elk scull

[wahoo]

#147128

how do you clean an elk scull ? I soaked it all night and started to carve skin off with a knife but it seems like this could take months is there a better way ? then I thought I would boil it with borax and mount to a piece od wood . Is there a better way or am I doing this right ?

[richard roop]

#147133

Several ways ………………………… some less good than others.

Boiling, actually, simmering for a long time. Don’t submerge the antlers and watch for teeth that fall out.  De-greasing and rinsing afterwards required.

Ant hill. Put the skull on an ant hill. Probably need some form of cage to prevent problems with stray dogs. Doesn’t hurt to wrap the antlers with something to keep them from getting sun-bleached.

Decomposition. Pretty much the same as simmering ………… just takes a lot longer and stinks to high Heaven.  If you know a canine trapper, they would likely love to have the water when you’re done.

You Tube probably has better instructions.

Best option; Find somebody with a Bug Box, pay the fee and let the beetles do the work.

[Raymond Coffman]

#147137

Wahoo

What Richard said — and bug box are best.  A lot of taxidermists use em or know where you can get them, for a fee of course…

I used to skin and scrape clean —– boil and bleach. Put it up on the roof …

Scout aka Ray

 

[wahoo]

#147188

thank you been camping . I let it sit in cold water all night then power washed it . I then used a knife and scraped it . It looks pretty good I and going to boil it with borax to try and get it white then mount it to a board .

[Raymond Coffman]

#147190

Wahoo

Ah yes, elk scull cleaning the Traditional Way….

Scout aka Ray

[richard roop]

#147267

Good article in this month’s (July/Aug. 2020) Predator xtreme magazine on skull cleaning with bugs.

[aeronut]

#147314

Submerge the skull in a stiff solution of Rid-Ex and water.  It takes a while but it will remove the gunk.  You may have to dump and repeat depending on how much stuff needs to be removed.

[wahoo]

#147848

thanks I had the skull clean knife and elbow grease . I then painted peroxide on it and it came out great . I also cheated a little and power washed it

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