I want to help my kid European mount his first buck.

Any tips or tricks?

Simmer, don't boil and put some Dawn dish soap in the water for first simmer. When that water gets scummy change it and simmer again.
Foil to protect the antlers near the pot is a good idea, the water will simmer off the coloring if not careful or turn the antlers black.
Pressure washer or high pressure hose to wash it down after the simmer and help blow out the brain cavity. get the lining out of the brain cavity or it will stink forever. Spouse uses cooking tweezers to pick off the meat and clean the cavities.

30 volume peroxide to whiten, don't get it on you. The clear is easier to use just soak the head but not antlers in it for a couple of days then set in sun to dry.

I'm sure I left something out though.
Don't boil it hard or the bones will get brittle.

I use a process called maceration. It stinks to high heaven but you will be amazed how well it works. I find a shallow container such as a plastic tote big enough to set the head in. I fill it up with water just to where it is little below the antler burs. Throw an aquarium heater in there and wrap the outside of the container with insulation. The bacteria in the warm environment eats the hide right off the skull. I wash the skull best I can in a dawn bath. For whitening I buy the gallon jugs of developer/hydrogen peroxide from a beauty supply store. Fill up a pot with it where it is below antler burs and heat/lightly simmer. Take a plastic spoon and scoop the peroxide and pour over the top of skull between antlers. Keep a water spray bottle handy to soak antlers if any peroxide gets on antlers. It can and will stain them. You can watch it turn white. Doesn’t take long at all.

Whitebone Creations Hunting on youtube

Wrap bases of antlers and up 3 or 4 inches with electrical tape b4 the boil.

Do a soft boil, you just want to cook the meat off, no need for a rolling boil or you will have to glue the skull back together. Use a hose to blow out the cracks and crevices. Also a pick or small flathead screwdriver is handy. Boil a second time in water/dawn dish detergent to degrease the skull. If it’s not degreased it will have a yellow tint. Use a stiff brush like a tire brush to scrub the skull and grime off the antler bases. Once finished, paint the skull with 40 volume gel peroxide from the beauty salon. I do this for friends and family , about a dozen skulls per season, I enjoy it . Any questions shoot me a pm.

John

I just pay a guy $50. Not sure what he does but they turn out great. Had one done by a “professional taxidermist” for a lot more money and that thing stunk! Was even tempted to use it as backing for trapping before it went to the barn. Did get half my money back from the taxi though.

I skin the head out and leave it in the unheated, detached garage until late May. Now here it is generally in the 40's to well below freezing from Nov. until April so the meat dries out instead of rots. You could always put it in the freezer if you have room. End of May I wire it to the base of a tree in the woods and lightly cover the skull with dirt and leaves. Mid-July the bugs have cleaned it to the bone and then it is soaked in peroxide solution. Works well but is not done until months later.

It is much easier to clean them when they are fresh, or at least keep them frozen until ready to heat and clean. Letting one dry out adds a lot of work to the cleaning process and they never get as white even once cleaned.

Yes if planning on doing a European mount,skin the skull out as soon as possible.only takes a few minutes

A fairly simple deal.
I cook skulls at 180 degrees. One needs some sort of adjustable heat. I use a counter top roaster.
I also have a timer attached.
Skull should be trimmed as much as possible.
What really make this work fast is any laundry additive that has calcium carbonate-calcium precarbonate in it. The one I use is made by ALL. Cheapest one I can find and works as good as more expensive ones. What the additive does is it helps break down the soft tissue and degreases the bone at the same time. If cooked at 180 and timed properly, 5 hours top for a deer, the meat and soft tissue will fall of. No scrubbing needed.
I use air to blow off what does not fall off and is in small holes and depression in the skull.
After the first cook I make a second clean solution using a cheap concentrated laundry soap that also has calcium carbonate in it. Heat it a bit lower, 170, and time I about 4 hours.
Blow it out good.

2 days in 3 percent peroxide. Done. If you discolor the antler base with the peroxide an snler dye or similar color wood dye will fix that.

Some good tips here. And I 100% agree with NOT letting the flesh dry/or rot on the skull...it'll never come out as easly white as one worked fresh. Freeze it until you have time to boil it.

Here are some I've done....



I use Oxi-Clean powder, but Dawn dish soap will work. I also paint on a coat of Mop&Glo as a final touch....gives a nice light citrus/floral odor.

I also take a 4" piece of 1/2" flat metal and bend in a "V" shape...drill a hole on one end to attach to wall with a screw....other end = slide brain stem hole in skull over it....holds skull perfectly displayed, and can be bent to your specs.....


No need to spend money for a hanging bracket you can't see anyway.....

I simmer out side using a cut off 45 gal drum and turkey fryer with a little dawn dish soap. I also use preasure washer but be careful to keep your mouth shut during this. After all the meat is cleaned off I lather it up with preside cream. This will keep it white. Bleach will give it a yellow tint. I also take a wire with a hooked end to scrap out the brain matter. I strongly suggest you boil outside especially if you got a wife. Lol

Great tips here! Swamp wolf I like your hanger, I’m going to try that. I found some on Etsy that are pretty cheap and a nice simple design. Guys are crazy to pay big money for some of those hangers.

Willvalley, I’ve never heard of using the laundry detergent in the boil. How much do you add to each boil? Care to elaborate? I’ve got a few to do in the freezer , I may try your method.

The calcium carbonate (commonly known as washing soda) is the key for easy removal of the flesh. It turns the meat into gelatin and comes off with little effort. Most powdered laundry detergent has enough calcium carbonate in it to do the job.

Thanks Carl

I just send mine to Mark Melby and he deals with all of this for a minimal charge and they look GREAT in the end.

Yeah if you want them pure white don't let it dry. I on the other hand prefer the dirty white color I get.

I used a different method.

Skinned and trimmed. Then put on a large anthill. Put a clean trash can over everything. Used landscape nails to stake down the trash can. It took the entire summer. Turned out good but not great.

Next time I will pay someone to make it look better.