I got a ram euro mount back about 2 years ago and i have to keep it in the garage because it smells so bad. Is there anything i can spray on it or do to make it not stink? Thanks for any help

Sounds like your taxi didn't clean it right and there is rotten meat left in the skull, either the brain cavity or the horns. Not seing the skull it is hard to say where the problem is. We usually remedy stinky skulls problems by soaking it in water for a few weeks and then clean it off really good. On sheep the horns have to come off the core to get all the meat out from between the core and the horn. If that wasn't done right it could be that area that stinks. As a temporary solution you can spray it down with febreeze, but it will come back if the source of the problem is not taken care off.

I am betting the horns were not removed and cleaned out

nasty...

Where is the smell coming from? The exact location?

I am betting the horns were not removed as well as BMD. Could also be meat/brains in the brain cavity. But I am betting the first is correct.

I am bettting the skull was boiled and also has discolored horns on the bases cause they were NOT removed.

Can you post a pic?

It doesn't look like there is any brain matter left in it, but the smell doesn't smell like rotting meat or flesh it smells like chemicals. I got no clue what was put on this thing but it smells

I would suggest you talk to the taxidermist who did this skull for you and find out what he/she applied to the skull and how this could be remedied. Without knowing exactly what was done to the skull we'll jut be guessing all day long which does snot provide a solution to you.

All rams skulls smell for a while cleaned or not. How long have you had it?

He said two years. They should not be smelling after this long.

That skull has been painted. I also see yellowing which is grease leaching out of the skull. Many times skulls are boiled and not degreased and whitened. So they come out a little yellow. In turn the taxidermist paints them white to cover up the grease spots. Not accusing your guy of anything, just telling you what I see.

What I think youre smelling is the grease smell. If the skull was boiled and not degreased, it will continue to leach. I have a wildebeast skull Ive had for 10 years that was boiled by not degreased. It continues to smell "greasy" and leach. I keep it to show clients what can happen if a skull is not cleaned properly.

I agree Mike. A rams skull shouldnt be smelling that long. You really need to get that checked out. If I were to guess I would say the horns have something to do with it. Good luck man. I dont know how else to help you with this.

Yeah I agree with it looking painted over, is there any way for me to degrease it myself or do i need to take it back to the taxi?

I noticed the skull being painted but didn't want to mention it. Hugh is dead on, that skull was boiled and not degreased. I'm curious, what was the turn a round time on that skull? Cain you can degrease it yourself if you want to but it will take quite some time. First strip that paint off and then soak the skull in a degreasing solution. We use commercial strength Epo Grip degreaser. You can get it at the taxidermy supply companies. Other chemicals commonly used are coleman fuel ( we don't use it due to its flamability)and dawn dishwashing liquid. None of those work quite as well we found and will take several months. You may never get all that grease out now.

They were doing another one of my whitetail shoulder mounts at the same time so it took about 7 or 8 months to get both back, sounds like I'm screwed lol

I'm gonna try soaking it in dawn and home it works if not I'm taking it back! Thank y'all for all the help!

Indianapigsticker.....not sure what skulls you are used to but no skull that leaves my shop stinks. Period!!! If they stink when complete, they are not done right.

The grease will smell and that is prolly your problem. It has been painted. He was trying to cover up his poor job and make it look acceptable. It is unacceptable!! Good advice above. Keep us posted.

x2 I did my own ram in my back yard and it did not, and does not smell bad got some funny looks from the lady next door but that was about it

To the op, best bet is to take it back and make them fix it, only issue with that is the length of time you've had it. I might have missed it in the posts, but has it always smelled? If it has had some unknown chemical eating away at it for 2 years then you may be SOL on it, cause that stuff could be too deep in the bone to easily get it out, or done some damage to the bone.

It doesn't matter if they stink at first because the slight little smell will go away in about a week.

A throughly/properly cleaned, degreased, and whitened skull will have zero smell after cleaned.