Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Bean Counter on October 16, 2014, 11:03:22 PM

Title: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Bean Counter on October 16, 2014, 11:03:22 PM: Say you're a day or two into a weeklong trip and you tag out on a buck that you want to euro. If you're going to be stuck away from home for a other 3- 5 days, what can you do to keep the skull from attracting flies short of freezing it? Yes I know get as much flesh off as possible. Wrap it in a sheet to keep the flies off too... But is there some sort or powder/chemical to apply to the sheet to keep the smell down?
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: jrebel on October 16, 2014, 11:20:52 PM: I imagine pepper would work....that is what people use on the meat to keep flies and bees off.
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: sirmissalot on October 17, 2014, 06:32:25 AM: I'd just stick it in a bucket of water with a fish tank heater and start the macerating process
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Bulldozer77 on October 17, 2014, 08:55:46 PM: Borax should work. :tup:
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Halo on October 17, 2014, 09:47:12 PM: Boil pick scrape clean repeat, I just did another one, takes about 4 hours start to finish.
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: tgomez on October 25, 2014, 05:23:14 PM: If the deer head is skinned out, boil the skull till meat browns. Scrape the excess meat off, then get borax powdered hand soap and put it all over and in the skull. I'd let it sit for a few days then wash off the soap thoroughly. After you wash it get a paint brush and bleach the skull. After 24 hours wash the skull with hot water, dry it, then put it on a nice piece of wood. JOB WELL DONE! :tup:
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Soady on October 25, 2014, 07:00:13 PM: Since you are stuck at camp start the boil process, you have plenty of time on your hands. While you're at it cook up some of those famous biscuits for the boys who are still out hunting and use that skull broth for a soup base! :drool:
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: longstevo on October 25, 2014, 07:11:41 PM: I've done 3 Euro skull mounts myself, and I'm set to start my fourth.

If you're stuck at camp, salt or pepper should keep the flies away. Clean it off as best you can, all fur, flesh, and head organs. I've heard of some guys burying the head, but I've thought that would discolor the bone. :dunno:

This is all assuming you don't have the boiling capabilities at camp, because I know that I don't in my camps.
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: passing-thru on October 25, 2014, 07:14:24 PM: Cyanne pepper and eater mixed up in spray bottle is what I used to keep bees and flies of meat when I did back-country hunts in MT. Never had problem with flying insects. Can't say the same for 4 legged critters
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Blacklab on October 26, 2014, 11:00:29 AM: Don't you lose the nose cartilage when boiling? :dunno:
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: MtnMuley on October 26, 2014, 11:04:12 AM: If you boil it too long. I've boiled over 30 skulls and only lost one nose. Glued it Back in.
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Blacklab on October 26, 2014, 12:30:25 PM: Thanks good to know ;)
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: bugs n bones on October 26, 2014, 12:37:21 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on October 16, 2014, 11:03:22 PM
Say you're a day or two into a weeklong trip and you tag out on a buck that you want to euro. If you're going to be stuck away from home for a other 3- 5 days, what can you do to keep the skull from attracting flies short of freezing it? Yes I know get as much flesh off as possible. Wrap it in a sheet to keep the flies off too... But is there some sort or powder/chemical to apply to the sheet to keep the smell down?
bucket of water or creek, lake, river etc.
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: HunterStrait on October 26, 2014, 01:02:56 PM: You can always try burying it.
It takes only 3 months in the spring/summer for the meat to be eaten off by critters.
If you're worried about the antlers becoming discolored or chewed by mice, wrap the antlers in a clear plastic wrap, put a bucket over the hole and have the antlers sticking up out of the ground. Cut the ears off the deer so it fits into the hole better.
After cleaning off as much dirt as you can when the month is up, you can put the skull in Hydrogen peroxide (without getting the antlers in it) to whiten it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXr2_8xzZ4o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXr2_8xzZ4o)
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: longstevo on October 27, 2014, 02:19:28 PM: Quote from: HunterStrait on October 26, 2014, 01:02:56 PM
You can always try burying it.
It takes only 3 months in the spring/summer for the meat to be eaten off by critters.
If you're worried about the antlers becoming discolored or chewed by mice, wrap the antlers in a clear plastic wrap, put a bucket over the hole and have the antlers sticking up out of the ground. Cut the ears off the deer so it fits into the hole better.
After cleaning off as much dirt as you can when the month is up, you can put the skull in Hydrogen peroxide (without getting the antlers in it) to whiten it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXr2_8xzZ4o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXr2_8xzZ4o)

Put a bucket over the hole?

Of course! I'd never thought about that. :tup:
Title: Re: Preserving a deer skull for euro mount
Post by: Heavyfoot on October 27, 2014, 02:45:56 PM: Don't worry about it, throw in the back of the truck until you get home. Might smell like wicked weekend in Tijuana but hey.... :IBCOOL: