I’ve ton a fair share of my own European skull mounts over the years, but it’s been awhile since I did one myself. It’s not a pleasurable experience… But, if you’re traveling to other states, you don’t always have the luxury of finding a taxidermist to help you get it cleaned up in time to take it home. CWD regulations restrict bringing the fully intact head back unless you remove the brain matter (review the current CWD regulations for your state). If you’re going to do a shoulder mount, it’s not difficult to skull plate it, but if you’re going to do a European skull mount, it takes more work.
It’s not hard, it’s just time consuming. When planning to do my 2022 buck, I called my cousin, Tyler as I heard he had found a good cheap method to get it done. In the past, I’ve borrowed equipment and figured it was time to get my own. For under $50, I bought a 20 qt pot, electric heater, dawn dish soap and washing soda to complete the job. The Salon 40 whitener will cost $40 alone but that can be done later. Honestly, the dish soap and washing soda did a damn good job at whitening it on their own. You can use a cooking stove on the road to do it if you don’t have an electric hookup, but know it’ll take a lot of fuel. The electric heater took awhile to boil the water in the cold weather but it worked.
I let the water to get to a simmer (not a boil). Boiling will make the skull brittle and break. I had as much meat and the bottom jaw removed prior to putting it in the water. 30 mins in, then use a knife and screw driver to begin removing meat, brain, etc. then repeat. It took 4 times to get it shiny clean.
I’m sure there’s better ways to do it as I’m not a taxidermist and don’t claim to be, but it worked for me so I figured I would share. I’ve done it half a dozen different ways and they all work, but this was the best I’ve found.
www.eastmeetswesthunt.com
