Maceration of my 2017 bear skull, week by week

[Jpmiller]

Doesn't pressure washing damage the little bones you try to save by doing maceration?

[7mmfan]

I don't pressure wash the nasal cavity. Primarily the back and bottom of the skull where the ear canals are and such. Also the brain cavity.

[Pathfinder101]

I'm on week 4 of a modified masceration process of my bear and deer skull from this year. I change the water every week and add more soap and keep the stock tank heater going. The skulls are both 100% clean of any meat or brain matter as I pressure washed them both 2 times in the process. The grease, oil , and brown "stuff" that continues to come off those things is unbelievable. I'm sure most of it is the bear but still. I guess the point is I dont see how it's possible to be done start to finish in hours if hot water and soap continues to pull grease almost a month later. I'm convinced this will yield a better product than a one day job.

The boiling and picking takes a few hours, but you still need to degrease.  I do all the boiling and picking in a day, then put the "clean" skull in a bucket of warm water with Dawn for a few weeks (changing the water every few days when I notice a greasy film on top).  Whatever process you use (maceration, beetles or boiling and picking) you have to degrease.  Twice as long for a bear.

[PolarBear]

 
And when you think you have it all degreased, go another week otherwise once it is in your house all nice and warm the grease that is left will leech out and turn it yellow. Today I went to start the maceration on my daughter's buck, bobcat and a few of her coyotes.  I wound up having to put them in the freezer until I get the new tank heated I had to order.  My other 2 have been loaned out and never returned.

[buglebuster]

When it comes to degreasing bears just throw them in a sealed bucket of acetone completely submerged and forget about them for 4-5 months. You can’t get a better degrease 

[ghosthunter]

Well

I put the bear skull in a bucket of dawn and water 2 months ago. Up till then was only in water.

One month later rinsed off and put in milk crate on top of my carport. Lots hot weather really turned it white.

Checked it today almost there. Turned over to let sun work on other side.
Guessing will be good enough end of month.

[ghosthunter]

So a year ago I started this by placing a bucket of warm water.
Checked it from time to time and changed water.
Trimmed off some extra stuff along the way. And back in the bucket.
End of May put in Dawn soap and water.
Around end July took out of water put in milk crate in sun.
Forgot about till today.
Turned over in sun for three more weeks.

[Jpmiller]

Cool, fun little experiment. If you do it again is there anything you'd do different?

[ghosthunter]

Cool, fun little experiment. If you do it again is there anything you'd do different?

I would clean it up a little better in the beginning.

I am sure there are faster methods. But I really wasn’t in a hurry. And really did not have to do much after things got rolling. Some said change the water often. I left it all winter and changed in spring. I moved inside during freezing weather.

I am happy with the process. Hot sunlight really made a huge difference.

[ghosthunter]

Calling this good enough for this guy.

[Dan-o]

Looks good.

You are a very patient man.