Shot a great Texas buck yesterday. We put the skinned skull in the pot and boiled it for 10 hours (note the water line in the pot, you have to add water every couple of hours). Then we removed the skull and used a power washer to blow away all the loose meat from the skull, eye sockets and face bones (took maybe 45 seconds). Presto, look at the skull mount in the picture below.
You can bleach the skull later if you want too, but I usually just leave it like this (below picture). I prefer my skulls rough with character, with no wood plaque. This poor man’s Euro looks great leaning on a desk or table, or in a corner.
That is a nice looking mount and affordable for any hunter. We go 1 step farther and it really looks great. We take a good picture in the woods with the deer cleaned up and then get it blown up to 8X10. A quick trip to the Dollar store for a $3 wood picture frame and we mount the rack next to the deer rack. Looks great and really brings the memories of the hunt back.
Love the mount – Great thread – appreciate the info on the final power wash – always concerned it might tear things up. I found I had to watch the water temp a bit to avoid overflow and snuffing the flame as well. One trick I learned – if you don’t have the full 3-4 hour investment – you can always soak in a bucket of water until you have time to do a second boil. (45 minute boil/scrape, 45 minute boil/scrape). I used a $20 kit and the whitening paste helped lossen up the last 10%. Or hid it well once it all dried out. Finally – you can just bury the head late March and put a tub over the antlers – it will be finished in a few months if you don’t mind waiting.
Cool buck Mike. Love the final product; looks neat.
I add salt to the 1st boil, change water after 2 hrs. or so, than do the peroxide like BD
Mike, mount looks great and congrats on a nice buck. Mounted a set of antlers recently from the buck I got this fall that had a broken skull plate (courtesy of my slug – don’t judge me harshly – wasn’t intentional). Used a “mountain Mike’s shed spredder” available at Cabelas. Super product. Looks great, if anyone is looking to mount a set of antlers without a skull.
next time try 4 hours boil followed by 4 hours soak 1/2 water 1/2 hydrogen peroxide (approx. $2.00/gal) then power wash will be very white and not turn tan after a few weeks (fat residue in the water is why it turns brown). I learned this when watching camp staff in Africa prepare skulls for shipment.
Good buck, Mike. I like that crab claw look.
Nice buck.. congrats. But 10 hours? I’ve boiled a few in my day, and normally after about 2-3 hours, tops, all the cartilage in the nasal cavities gets soft and will break off. I cook for 30 minutes, remove as much as possible, then repeat until it’s clean. 10 hours seems wayyyyyyy too long.