Poor Man's Taxidermy

thedarkarcher · 11-22-2008, 12:13 PM

So what is the preferred methods for making a European mount? I have boiled the skull before but would like to try something less messy. I've heard of burying the head in the ground for awhile and heard there are other ways. Any suggestions?

friggidy · 11-22-2008, 12:23 PM

Lime mineral...removes everything in a shorter time.

Or there was an article in deer and deer hunting that said a guy uses beetles and maggots to eat all of the decaying matter.

OldBaldGuy · 11-22-2008, 12:24 PM

Maggots? (I think Sandbilly calls them "spikes."

) Then bleach?

goose abuser · 11-22-2008, 12:39 PM

Im glad you brought this up. Im in the process of doing one myself at the moment and cant decide what to do either.

In the past I have just let them sit in the garage and dry out. Then soak them in water and sit them out again. Seems the sun and weather helps ALOT, its kinda like a "natural" euro mount. Not the best method, but the deer from 2 years back looks fairly decent and didnt smell much.

I was told to use peroxide. Scrape as much stuff off as you can, and soak it in or wipe on alot of peroxide. Heard that is what does the bleaching, but be careful of the rack.

friggidy · 11-22-2008, 12:43 PM

PhotoPlog - View File

Here is an article from Bowhunter...

I had to scan it so you'll have to click on the link then maximize it to read.

BoB_25 · 11-22-2008, 12:52 PM

If you have private land and the farmer will let you put it on top of the barn and let the birds and sun take care of it!!!!

racksniper · 11-22-2008, 11:36 PM

Get a turkey fryer and boil that skull slowly , or you can buy dermisteds beatles, sorry that might not be correct spelling but they will devour all the flesh and there will be no fat boiled into the skull. Sitting it outside does not work very good unless you want to wait ages to hang the Euro on the wall.

BoB_25 · 11-22-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racksniper

unless you want to wait ages to hang the Euro on the wall.

True, but if you take the hide off first, it's not that long.

BPbowhunter · 11-22-2008, 11:40 PM

There's a step by step instruction thread on the huntingne forum awhile back ago, might be worth taking a look at.

tjm · 11-23-2008, 03:58 PM

Well this was my first attempt, it took longer than I thought it would. I just boiled it out and then soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide. I used the regular peroxide from Wally World, but I heard that its better to use the stronger stuff from a beauty salon. Its not real white, but I figured its not bad for my first attempt. Now I'm trying to figure out out to mount it on a piece of oak. I didn't want to buy a pre-made mounting board for 30-40 bucks when I can probably make my own for less than 10.

NE_Sportsman · 11-23-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjm

Well this was my first attempt, it took longer than I thought it would. I just boiled it out and then soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide. I used the regular peroxide from Wally World, but I heard that its better to use the stronger stuff from a beauty salon. Its not real white, but I figured its not bad for my first attempt. Now I'm trying to figure out out to mount it on a piece of oak. I didn't want to buy a pre-made mounting board for 30-40 bucks when I can probably make my own for less than 10.

To make the skull whiter I have heard of guys using white shoe polish to brighten them up.

Alex T. · 11-23-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

To make the skull whiter I have heard of guys using white shoe polish to brighten them up

I don't doubt ya one bit. However,how "redneckish" does one get using shoe polish.

Might as well get a can of Krylon too.

Alex

BoB_25 · 11-24-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NE_Sportsman

To make the skull whiter I have heard of guys using white shoe polish to brighten them up.

Use Bleach!!!!

TIP-1-ORV · 11-24-2008, 12:03 PM

call me lazy but......

You can buy that kit from Cabalas for like what $40 bucks........I just take mine to a taxidermist and he does it in about a week for $60 bucks....my time and labor are worst something to me.

**the reason my taxidermy bill is so cheap is because I have taken an average of 3 heads to him for the last 8 years or so. I think the going rate is about $70-80

obert · 11-24-2008, 12:07 PM

I got mine done w/bugs this year. $60

24 HUNTER · 11-24-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obert

I got mine done w/bugs this year. $60

Where was that? That is real cheap!! I have done a few by boiling and they turn out ok but it takes time that is for sure.

obert · 11-24-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Where was that? That is real cheap!! I have done a few by boiling and they turn out ok but it takes time that is for sure.

a member on another forum; I also have a friend who I hunt with going to get bugs. He was thinking around this price as well.

24 HUNTER · 11-24-2008, 03:46 PM

Let me know!! I would love to have it done for that price!

Shorty · 11-24-2008, 03:48 PM

Here is some good advice for doing it yourself.

European Skull Mounts - Do it yourself

obert · 11-24-2008, 04:03 PM

I'll see if he's doing more or what the case is 24 and let you know.

11-22-2008, 12:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
thedarkarcher Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lincoln Posts: 941 Thanks: 103 Thanked 54 Times in 40 Posts	Poor Man's Taxidermy So what is the preferred methods for making a European mount? I have boiled the skull before but would like to try something less messy. I've heard of burying the head in the ground for awhile and heard there are other ways. Any suggestions?

11-22-2008, 12:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
OldBaldGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The paradise formerly known as Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 5,553 Thanks: 59 Thanked 153 Times in 81 Posts	Maggots? (I think Sandbilly calls them "spikes." ) Then bleach? __________________ “I think every happy memory plucks a hair from your head; if you see an old bald guy, he’s probably had a great life.” –-Red Green

11-22-2008, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
goose abuser Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 511 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Im glad you brought this up. Im in the process of doing one myself at the moment and cant decide what to do either. In the past I have just let them sit in the garage and dry out. Then soak them in water and sit them out again. Seems the sun and weather helps ALOT, its kinda like a "natural" euro mount. Not the best method, but the deer from 2 years back looks fairly decent and didnt smell much. I was told to use peroxide. Scrape as much stuff off as you can, and soak it in or wipe on alot of peroxide. Heard that is what does the bleaching, but be careful of the rack. __________________ My frilled dragon eats more than your frilled dragon...

11-22-2008, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoB_25 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 1,766 Thanks: 24 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	If you have private land and the farmer will let you put it on top of the barn and let the birds and sun take care of it!!!! __________________ 2008's Total Catch: LMB:205 - SMB:83 - Wiper: 24 - Rock Bass: 6 - Yellow Bass: 9 - White Bass: 4 - Eye:10 - Sauger:7 - Saugeye: 12 - Crappie:77 - Perch:5 - White Perch:6 - Gill:47 - Cats:9 - Drum: 16 - Bull Frog: 1 2008 Hunting Pheasant: 8 - Chukar: 5 - Canadian Goose: 12 - Mallard: 15 - Green Wing Teal: 3 - Shovelers: 2 - Widgeon: 1 - WoodC: 1 - WT/Buck: 1 - WT/Doe: 1

11-22-2008, 11:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
racksniper Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 145 Thanks: 7 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Get a turkey fryer and boil that skull slowly , or you can buy dermisteds beatles, sorry that might not be correct spelling but they will devour all the flesh and there will be no fat boiled into the skull. Sitting it outside does not work very good unless you want to wait ages to hang the Euro on the wall. __________________ CRAZYHORSE TAXIDERMY AND WILDLIFE ART

11-22-2008, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
friggidy Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Omaha, Ne Posts: 125 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Lime mineral...removes everything in a shorter time. Or there was an article in deer and deer hunting that said a guy uses beetles and maggots to eat all of the decaying matter.

11-22-2008, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
friggidy Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Omaha, Ne Posts: 125 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	PhotoPlog - View File Here is an article from Bowhunter... I had to scan it so you'll have to click on the link then maximize it to read.

11-22-2008, 11:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
BPbowhunter 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Broken Bow Posts: 2,512 Thanks: 8 Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts	There's a step by step instruction thread on the huntingne forum awhile back ago, might be worth taking a look at. __________________ Whackin' Woodies Waterfowl Crew "Look, a pair of singles!"

11-23-2008, 03:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
tjm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Norfolk, NE Posts: 138 Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Well this was my first attempt, it took longer than I thought it would. I just boiled it out and then soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide. I used the regular peroxide from Wally World, but I heard that its better to use the stronger stuff from a beauty salon. Its not real white, but I figured its not bad for my first attempt. Now I'm trying to figure out out to mount it on a piece of oak. I didn't want to buy a pre-made mounting board for 30-40 bucks when I can probably make my own for less than 10.

11-24-2008, 12:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
TIP-1-ORV Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 57 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	call me lazy but...... You can buy that kit from Cabalas for like what $40 bucks........I just take mine to a taxidermist and he does it in about a week for $60 bucks....my time and labor are worst something to me. **the reason my taxidermy bill is so cheap is because I have taken an average of 3 heads to him for the last 8 years or so. I think the going rate is about $70-80

11-24-2008, 12:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
obert Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: W. Omaha Posts: 1,738 Thanks: 33 Thanked 27 Times in 19 Posts	I got mine done w/bugs this year. $60 __________________ God bless the USA... www.bowfishnebraska.org

11-24-2008, 03:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
24 HUNTER Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: omaha ne Posts: 247 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Let me know!! I would love to have it done for that price!

11-24-2008, 03:48 PM	#19 (permalink)
Shorty Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: on the water near Lincoln Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 3 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Here is some good advice for doing it yourself. European Skull Mounts - Do it yourself __________________ The best thing you can stock your tackle box with is confidence.

11-24-2008, 04:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
obert Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: W. Omaha Posts: 1,738 Thanks: 33 Thanked 27 Times in 19 Posts	I'll see if he's doing more or what the case is 24 and let you know. __________________ God bless the USA... www.bowfishnebraska.org

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