Western Mount

[tscott]

I want to do a western mount for this year's 10 point. I think I got the basic concept... Skin, cut off jaw, boil in mixture of bleach and water, etc.
Anybody done this? Ideas? Think it would neat on a fine piece of wood.

[Redhawk1]

My Taxidermist soaks the skinned head in a bucket of plain water, and lets the flesh rot off in the bucket of water. It takes some time, but the skull is white, and then he lets it dry and the final step is, he applies Elmer's glue with a paint brush. He does not recommend using bleach, the bleach makes the skull week and chalky.  

[Savage .250]

For many years i did mine this way.
   Cut(saw)  just behind the horns on an angle to come out just at the nose.
   Kind of looks like a piece of pie with a skin cover.
   I put that in a pot of boiling water on my coleman stove..........out side.
    Let it boil till the meat is cooked, by then the meat/skin is falling off.
   remove from the pot,let cool.
  Then i just flesh out the remaining meat, leaving the skull free of any meat . Let it dry good in the basement or where ever. I like inside, you don`t end up with that "white" bone look.
   When dry the skull it`s not only clean and has a nice color but there is no smell what so ever. Skull can be trimmed if needed.
    All you need now is a plaque of your liking and your go to go.
 
 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[PEPAW]

I found these sites, but never used either receipe.

http://www.hidetanning.net/SkullCleaning.html
http://www.bowhunting.net/taxidermy/europeanskull.html

I mounted mine on a pedestal which is about 45 degrees from the floor.   Allows the antlers to point up like a live deer, not pointed out or down from the wall.

If you have time, it is easy.    But messy and my taxidermist does them for me now that I have less free time.    

pepaw

[rockbilly]

If you are in an area where you can, cut the skull as described above, skin it out, and set it on a fire ant hill for about a week, the ants will pick the skull clean.  Afterwards, mix up a strong solution of Borax (you can find it in the grocery story with the laundry detergent)  and soak the skull in the solution for a week or so.  Pull out and dry, mount it on a nice piece of wood and hang it in the "ole lady's" living room.

I have used this method for years.  I have even done turkey this way.  Take the beard, and tail, spread the tail (fan) and cover the meaty part of the tail and meaty part of the beard with Borax, let it set for a month or so.  Take it out, dust of the Borax that remains and mount on a board.  It makes a very nice looking mount.

[DaveP]

I used to skin skull,then light boil/simmer,(outside as stated earlier,on a Coleman,with just a squirt of dish soap.(keep antlers from pedical UP out of sol'n) Scrape remaining meat and muscle.Smells like hell,and is messy,but gets it done.Then I'd soak skull in 30 vol peroxide (hair bleach),again,keeping antlers OUT) for a day or two.Have also used regular bleach,diluted,for a while,then to sunshine.Comes out very white.
Thru trial and error,and other's tips,I went to regular peroxide-$0.80 a quart at China-mart-works as well,just takes 3-4 days instead of one,and doesn't burn hell out of your skin.MUCH SAFER.
Now,if you are doing mutiple skulls,here's an EASY,albeit,messy way to get them done,thanks to Herne,from another hunt board:

He boils,as above, for an hour or so,WITH THE HIDE STILL ON-just like you removed the head.No fooling with jaw,tongue,etc.Then suit up in rain gear,with goggles,and fire up the pressure washer.You'll have to use a cinder block to brace them.Then let 'er rip.AND,keep your mouth closed.Don't ask me how I know,just know that it tastes WORSE than it smells.Gets them clean and FAST! I used  11hp model,which was too much.Herne goes with 5 or 6 hp.Be esp. careful when you do the hole in th back of the skull (atlas?).You'll get a direct splashback.After a few,you'll get a good feel for angles,etc.
I usually wait until I've got a few,or do some for others.If you're going to make that kind of mess,best to just get it over with.Also,do it away from everything-they'll be hair,hide,meat,everything flying around.
I've seen folks spray them,afterwards,with white spray paint,but I leave as is.Then either mount them as is,on a shaped,routed,and stained oak or walnut board.Will try a pedistal next.Dave

[DaveP]

I used to skin skull,then light boil/simmer,(outside as stated earlier,on a Coleman,with just a squirt of dish soap.(keep antlers from pedical UP out of sol'n) Scrape remaining meat and muscle.Smells like hell,and is messy,but gets it done.Then I'd soak skull in 30 vol peroxide (hair bleach),again,keeping antlers OUT) for a day or two.Have also used regular bleach,diluted,for a while,then to sunshine.Comes out very white.
Thru trial and error,and other's tips,I went to regular peroxide-$0.80 a quart at China-mart-works as well,just takes 3-4 days instead of one,and doesn't burn hell out of your skin.MUCH SAFER.
Now,if you are doing mutiple skulls,here's an EASY,albeit,messy way to get them done,thanks to Herne,from another hunt board:

He boils,as above, for an hour or so,WITH THE HIDE STILL ON-just like you removed the head.No fooling with jaw,tongue,etc.Then suit up in rain gear,with goggles,and fire up the pressure washer.You'll have to use a cinder block to brace them.Then let 'er rip.AND,keep your mouth closed.Don't ask me how I know,just know that it tastes WORSE than it smells.Gets them clean and FAST! I used  11hp model,which was too much.Herne goes with 5 or 6 hp.Be esp. careful when you do the hole in th back of the skull (atlas?).You'll get a direct splashback.After a few,you'll get a good feel for angles,etc.
I usually wait until I've got a few,or do some for others.If you're going to make that kind of mess,best to just get it over with.Also,do it away from everything-they'll be hair,hide,meat,everything flying around.
I've seen folks spray them,afterwards,with white spray paint,but I leave as is.Then either mount them as is,on a shaped,routed,and stained oak or walnut board.Will try a pedistel next.Dave