Skull mounting deer

Did you boil it first? I got a cheap pot from wal-marks and sacrificed it to boil for a euro a couple years ago. Worked really well.

No. I didn’t boil it before the power wash. Was hoping the power washing would eliminate the need to boil. The videos I watched made it seem that power washing alone was all that was needed. WRONG!

Those long needle nose pliers will be in my possession next time lsuhat!

I made a buck boiler out of a 1500w water heater element and a feed bucket last year but never got to use it after I finished it (my skull was hauled off by something). I hope to try it out this year as an alternative to using the propane burner. My dad did one last year - he just put it in a bucket of water with some Dawn for about a month. Kept it covered with a large rubbermade tub changed the water once a week or so. Then pressure washed it off and bleached it. Came out good. Stank rea lgood during the process though.

When my dad shot one a few years back, we stuck it in an ant pile for a couple weeks. worked better than I thought it would

I did my first last year. Put it in an ant pile for a month or so because i wasn't in a rush. It was ready before then. Almost everything was gone. Boiled it but it was not necessary. I could have used the hosepipe to spray it off at this point. Not much left in the cavities.
Im going to give my 10 point from this year a try with the same method.

What did it do to the antlers? Did the get bleached out or spongy? Did you do it in the winter or wait until spring? Did you go back and bleach them?

Ive got 4 i need to do. Looking for the most cost effective way to do them without ruining them.

Last year I got most of the meat off and started the boiling process. It took me almost a whole day of boiling and pulling meat off. So this year I got most of the meat off then stuck the head in an ant pile with a bucket over it with a tire on top of it. Pulled it off after 3 weeks then boiled (Simmered) it for an hour and worked on it for about 30 minutes and I had all the meat off. Was a lot simpler this way. Put about 4 different coats of the bleach mixture and now I am ready to mount it.

Magic, not sure where you live, but many states are requiring that the skull be cleaned prior to driving through them or bringing them home. A real pain.

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Wasnt there a tutorial on this? Any links to it for the feedbucket boiler

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I don't remember a tutorial, but there isn't much too it.

Find 1500w water heater element, add section of extension cord - cover leads with liquid electrical tape. Drill correct size hole for the element into bucket near bottom and install. Seal around hole with some silicone if needed (mine leaked a little at first). I placed a dowel over the top and tied the antlers to it to keep the skull off of the element.

Dig a hole. Place deer head in hole leaving horns out. Cover head with mud. Cover horns with a bucket, #3 tub, or ice chest and place a heavy object on top. Wait three months and spray with a hose.