Beetle guys around Spokane?

[GoldTip]

Anyone have the contact info for the guys who do beetle cleaned european mounts?  I have used a guy in Montana several times for bears and what not, but hate to drive back home if there is someone around here.   I've seen these guys with a booth at the Bighorn show, but never picked up one of their cards.  Any info someone may have would be appreciated.

[Krusty]

GoldTip,

It's not Spokane, but I know of a guy in Tonasket.

If you'd like I can PM the info. I don't feel comfortable listing his name and number online, where any bot or spider could find his info.

Krusty

[GoldTip]

Thanks Krusty, appreciate the offer, but I know there are some guys around here, but not sure how to locate them.  Thanks again.

[high country]

If you don't find any here, I am sure C'dA should have someone.

[robb92]

Have you thought of doing it yourself? Its not hard just takes some time, I did my own on a bix 3x3 a shot 2 years ago. All you need is a big pot with some hot water and I used Dawn dishsoap with degreaser, take and skin the head and pull as much muscle tissue off as you can. Once that is done, and the water is boiling sit the head in the pot and put it on a timer for 15 minutes and take the skull out every 15 minutes to scrape any loose stuff off, keep doing this until the skull is clean, when I did it it took about 6 hours and I did it with my old turkey fryer pot and my camp stove with teh little green propane bottles it took 2 and a half of them and the big thing to do is to do it outside!!!! Once it was clean I let is sit to dry out and then I took peroxide and soaked the skull in it for 15 minutes and then let it sit in the sun and you can repeat until the deisred whiteness of the skull is reached. Just don't boil the skull to long as it will crumble. I also did my Uncles for him why he was here. I will post some pics of what it looked like when it was finished.

[GoldTip]

Robb, thanks for the response, I have done many of my own over the years, but am very partial to having it done with the beetles to be honest.  I have little doubt yours have turned out very nice, and thanks for the advice.

[Coasthunterjay]

hey try this............

www.gwskulls.com  there out of spokane at 509) 220-3104

[Ghost Hunter]

GoldTip,

It's not Spokane, but I know of a guy in Tonasket.

If you'd like I can PM the info. I don't feel comfortable listing his name and number online, where any bot or spider could find his info.

Krusty

[Ghost Hunter]

Sorry, wasn't quite done there.  Tonasket would be convenient for me for next year  , if you care to share the info.

[littletoes]

Ya' know, this may make some folks angry a bit...but I think when they say they use the "beetles", they are pulling our legs a bit.

I did a ton of research on them bugs, and learned that they eat Muscle Tissue ONLY. That they don't eat the brain, the eyes, any of the tissue in the nasal canals, nor the ears....

Basically, all they eat is a bit off the cheeks, and around the ears...the muscles.....NONE OF THE HARD STUFF!!! 

Check this site out guys....

http://www.javelinahunter.com/preparing_a_skull.htm


Not slamming anybody here, but I think if they make it sound "difficult" then so many just won't "try".
I find that in my trade too....if its a bit out of somebody's "realm", they don't want nothing to do with it.

For Example; I am a licensed plumber (amongst other things..), and a friend asked me if I could come over to his father-in-laws house to check something out....I said sure, although I don't, and never realy have ever worked on houses much. Mostly all industrial and commercial stuff.
So I go over there, and it seems that his toilet "won't quit running", he had already talked to a plumber, who said it was the flapper in his toilet, and he had the part. I go over, take the lid off the tank, replace the flapper, AND IT QUITS! This takes me about 30 SECONDS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? The guy wanted to give me $50 for the work, I told him to forget it....
Maybe its just me, but I just can't believe this kind of stuff! This *censored* kills me....

[billythekidrock]

Ya' know, this may make some folks angry a bit...but I think when they say they use the "beetles", they are pulling our legs a bit.

I did a ton of research on them bugs, and learned that they eat Muscle Tissue ONLY. That they don't eat the brain, the eyes, any of the tissue in the nasal canals, nor the ears....

Basically, all they eat is a bit off the cheeks, and around the ears...the muscles.....NONE OF THE HARD STUFF!!!

Not sure if your research is incomplete, or the materials flawed, but the "beetles" do alot more than "a bit off the cheeks". I am not sure what "HARD STUFF" you are talking about but the Dermestid beetles will eat dried (hard) meat up to and including leather. They will eat eyes and brains, but only as a last resort and the drier the better. To prepare a bear skull for beetles you will be better off removing the large muscle mass around the zygomatic arch, the eyes, tongue and the brain. These take longer to dry and will take the beetles longer to eat.  We keep our prepared skulls in the freezer until the ready, then we will put them in front of a fan for a day or so before putting in the tanks. As you will see, they DO eat both hard and soft tissue, but they do not eat hair.

Jaw half way through the process.


Skull finished.



Paw finished.

[littletoes]

billythekidrock-

I would have to say, them are some damn fine pictures!
Everything I've read, even talked to a couple of guys, have all told me that the beetles don't eat connective tissue, nor eyes, brains, stuff like that.
Glad to hear it straight from the horses mouth...but I'm a bit confused, are those fly pupae capsules in there? Just wondering, because I know maggots will eat everything (not hair), although the smell will get fairly bad, but it doesn't last.

How do you like removing the brains? I personally think that is the hardest part, getting it out with all surrounding tissues. Give me your thoughts, if you would.

[billythekidrock]

Those capsules are from the beetles (why do I always want to spell it Beatles?) as they go through a few different stages, the last being a beetle that is capable of flight. Maggots or not, the smell can get really bad. As for the brains sometimes I use a fillet knife to slice it up and shake it out other times I use a looped piece of coat hanger and fit it in an electric drill to whip it into a cream then hose it out.