Like mentioned cape the face and remove as much meat as possible, the sooner it is done after the kill the easier. If you don't have time put in a garbage bag and in the deep freeze, let it dethaw and it comes off nicely. If it has sat for a while then I soak so the hide is workable, it will stink so do it outside, then cape and scrape! Remember when caping it don't have to be pretty, just start removing hide and meat, the eye I use a filleting knife and work the blade around so they come out in tact, the rest is pretty much like skinning. For the cartilage in the nose(if fresh) I will use needle nose pliers in a push and pull method to remove. (if not fresh I will remove during the boiling procedure). I then either spray off with a garden hose or is the wife is working use the kitchen sink..lol!

I always boil my skulls and skull caps, the trick is slow/rolling boil vs a hard boil, you must keep an eye on the water level and top when required. I wrap the antlers in heavy duty alum. foil for the entire process, to ensure the antlers or pedicles are not tainted by the boiling water or whitening solution. When boiling periodically remove and scrape skull. I use an arrow shaft via the brain stem to break up and remove the brain matter in a euro mount. I would boil it outside, it tends to not produce the best smell.

Whitening I mostly use an alum. cake pan with peroxide and cotton balls, as described earlier. You can also make a paste with peroxide and powdered bleach(available at a beauty salon it is used for reducing liver spots). With this method you allow the paste to sit for 24 hours then rinse off, if required repeat. Like already mentioned do not use household bleach, it will yellow the skull and can weaken it as well. The natural route works but take time, I would ensure the antlers are protected to minimize fading or rodent chewing. The beatle method is very fast and does an excellent job if you have access to them....just don't let them escape!!!

Not a hard process, it is time consuming but enjoyable and i think rewarding.