I have a bear skull that I cleaned by boiling and soaking in peroxide (volume 40). Before I even began cleaning it it was very ripe to the point the meat was falling off by itself. The skull has no visible meat or tissue attached and is a decent white color, but it still stinks. It is not as bad as it was, but not gonna bring it in the house. How can I get rid of the smell? Should I put it back in peroxide? Should I immerse it in baking soda for a time? Thanks!

Did you submerge it in peroxide or “paint” on the peroxide?

Let it sit outside.
One of my sons friends does our Euro mounts on our deer and it takes him a couple months before he brings it to us. All have been fine.
Well, another one of my sons friends did my DIL deer and had it to him in a week to 10 days. It’s beautiful, but stunk so bad it’s now outside air drying, lol.
He asked his other buddy what he does different and he said nothing other than letting it sit outside for a month or more to air dry.

We soak them in mixture of bleach and water for a few days, kills off the bacteria.

only reason one would stink is if some missed material is somewhere. nasal cavity, brain, around the ear drums... one completely done should not stink.

Get the lining out of the brain cavity.
Bears are oily, did you degrease well enough. Dawn in simmering water until it comes out clear, change the water when it gets cloudy and scummy.

Soak was submerged in the peroxide and has been sitting out since August. It is not rank but noticeably unpleasant.

What is the bleach to water ratio?

The only place I can think tissue may remain would be in the bottom jaw, but I could be wrong. Is it possible the smell is in the bone itself?

The smell was horrendous. It was in six garbage bags. Three regular 13 gallon and 3 big black construction bags all sealed and could smell it. The smell got into other things in the freezer and tainted them as well.

I’d just simmer it in peroxide and water for about 45 minutes to an hour. About 1/3 peroxide

Unless you want to ruin it sure enough, DO NOT put it in household bleach. Household bleach breaks down the structure of the bone.

I personally do not boil or simmer either as too much heat will damage the bone also.

I macerate in warm water, basically rot the soft tissue off. There is a definite smell even after the soft tissue is gone. Then in to warmer water (120 degrees) with Dawn dishwashing liquid for however long it takes to get the grease out. After about 3 days, I change the water/dawn and by that time, the stink is gone.

Bear and wild boar skulls are notorious for taking a long time to get the grease out of the bone. They make look OK on the surface but may yellow over time as grease migrates to the surface. That grease can have an odor.

I agree with one of the earlier posters that there is some soft tissue left somewhere if you are still getting noticeable stink. Probably quite a bit of soft tissue too since the peroxide soak should take care small bits of soft tissue.

One place to check on a bear or hog skull is the lower jaws. They are hollow and contain soft tissue and these quick clean processes like simmering do not get al of the soft tissue out of the inside of the lower jaws. There are a couple of holes. Run a pipe cleaner in the holes and you will probably find the source of the stink.

I agree with QBD. Don't put it in household bleach; Disintegratres the bone...ruins a skull. Try warm water/peroxide soak for 4-5 days, then dishsoap and warm water for another few days (everybody's stuck on Dawn dish soap; in my opinion, it doesn't matter what brand you use).

Jack

You bleach kills bacteria.

Bury it for a year,it will also take on a nice brown colour.

That's what He dosent want^^^

Simmering will kill peroxide. So will freezing and sun light .

Did you boil the peroxide? If so you probably killed the peroxide.
If you have a peroxide solution of 20# or greater. Bring clean water to a boil ant heat the skull to boil for 10 minutes.then remove the skull for just long enough to cool to the touch. Then soak in peroxide atliest 48 hours. You will be amazed at the results. Use a tooth brush to remove any remaining in brain cavity, any catalige should be like jello and remove quite easily.

Anyone tried submersing in a creek? would need to be inside a cage to keep from getting packed of am thinking. Let Mother nature clean it up.

What would I know I only do it on 80-100 skulls a year.

Drifter, if you are not in a hurry, putting in in a creek or pond would probably work but would not be my first choice. Lots of things could happen like mineral stains from the water or rusty cage, losing teeth or small bones and the cooler the water, the longer it would take.

Burying it in the ground or hanging it in a cage in a tree will also work but they have drawbacks as well. Mineral stains from the soil, losing teeth or small bones, incomplete cleaning for starters.

acticotter
A wasn't saying your suggestion would not work or it was wrong.

If you want to reuse peroxide dipping a clean boiled scull will not kill the peroxide.

Even sculls that have been cleaned and set for a day will degrade peroxide much faster than freshly sanitized cleaned scull.

I used to treat 6 to 7 hundred skulls with a 40% diluted to 15% to have enough valume to submerge a whole batch of cleaned skull. Or larger skulls such as bison.

With the cost of peroxide, my suggestion was for long term use. I haven't cleaned a scull since maybe 2005.

I don't know if you can even get 40% in 5 gallon jugs any more. It was very expensive before 2001 then shipping chemicals became more regulated.

I understand there's more than one way to skin a cat. I wasn't trying to say you're way was wrong.

Just putting in my two cents worth.
Carry on.

Makes sense QBD Never gave it a thought about mineral stains. Was just thinking about the minnows and cray fish working em over.