I have got a Bighorn that is all dried up and am wondering the best way to get the horns off. Usually they come off after I get them in the shop, but this one was already dried up and they don't seem to want to come loose. Thanks for any help,
Eric
Return to Beginners Category Menu
place the skull on a rack above boiling water and steam them for a few hours - this should help moisten the core enough to pop the horns off.
Or you can just keep pounding them on a board til they come loose.
DOn' soak them,it will darken them.Set them on the floor upside down,skull up.Assuming the bulk of the skull has been cut off leaving the skull cap. Take about a 1/2" drill bit and drill some holes through the skull into the center of the horn core.This is so you can pour water that will run inside the core,which is honey-combed,and hydrate it from the inside out-won't darken the horns.Keep a container of water nearby,it will drink it like crazy especially the first day.Keep it filled to the top as much as you can.It might take as long as a week.You are trying to rehydrate all that dried out tissue.At some point they will work just like the ones you are used to handling.I don't remember having to water one down more than a week.That boney core is very porous and the water will get through to the horn.I am sure it will take more than a day,probably less than a week.I do some every year like this.Good luck.