What’s the proper size of pot for boiling a deer head? Diameter. I just bought a 45 dollar pot that “looked” like the right size. Wrong
I have one of those small galvanized round tubs from tractor supply. Will that Work.

No don't do it! Galvanized metal releases poison zinc fumes when heated.

I use a turkey fryer pot and cut the lid to hold the bases of the antlers out of the water.

Thanks trapper for the heads up.

I use a turkey fryer pot too and then shove it in a fire ant mound.

Wrap the base of the antlers when boiling to minimize color fade. This is a good time to use those little soaps from the hotel. Degreaser and helps with the smell

You can use wooden dowels, 2x2s. 1x1s, or metal rods/rebar across the top of the pot to assist with the proper level of the antlers.

Same here turkey fryer pot and used a power washer to clean. Worked pretty well on my 1st last year.

Skull boiling a pressure washer is your friend.

Same here. Turkey Fryer pot and the cheapest low pressure electric power washer I could find. I have 3 bucks and 2 javi heads from 2 years ago I still need to do.

Thanks for all the tips. Couldn’t find a pot that my deer head would fit into. Did find a barrel which I cut off the bottom and used that over my propane cooker. Left on for over 6 hours never boiled. So tomorrow I’m setting it in the fire pit. Hope this works.

Following

worked when I put it over fire, but really couldn’t anything else that day. Took a loooooot of fire wood. How do you get the crap out of the nose?

My biggest pressure cooker pot for Tom’s brute.

Turkey pot add dawn
Final cleaning @ car wash to knock of extra cartilage etc.
40% peroxide(Salley beauty supply) for week.—-Wrap head in toliet paper or paper towels,
Most likely have to glue nose back and then seal

Turkey pot with Dawn and Arm & Hammer liquid laundry detergent, simmer/gentle boil.

As material cooks off of the skull, take it out and wash carefully with small low pressure washer. Special attention to sinus/nasal cavities. Use wire or coat hanger to pick out brains/flesh & cartilage leaving sinus/nasal membranes intact.

When finished, change water and simmer with 40% peroxide then let soak until satisfactory OR remove and cover with peroxide soaked paper towels.

Once bleached & dried, add one coat of Mop & Glow.

This is how I boil all of my heads minus extra steps that need to be taken on pigs & some exotics. I've only lost half a nose once because I bumped it, but glues right back on.

Thanks

Copy cat

Found one I did a few years ago, 40% peroxide cream

Wrap the base of the antlers with tin foil and dont get them below the water line, it will discolor them. Remember a pressure washer is your friend when skull boiling.

Electrical tape works way mo better though! First layer dummy wrapped (sticky side up). You can stretch that tape tight and seal it off real well.

If you arent averse to bad smells, just stick the head in a bucket of water and set it in direct sun light for a day. When you cut the hide most of the rest of it will fall off.

My BIL used to macerate euros all the time. It does a really good job but does take time, and it stinks! I wanna say he would let his go for 3-4 weeks before it was done, changing the water ever so often.

Did several of them like that in college. usually had a bucket or two on the front porch. It usually didnt smell till someone disturbed it. We were all out on the porch having a good cold keystone like any good Aggie would and one of the friends goes over and picks the horns up lol we moved to the other porch.

man they stink

You are much better off if the water doesn't boil. boiling destroys the delicate nose bone structure. Simmer is great, take your time. Dawn dish washing soap is your friend. A couple dollars worth of onions is money well spent. You may lose some teeth, particularly on older deer. Watch for them when you throw the water out. The process doesn't have to be done in one day, starting and stopping is OK.

I prefer mastication. Just set it in a tub of water for a month or more. It stinks to high heaven, but all the water bugs do a great job of cleaning it up, and it keeps all the delicate bone structures in place.