i just throw the entire head into the boiling water...it's waaaaaaaay nasty but makes it a lot easier....you can go to your local beauty supply store to getthe peroxide that you'll need...you can also throw it on top of an ant hill but make sure it's secured to something so the yard critters don't run off with it....right now i have a hog skull and two alligator heads inside a coon trap on an ant pile...they are ready to be done but i just haven't found the time....best of luck to you and you gotta post pics when your done...congrats on your first buck.