhead
[Yesterday at 06:41:21 PM]


New property cams checked by Dan-o
[Yesterday at 06:21:13 PM]


CB Radio Hints and Tips, Installing guidance. by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 05:42:29 PM]


Rifle Hunting Elk Western WA by mikey549
[Yesterday at 05:38:52 PM]


Multi season elk by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 03:42:08 PM]


HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 03:32:31 PM]


2025 blacktail rut thread by highside74
[Yesterday at 01:12:42 PM]


Anti-fog for glass by MonstroMuley
[Yesterday at 12:20:25 PM]


Hoyt Satori Recurve RH by Sammyboiburtis
[Yesterday at 12:08:36 PM]


Shadypass road / fs5900 closed by NOCK NOCK
[Yesterday at 12:03:44 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal