European Mount Questions.

[Lenny 308]

I have a mule deet that I would like to a European mount on. I have read articles that say to boil the skull, and some that say not to. What is the proper way? I live is Saskatchewan Canada, and it is already freezing at night here so I will have wait till spring if I should only let it soak in water as opossed to boiling. Are there any other ways of doing it besides the water or the flesh eating beatles? Thanks for any help you can give me. I will also include a picture of the deer for you all to have a look at.

[Lenny 308]

Sorry about the picture being so big, I'll try to make it smaller.

[Howler]

If you have red ants up there, set the skull on or near the ant hill. I have heard, never done it, that ants will clean a skull up. The thing with the boiling method is it makes the bone more brittle.

[swamp rooster]

Man thats a good buck...

[Saskabush]

Lenny,

one method that has worked for me is to find a pot that you (or your wife) don't mind sacrificing that is large enough to submerge the entire skull in (up to the base of the antlers). If possible keep the antlers high and dry especially around the bases as boiling may affect their color.

Skin the the skull and remove the eyes,lower jaw and as much meat as possible without damaging the skull. Boil the skull (outdoors on a camp stove if possible) until the remaining meat is loose enough to remove by hand, this may take several rounds of boiling and cleaning. to clean the bone add a drop or two of dish soap to the water, it will help avoid "greasy" patches on the finished skull. once the skull is clean and all loose flesh, cartiladge and other fun stuff is removed take it to the car wash and use the pressure washer to clean any stubborn bits from the nooks and crannies. Three things to note with this whole boilingprocess are:

1. if the teeth are becoming loose or fall out, STOP BOILING, she's as good as it will get and the skull may fall apart if left any longer.

2. the nose is a b#tch,the nasal passages arefull of all sorts of delicate bones and smalll bits of flesh. be careful

3. Removing the brain will require a stategically bent coat hanger or similar implement. If you've ever seen videos of chimps using grass to get at termites you'll understand the similarities.

Once the skull is 100% clean prepare a peroxide bath for it. Some use 35% stuff available at hairdressers. In the past i have gotten away with the 5% stuff available at any drug store (it'll take several bottles). Pour enough peroxide into a container to immerse the skull but NOT the Antler bases. to cover the top of the skull around and between the antler burrs use paper towel to wick the peroxide up around the bases. DO NOT let the bases soak or they will bleach and you'll have a racing stripe on your antlers. once immersed let the skull soak overnight or until the desired colour is reached.

this has worked for me. I am not a professional so if you want a professional job take it to the taxidermist. With that said, here is my most recent attempts:







The bottom skull didn't have enough dish soap so it doesn't appear as clean as the other. Hope this helps. Good luck. I have better pictures if you'd like to see the results, just not available right now.

[wyomingtrapper]

I suppose that boiling may make the skull a bit more brittle, but have used that method on a couple of antelope with good results. If a few teeth fall out, don't sweat it, you'll have to glue them back in. Most leave the skull natural, I've always finished mine off with glossy white spray paint. Personal preference thing. I would recommend sealing it with something when you are done.

[isatarak]

I've boiled a few and here's the best luck I have had. Skin the head as soon as possible. Within a couple of days if possible. I boiled the head for 2 hours. It ended up being whiter after I was done than another one I boiled longer. It may have taken a little more time at the car wash, but looked better in the end. It really looks good without doing anything else. Some others I have done were a little gray and I painted them.

[okietreedude]

I tried doing one myself last year and didnt have much luck w/ the boiling process. Ended up taking it to a taximan. After telling him my story, he said I basically didnt cook it long enough. He said cook it like a roast - a long time. It makes the junk inside softer and easier to get out. He finished the job and got a second one later in the season. It only cost me $75 and was well worth the money.