Found deer skull, do I need to degrease it?

[woodschic]

Hello everyone!
My hubby found a buck skull hunting this past season. Its been there a couple years. The rack is white but not chalky white. I'm going to whiten the skull, stain the antlers and put it on the plaque. I've already simmered in sal soda and gotten off what little dried tissue there was but I was wondering if I still need to degrease it since it is so old before I whiten?
Thank you!!

[John Helm]

I would degrease it for sure.  Soak it in Dawn and hot water and follow Michael P's tutorial: http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,125076.0.html