question on skull mounts

[Fred Bear shooter]

I know some of you woudn't shoot a buck unless it was going to be a full mount,but this is only my second buck I've taken with my bow. It's bigger than the last one but not to my goal of 130 before it to goes on the wall. I've cut skull plaits before, but I would like to leave this one in full skull. Does anyone have some tips or pointers for me.

Thank you
Fred Bear Shooter

[huntingson]

Where are you from? There is a guy by me who does European mounts (what you are describing) for $30 and he gets them back to you in less than a week. He does not use the beetles though so the teeth could fall out. Of course a little epoxy fixes that real easily. You can do it yourself by boiling the living daylights out of the thing and scraping off all of the tissue. Using a hanger or something of the like to dig the brain out and other hard to reach places. It is time consuming though I will warn you.

[IAhuntr]

I've done a few european mounts and here's the easiest way I've found without the need to use any chemicals. Skin it down and remove as much tissue and fascia along with all the brains. Use a large metal tub or pan on a propane campstove and bring it to a boil outside and out of the wind. Place the skull in the boiling water for about ten minutes submersing it just to the antler bases. Remove it from the water and pick off any remaining tissues that have loosened up. Use a forceps and remove all of the nasal contents. All of the soft tissue and much of the thin plate bone in the nasal passages will come out. Tedious, but you have to get all of it. Re-boil for another five to ten minutes, then use a high pressure washer to clean off any remaining tissue. I strongly suggest using a do-it-yourself carwash, as it is quite messy and the hot water and soap greatly aid in doing a thorough job. Blast inside of the brain cavity and much of thelining will come out as well. Later, you may have to spend a bit of time cleaning the thick fibrous tissue from around the antler bases carefully with a small knife.If you've done a good job, no bleaching of the skull is necessary.

[twildasin]

just bury it and let the antlers stick out of the ground..wrap them in aluminum foil so the rodents dont munch on them. in the spring dig it up and it will look like its been bleached when washed off with a hose! This is what I do! Then I screw them to a plaque!