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Skull Cleaning suggestions #6619523 01/06/17 06:06 PM
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Gary Willmann Offline OP
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Recently found a helluva buck carcass, called GW and got permission to bring the head home. Its fairly nasty and decomposed. What would be the "best" way to clean it up?

Worried that boiling would stink to high heaven. Buddy has a pressure washer but don't want to leave rotting flesh etc. in all over the place. I know there is a way with beetles, but don't have any readily available.

Any other ideas? Will probably go the pressure washing route and try to clean up as best as possible.

Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6619558 01/06/17 06:24 PM
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I had a similar find and this is what I did. Cut off any remaining hide. This was by far the worst part of it. I almost puked a couple of times. Next boil it, outside the house obviously, with some dawn mixed in the water. After 1.5-2 hours of slow roll boil take it out and pressure wash all the meat off it. I then used some 40% peroxide and whitening powder mixed and painted on the skull. Leave the paste on for around 12 hours then wash it off. Turned out great and doesn't stink. You are going to have to man up though! Rotting meat is nasty!

Last edited by Hobbs McAvoy; 01/06/17 06:27 PM.
Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6619574 01/06/17 06:34 PM
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Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: SnakeWrangler] #6619856 01/06/17 09:29 PM
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Last edited by Gary Willmann; 01/06/17 09:35 PM.
Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Hobbs McAvoy] #6620148 01/06/17 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted By: Hobbs McAvoy
I had a similar find and this is what I did. Cut off any remaining hide. This was by far the worst part of it. I almost puked a couple of times. Next boil it, outside the house obviously, with some dawn mixed in the water. After 1.5-2 hours of slow roll boil take it out and pressure wash all the meat off it. I then used some 40% peroxide and whitening powder mixed and painted on the skull. Leave the paste on for around 12 hours then wash it off. Turned out great and doesn't stink. You are going to have to man up though! Rotting meat is nasty!


Yep, what he said!

Either that or find someone with beetles near you. There is a guy in the classifieds advertising skull cleaning for $50.


#FighttheNoise
Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6623660 01/09/17 03:09 PM
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Easy. Fill a 5 gallon bucket and let maceration do its thing. It's already half rotted. If you have an aquarium heater to keep it warm it will be quicker.

I use beetles all the time. I would not use beetles on that skull. Too much time to rehydrate and prep. Just rot it.


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Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6623792 01/09/17 04:26 PM
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I have done a lot of European mounts... you just have to not be afraid of a little blood guts and goo... oh and stink if you let them wait a bit. Its not bad just get in there and get it done, nothing that's gonna hurt you.


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Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6623847 01/09/17 05:01 PM
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I would scrape as much off as possible and then put it in a red ant or fire ant bed and let them do the rest. Be sure and tie it down good to keep something from hauling it off. Takes a little time but works good.

Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6624181 01/09/17 08:24 PM
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Set it on an ant bed and then on the roof to bleach it out.


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Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6624275 01/09/17 09:16 PM
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Thanks fellas, just gotta dive in!

Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6624440 01/09/17 10:47 PM
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I would pay!

Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6625001 01/10/17 03:24 AM
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Look up white bone on youtube.good info

Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6642572 01/21/17 04:49 PM
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What all these guys have said will work! But id definitely go with getting the hide off and boil it at a slow roll with OXICLEAN this will help with the smell and degrease it to make the whitening process much either then power wash the skull until clean. You may have to repeat the process a time or two! Then whiten with liquid 20% peroxide at a boil!!


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Re: Skull Cleaning suggestions [Re: Gary Willmann] #6646321 01/24/17 01:37 PM
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Ants will not eat rotten meat. It's gotta be fresh for ants to eat it.

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