I shot a decent whitetail the other day, and I want to do a european mount. My buddy suggested using a turkey fryer and putting the skull in boiling water, gradually scraping away the remaining tissue/fat. Is there anything else I should be doing? Seems like it is taking a long time...and does the brain, which I can't get to to scrape out, just disintegrate and float out, or is there a certain technique I am missing? Thanks for your help.

Do a search on this and the European forum and I think you will find the subject covered in depth...

One thing to remember that many folks in Europe don't mount the whole skull, they cut it so that the top teeth are removed...Exactly where to cut it (if at all) is down to personal preference..

Obviously if you cut the skull, it makes getting the brain out that much easier..If you keep the skull whole, you need to boil it (simmer it really) for say 45 minutes or so and then use some fencing wire to poke up inside the skull and mash the brain out...direct a hose or pressure washer inside if you can to wash the gunk out...

I prefer to skin the head to start with before boiling and add some washing soda as a degresser to the water...As the skull starts to become clean from the boiling/scraping, I like to change the water to get rid of the grease ect..

Many folks don't bother scrapping the skull, but wait untill the meat is soft and then use a pressure washer...I don't like this methid as its messy and can destroy the bones around the nose..

Remember not to over boil it otherwise the skull will disintergrate...If the nose bones do fall off or because loose they can be superglued back on later..

Once the skull is clean, wrap it in cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide (ladies hair bleach) and leave it sit for 24 hours or so before rinsing...

Don't put the antlers in the boiling water as they will looose their colour and avoid the peroxide touching them for the same reason..

Regards,

Pete

European skull mounts

In my shop I use 35% peroxide. First take off most of the meat and brains, cover the skull not the horns with the peroxide, use rags around the base of the horns so the peroxide can leech up to the underside of the burr. After a week or two (depends on how well you cleaned it) rinse it in dawn dish detergent and water till it comes out clean, place it in the sun to dry. If it is the way you want it, then cover it with modge-podge high gloss and it will be sealed and stay clean forever. If you used bleach the modge-podge will seal the skull and stop the flaking that can go on forever. You can put the skull back into the peroxide as many times as you like, but if you notice the skull is falling apart take it out, you have left it in too long. You will have to glue the teeth into the skull. Never use bleach because it will continue to breakdown the bone forever.

Rich