Did my first Coyote Skull

[Swift One]

I cleaned my first skull from a coyote kill last year.  Used the maceration process (submerging in water).  I was quite surprised how good it came out.  There were small bits of dried tendon in some of the holes in the back of the skull, but I am told that they will mummify over time and turn to powder. I will say that if you have a hard time dealing with the smell of rotting flesh, this method is not for you!!!  It is however a simple process, and you are not that involved in it.

[Glanceblamm]

Nice job but one that I had never considered doing. This did catch my intrest after BUTCHER45 posted his skull so I may give it a try considering how yours came out. I was used to saving the front leg bones for a guy who would use them for some great looking fixed blade knife handles. Did not see him at all last winter.

[Blue Duck]

Nice job.  Whats the process?

[Swift One]

You skin the skull and remove as much meat as you can including the eyes and tounge.  You then place the skull in a container and completely submerge it in water. A 1 gallon pitcher worksperfectly for a yote skull.  I also put a little bit of baking soda in it to get the enzymes gong a little.  Thats pretty much it.  You check the water every few days and change it out when it get real dark.  Keep a little bit of the old water in it when putting in new water.

[rex6666]

Can this be city water w/chlorine and such or does it need to be
well water with no additives?
I was thinking doing the red ant deal since we have some big ant beds here,
but this would keep any thing from running off with it.

[Blue Duck]

Thanks for the info Swift One.  Did you have to glue the teeth back in or don't they come out with that method? 

[BUTCHER45]

     That turned out great!

[Swift One]

Im new to this thing myself.  I just had a deer skull go black on me and im not sure why.  I did the same thing with it that I did with the yote skull.  the yote skull was in a transparent container and the deer skull wasnt.  i dont know if that had anything to do with it or not.

I think any water would work.  And yes, i did have to glue the teeth back into the skull. Super glue worked great.

[Lone spur]

A diluted bleach solution can be used to brighten up the look of that deer skull.

[Swift One]

95% of the meat is off the skull at this time.  i have taken it out and hung it in a tree.  After one night, most of the black has left.  i think when all the meat is gone, i will put it in a peroxide or bleach solution.

[rickt300]

I have had great success by soaking skulls in small ponds and creeks.  It doesn't take as long and you can't get any easier.  I like to do deer skulls with antlers in water at least 4 feet deep so the horns don't lose their color.

[Ultra25-06]

I do quite a few skulls, a quick thing that was tought to me was to but a cheap turkey fryer add some bakin soda and bleach (make sure outside) get the water boiling, put the skull in 10-15mins tops and good to go, you will have to glue the teeth back in.