Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Reged: 01/03/02
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Loc: McCleary, WA
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European mount = horns and skull, no fur. (Not an exchange student  .)
I got a decent 4x4 muley this year, but it isn't worthy of a full shoulder mount. I skinned out the head and lower jaw, taking care not to nick the skull, and I have about 98% of all the meat off.
Anybody have any suggestions on prep from here in out? I know it gets finished with hydrogen peroxide to turn it white at the end, but is there anything that can be done to hasten the decay of the flesh without harming the integrity of the skull?
Thanks!
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JimW
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Duck freek
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Reged: 09/15/03
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Loc: port orchard WA
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andy shoot me a call and I will give you all the info Jim 360 769 7473
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Trouthead
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Subject of the Puritan Rep. of Washington
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How about the throw it on an ant pile trick?
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Trouthead
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 Elkman
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dual red striper
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Reged: 09/29/03
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Loc: Silverdale, WA
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Andy,
I did my own european mount on my 5x5 bull a couple years ago. Turned out really nice, I still need to build the plaque for it out of fiddle back maple. I know you can boil the head, I couldn't find a pot big enough, so I buried it in the yard up to the base of the antlers, and then covered the horns with trash bags, and let the bugs do their thing.
Work very well!!
Ryan
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Rocket Red
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Vegetarian Cannibal
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Loc: Naked Barbieville
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One of my Dad's friends tied one to the top of his barn. That worked I guess, I've seen the mount, it is cool.
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"Painter of light, my a$$!"
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BorntoFish
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Team Old Phart
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Reged: 12/12/03
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Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Years ago an archeologist told me that they'd put skulls and skeletons in burlap bags and soak them in salt water [off a pier]. Said that the diatoms in the water did a great job in cleaning them up.
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navigator
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I'd like to check her for tics!!
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Reged: 09/16/02
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Loc: Sequim, WA
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Andy I did my own, then took it to a taxidermist to get it mounted to a plaque.
I boiled it out in a crab/turkey cooker, using Tide laundry detergent to keep the oil from staining the skull. Then it was just a matter of picking off the cooked meat. If you boil it long enough, the meet will be "fallin' off the bone". My deer skull loosened up a bit at the "stich" areas, but as soon as it dried, it firmed right back up.
Oh Yeah, before I boiled it, I used a coat hanger bent into a 90 degree hook to stir around in the brain cavity, and was able to pull out all the brains and the membrane around it. That takes a while, and at first you don't think you're getting any where, but it really does work. Just make the "hook" small enough to go through the spinal cord hole, stick it in, probe around, and pull it out. Repeat...Repeat.
If the top of the skull won't fit below the leval of the water in the pot, I used a tea towel over it, and just kept pouring boiling water over it. If the horns are small enough to allow the skull to be submerged, just keep skimming the oil off the top. I used Mrs. Nav's turkey baster. 
If you peroxide it yourself, you can get the good peroxide from your hairdresser. 
My guy said to use Mop N Glo on the skull and horns to give'em that special shine.
I'll PM ya my phone # if ya want to talk to me about it. 
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Mojo
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Smarter than you are...
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Reged: 09/10/03
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Loc: Bootsville, Idaho
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I think I'll just send my next one to Navigator. Stellar work Mr. Nav!
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Mojo
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Loc: McCleary, WA
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Got it boiling away right now. I'll post a few pics when done.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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navigator
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I'd like to check her for tics!!
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Loc: Sequim, WA
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Just keep adding water, and do other chores/projects while it's boiling. Do keep and eye on it tho....don't want the water to get too low!!! I remembered just now that I also put some aluminum foil over the top of the pot to keep the steam in, and help reduce evaporation.
Have fun!!!
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Loc: McCleary, WA
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I'll give that a try.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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Dogfish
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Ultimate Egg Whore
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Posts: 3817
Loc: McCleary, WA
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Turned out great! I'll take a few photos of the finished product when I get a chance. I only lost a few tiny paper thin bones in the nasal cavity.
Anybody have suggestions on what to coat the skull with to protect it? I'll try Mop and Glo if nobody has any other suggestions.
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"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
Be like Big Stick!
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Alaskan
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ultimate predator
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Reged: 02/18/03
Posts: 395
Loc: Anch. Ak
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Paint it with Elmers glue. A couple coats should do it.
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navigator
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I'd like to check her for tics!!
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Reged: 09/16/02
Posts: 2253
Loc: Sequim, WA
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Glad it worked out for you.
I think if you're gonna keep it indoors, the Mop N Glo should work just fine.
I've got both my moose, and my deer fixed up with that floor wax.
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