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Post by Loggy on Jul 15, 2017 7:35:09 GMT -5
Been reading here that some are going this route vs a full mount. Thought it would be nice to start a gallery of Skull(Euro) Mount pictures for ideas etc. I only have one so far(below) done by Gladfelter Taxidermy in Red Lion. PA.
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Post by redarrow on Jul 15, 2017 7:53:30 GMT -5
I like the idea of seeing how others display theirs. I have done skull mounts since the mid 80's. Most of the ones I've done on my own bucks are in boxes on a shelf in the garage. I'll try to get them dug out and get one of my boys to help post a few pics.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 12:29:24 GMT -5
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Post by davet on Jul 15, 2017 15:23:31 GMT -5
I have only 2 mounts in my game room. An 8 pt I shot in late January in 2B with my flintlock. Not a big 8 point, but a nice one in that the rack was very symmetrical. I also have an Antelope I took in WY. Both are "Western mounts" as shown in Loggy's and Skwirl's pics. They don't overpower the wall and provide me with good memories.
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Post by Loggy on Jul 15, 2017 16:38:15 GMT -5
I most likely will go skull mount hereforward. Mine was around $150 which included nice walnut plaque, brass plate plus skull cleaning, bleaching/protective coat.. Anyone have any pics....be sure to postem up or snap a few ...the developing cost is cheap these days!!
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Post by redarrow on Jul 15, 2017 20:59:51 GMT -5
Here are three of my bow bucks that I did. If you look closely, you can see that sometimes I cut the skull flat so that the teeth are gone,( works best for a flat plaque) sometimes flat to just behind the teeth, and the one at the top is the complete skull minus the lower jaw. I prefer the flat one at the lower left for my own. Forgive the quickie "hangers" I made so that I could hang them up. I actually have more than a dozen plaques I made, I just have never taken the time to mount any of my own on them. I have done many for friend and family and I nearly always put them on plaques. If you have never done one this way, it is very easy. It takes me about an hour to skin and clean all the flesh etc. from the skull. I boil mine right away in borax, peroxide and water, to clean all remaining junk. After picking it clean, I boil once more with a little my peroxide and borax than the first go.
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Post by redarrow on Jul 15, 2017 21:03:46 GMT -5
I struggle with the picture stuff. The wall in the mud room is more like the green in the top pic. I don't know how I turned them blue in the second pic. confused-smiley-013
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 21:19:16 GMT -5
Been getting euro mounts done more and more. Less expensive and quicker turnaround.
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Post by redarrow on Jul 15, 2017 21:25:02 GMT -5
The white skull and dark antlers look great.
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Post by Loggy on Jul 16, 2017 8:23:21 GMT -5
Some nice looking skull mounts there guys!!
For those who do your own...anyone use polycrylic or something else to seal?? My taxidermist did plus I think when my dad was mounting used that to help strengthen bone plus prevent yellowing. Dad did some skull mounts over 40 years old that look as good as new. After his passing I did look around his shop and couldn't find anything but do remember him telling me about sealing. It could of been some type of polyurethane product or other acrylic based spray as he was a professional furniture finisher by trade.
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Post by redarrow on Jul 16, 2017 11:04:00 GMT -5
I don't seal mine. I have a couple from many years ago that have a yellow tint to them. I think it's because I rushed and didn't change the water after boiling(more like simmered)and there was a little grease left on the bone. I helped a friend do a couple of his and after his dried he painted the skull with flat white ceiling paint. I haven't done it to any, but they look good. I would guess that most wood finishes would yellow over time, but have never tried it. I sometimes use supper glue on cracks that appear.
For folks who don't like messing with things like this you are probably better off having a pro do it for you. I have always like skinning the critters I hunt and trap and have done a little of my own tanning-(tanning is a ton of work for all but thin skinned furs). These mounts are pretty easy to do in a couple evenings as long as you can stick around the house for a couple hours.
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Post by Loggy on Jul 17, 2017 7:10:49 GMT -5
Yes Red any grease residue will eventually turn yellowish. Also, pending where stored dust will accumulate in unsealed pores over time even with dusting. Again, stored environment is a factor especially with skin mounts. The room where my dad stored most of his mounts has a dehumidifier to maintain optimum humidity in the 45 percent range. Of course direct sunlight and temp extremes are also harmful..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2017 7:23:04 GMT -5
Problem I am running into, smell from skull cavity. Suggestions?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2017 7:53:51 GMT -5
Use some Vicks Vaporub in your nostrils, Todd. Guaranteed that you will not smell that bad odor. I have several skulls that have been cleaned (some with dermestid beetle larvae and some by cooking and pressure washing), and then bleached with hair dresser strength hydrogen peroxide. There is no smell whatsoever to them. You might try boiling the skull and then using a pressure washer to clean out the cavity. Either peroxide or clorox should kill any bacteria, and as an added benefit, the skull will be bright white.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2017 8:18:11 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2017 8:28:43 GMT -5
Use some Vicks Vaporub in your nostrils, Todd. Guaranteed that you will not smell that bad odor. I have several skulls that have been cleaned (some with dermestid beetle larvae and some by cooking and pressure washing), and then bleached with hair dresser strength hydrogen peroxide. There is no smell whatsoever to them. You might try boiling the skull and then using a pressure washer to clean out the cavity. Either peroxide or clorox should kill any bacteria, and as an added benefit, the skull will be bright white. The beetles just clean up meat. The skull was degreased then and treated with the hair dresser stuff. Inside the brain cavity, not thought. I do not know if the hair dresser stuff will remove smell or just make it white. Clorox is a big No-No for euros as it will make the bone brittle, just eats away at it.
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Post by Loggy on Jul 17, 2017 8:31:46 GMT -5
Problem I am running into, smell from skull cavity. Suggestions? Sounds like some flesh material still remains in skull. I would get some sodium carbonate(SAL) which is an excellent chemical for removing flesh etc from skulls, jaws, etc. I think Arm N Hammer laundry detergent may be the same as SAL? Add about 1/4 cup of sodium carbonate to each gallon of boiling water used. Some add a lil dawn dish detergent in solution also. Place the skull in boiling water for half hour or so, then remove. Any remaining flesh should become loose and can then be easily removed. After that possibly seal which also helps deter odor.
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Post by Dutch on Jul 17, 2017 13:31:27 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Jul 17, 2017 13:33:04 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2017 15:15:29 GMT -5
Use some Vicks Vaporub in your nostrils, Todd. Guaranteed that you will not smell that bad odor. I have several skulls that have been cleaned (some with dermestid beetle larvae and some by cooking and pressure washing), and then bleached with hair dresser strength hydrogen peroxide. There is no smell whatsoever to them. You might try boiling the skull and then using a pressure washer to clean out the cavity. Either peroxide or clorox should kill any bacteria, and as an added benefit, the skull will be bright white. Use 20 Mule Team Borax Here are some uses of borax powder and pure borax in water: Insect killer, particularly in roach killing products and as moth-preventative (10% solution on wool) Fungicide Herbicide Desiccant Laundry booster Household cleaner Water softening agent Food additive as a preservative (banned in some countries)
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Post by redarrow on Jul 17, 2017 17:34:53 GMT -5
I get the brain out of the cavity by bending a piece of wire back upon itself to form a loop, kinda like a bobbin threader for tying flies. I shove it in the hole at the back of the skull and twist it around to pull as much out as I can.(the brain has lots of fat, so it lessens the grease when boiling too) After I simmer the skull enough so that everything can be brushed off the bone with an old tooth brush, or pulled with hemostats, I run water through everywhere and pay close attention to the brain cavity. I fill the cavity with some borax and simmer again in water and peroxide. When I get everything out and off the skull I wrap a rubber band around the nose, about half way up the roof of the mouth and set the whole thing on newspaper to dry. I sometimes put a little borax in the brain cavity and sprinkle a little over the whole skull to dry things up more quickly. When you take the rubber band off, if there's a slightly darker line where it was, it will fade away completely shortly after it's taken of. A friend brought one to me that he didn't think he got white enough so we brushed peroxide on it and set it in the sun to dry and it worked to whiten it. If you take your time and be careful not to cut yourself while skinning out the head, it's pretty easy to do. And if you trap, some of the skulls(esp beaver) make neat little trophies. And they can be done the same way. Young kids who have an interest in the outdoors really like them. I tried my pressure washer and didn't like that method. One hint, do the work with in a day or two or freeze the skull. An old friend of my asked me to do one for him a few years ago. He was in his 80s and the beautiful 11pt was the best he'd ever shot. He wanted to keep it a few days to show his sons and grandsons.--- It had to be done outside in an old pot over my turkey fryer because of the smell. Fresh heads smell more like soup cooking
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Post by davet on Jul 18, 2017 7:38:19 GMT -5
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Post by Loggy on Jul 18, 2017 8:23:20 GMT -5
Smell reminds me of that unforgettable odor when you butcher/boil the meat off a snapping turtle! Makes the wages dem beetles charge seem pretty darn reasonable!
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Post by Dutch on Jul 18, 2017 12:47:08 GMT -5
My brother wanted to take his skull mount to camp. Dad doesn't like them, so, it didn't make the trip.
Plus, now that we sometimes rent the place out, not sure how the renters like them. LOL
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Post by Loggy on Jul 19, 2017 8:42:01 GMT -5
See you point there Dutch!! I do not keep any of my mounts at either my Sully Camp or VA place mainly as I'm not there as much as home plus the temperature/humidity swings wouldn't be the best thing especially for skin mounts.
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