i cleaned some of my buddies that were a couple years old, alot harder than fresh ones, but i say just make a slit down the back side with a exacto knife, all the way to the bone from top to bottom. then take some needle nose and peel off both sides. once you reach the spur part, just rip off the scales and skin, or carefully cut it away.

no easy way out i dont think, but even if you do it my way, it still would only take a couple minutes for each set, then soaking them in peroxide to whiten them up.

good luck