Skull cleaning in Hampshire
- Thread starter TST123
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deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Freightdog
Well-Known Member
I've done a couple of my own using ballistol bleaching powder. Works very well.
I found cutting the skull first before boiling means you don't need a huge pot and there's less to clean off. Plenty of info on here about how to go about it if you willing to give it a go.
I found cutting the skull first before boiling means you don't need a huge pot and there's less to clean off. Plenty of info on here about how to go about it if you willing to give it a go.
@TST123 I followed what deerstalker told me a few years ago and it works well
Skin the head, remove the eyeballs and cut as much meat of as possible. I do remove the lower jaw to boil.
Depending on how brave you are, find the wife's largest pan and fill up to the base of the antler and boil on the kitchen hob for a couple of hours, or as I do, out in the garden on the BBQ. I add a couple of dishwasher tablets, don't honestly know if it makes a difference.
Once boiled, I hose it off and pick/scrap off the remaining.
wrap in kitchen paper and soak it overnight with 12% peroxide
I did this muntjac a few weeks ago, only the second head I've boiled!
If you're not in a hurry, you can leave it to nature and let it do the job. I have cleaned a couple of roe deer skulls by simply hanging them in a tree over winter and spring. Birds and insects will do most of the job. I take care not hanging it in in places people might see them. I have seen newspaper hypes with pictures from other places in Norway where roe deer heads in trees have been spotted by people stating that this must be part of some occult satanic rituale. I know what it is and have had a few good laughs over the fantasy of news reporters.
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Living (or rather dead) proof I one was useful to someone! I’d totally forgotten about that but glad the pupil has become the master now, cracking job with that equally cracking munty buck!! Have you had it scored, presume gold all day long?
I haven't had it scored yet, but might take it to the stalking show next year along with the CWD you first helped me with. Its defiantly a good size, but I think it'll be a little short in length
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
I’ll stick my neck out and say that’s a gold, (caveat I’m only seeing it from one side so apart from the reflection in your everso sparkly kitchen work top, assume its other second antler of similar proportions)I haven't had it scored yet, but might take it to the stalking show next year along with the CWD you first helped me with. Its defiantly a good size, but I think it'll be a little short in length
Greg's Taxidermy over at Thruxton will clean and mount a head, he's done a few for me that I wanted a smarter job doing.
Interesting to see the other heads and taxidermy he is working on as well.
paulbshooting
Well-Known Member
Henry at hampshire trophies, find him on instagram. Based near basingstoke. Does a great job. I post mine to him frozen
reeves_dama
Active Member
This suggested method works, but your skull will always be a horrible brown shade of colour. You also run the risk of losing the head entirely due to wildlife running off with it.
Stick as you are with getting a professional to do it as it's your first so you can look back at the fond memory rather than a "I wish I did it properly" moment. I can personally recommend Jon Saggerson (near Milton Keynes), a bit further to drive but his work is the best I have seen. Every tiny bone inside the nasal cavity is completely intact after he is done.
reeves_dama
Active Member
Each to their own and whatever works for you
- but personally I’ve never seen a “naturally prepped” head even come remotely close to the shade of white of a properly boiled and peroxided head (short of painting it white of course 
)
That’s who I’ve started using recently, with the added bonus they go via my RFD!Paddy Mead at Frome - not too far away. Great Taxidermist and recently did 4 reds for meNormally on FB as LRM Taxidermy.
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