Removing flesh/meat from a deer skull.

[Black Hand]

The skull is coming along fine. I still need to remove the "stuff" in the nasle cavity. And there is some flesh still in the brain cavity. I'm letting it dry out a bit. With the thought that I can break out some if the sinu stuff. I'm trying not to break anything. So I'm being very gentle. Ill post some photos later.

Remember that there are some very delicate structures in the nasal cavity that will be destroyed if you go "digging".

 

[Billnpatti]

Red ants, too. The big ones.......if you can find them any more. There used to be lots of red ant beds but the fire ants have taken over in many places.

 

[Andyd]

Fire ants...I keep telling you guys, it's fire ants!! .

Ok ! Ok I hear ya with the ants ..... Lol.
I do have a few red ant piles in my yard. But I also have cyoties and dammed neighbor dogs. (I'd like to shoot them both ). But the main reason I don't want to leav it out side is I don't want the antlers to fade.

Remember that there are some very delicate structures in the nasal cavity that will be destroyed if you go "digging"..

Ill be carefully whilest I pick my nose. :rotf:

 

[Andyd]

Was it fresh? My brother did the last one after it was frozen for awhile. He said he would never do one that had been frozen again took forever to get every thing off.

I skinned the skull. Thus removing the lower jaw and tongue. Here is a photo prior to freezing.
.

 

[Andyd]

This is after boiling over very low heat for a few hours. Probably too low of heat.
.

I then cranked the heat up to 200 degrees. Just trying to keep it under a boil.


This is the back of the skull all the stuff that is not white is meat, tendons and sinu that will need to be pick out.
No one seems to tell you "how much" scrapping you will have to do. Well Ill tell ya allot. The whole skull is covered in a layer of membrane that will need to be scraped off. Its not difficult it just takes time. Like everything the more you do it the better you get. This is my first.

 

[Goldhunter]

I have a friend that always uses a steam/pressure washer. It can be messy but its quick.

 

[Seamus]

The easiest method that I have found, and with very little odor, is to use either a potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide solution. Either one can be purchased from soap making suppliers.
I use about 1oz per gallon of water. The solution should feel slippery on your fingers.
After a few days the flesh will start to slip away and almost dissolve. You may have to scrape away a few remaining pieces. Rinse in fresh water then soak the skull in hydrogen peroxide to whiten the bones without the danger of dissolving them that can come from bleach.

 

[Black Hand]

I keep telling you guys to use Biz. I've done 1 skull this week with very little scraping (more running water and toothbrush to get the stubborn bits off) and have a 2nd in the pot right now that I will finish tonight.

The first skull I had boiled on/off for 2 days with little effect (I had no Biz at home). I bought some Biz, added it to the water and a couple of hours later, washed & rinse a clean skull.

 

[Mongo40]

Buddy of mine is a taxidermist an I asked him how he does his skull mounts, he told me all he does is boil them in a turkey fryer then takes them to a car wash an the high powered washer takes everything right off, nice an clean. Haven't personally tried it yet but he said he does a bunch of them that way every year.

 

[rafterob]

That's how they make pink slime.

 

[Rick Son]

I was always afraid to boil in fear of softening the bone.But your gettin there,take your time~

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I am here to tell you that Black Hand's method works! Tried the Biz and the meat just fell off. Slow simmer first evening then harder (more heat) today and it is finished! No scraping hard work or pain. Told a friend about it and have his on cooking now. Plus with the Biz it don't smell bad. Give it a try you'll be glad you did. Dan.

 

[50cal.cliff]

OK I got to ask what the heck is Biz???? I have never heard of it!

OK so I did a Google before I posted this and well........

Is this what you are talking about???????
http://www.bizstainfighter.com/

 

[wvbuckbuster]

You got it! Used the powder kind. Dan.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

2nd one finished. Just rinsed it off. Using this method is the real deal. :thumbsup: Dan.

 

[58CAL]

Here's the easiest way I know of no work at all!!!! Put the skull up on a roof or someother place where dogs and cats cant get at it in the spring or summer.Just let it sit the flys will lay eggs on it and the maggots will clean it like a whistle.

 

[OldJoe212]

I worked with a guy who would also boil his skulls. He was happy with the results. Also, his dogs really liked the soup.

 

[satx78247]

"WesTex" is 100% correct about using fire/red ants, as suitable "stand-ins for" dermestid beetles.
(Around SA, the taxidermists charge $$$$$$$$ to let their colony feed on your skull meat.)

Before "putting the skull on the ant bed", carefully wrap the antlers in aluminum foil & duct tape to protect them from the Sun.

After a week or so & when the skull is looking "really nekkid", submerge it in a big pot of water & DAWN dishwashing detergent & simmer it on low.

Then get some "powdered hair bleach" & 40W "volumizer" from SALLY's or another similar "professional beauty supply place". - Mix the two together & "sop" the skull in that mixture.
(DO NOT get that stuff on you, as you will get a PAINFUL chemical burn!)
Then, wrap the skull in plastic-wrap & place it under a strong light for 24 hours.

Then rinse, thoroughly dry & mount your "Euro-mount" on a suitable plaque.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, satx

 

[BWM]

"WesTex" is 100% correct about using fire/red ants, as suitable "stand-ins for" dermestid beetles.
(Around SA, the taxidermists charge $$$$$$$$ to let their colony feed on your skull meat.)

Before "putting the skull on the ant bed", carefully wrap the antlers in aluminum foil & duct tape to protect them from the Sun.

After a week or so & when the skull is looking "really nekkid", submerge it in a big pot of water & DAWN dishwashing detergent & simmer it on low.

Then get some "powdered hair bleach" & 40W "volumizer" from SALLY's or another similar "professional beauty supply place". - Mix the two together & "sop" the skull in that mixture.
(DO NOT get that stuff on you, as you will get a PAINFUL chemical burn!)
Then, wrap the skull in plastic-wrap & place it under a strong light for 24 hours.

Then rinse, thoroughly dry & mount your "Euro-mount" on a suitable plaque.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, satx

I too have taken skulls to my taxidermist who uses the dermestid beetles. The results have been great and will not hesitate to use him in the future.
Bob

 

[30coupe]

We'd have to have snow ants up here, lol! The guys with the beetles get way more than I want to spend on a skull mount. I think I'm going to try the Biz idea. I've normally just simmered them in water with a little Borax. The power washer is effective, but it likes to scoot the skull across the ground if you don't have a way to hold it still. I've found the best way to make them white is to get them as clean as possible, tape off the antlers, and spray paint them with flat white paint. I've got some that I did that with several years ago and they still look nice and white and very natural. It's cheap and easy.