I am not new at this but, not an expert either. A guy brought me a deer head from last season. He had shot this deer, then hung it in a tree until he brought it to me. The problem is he just cut off the head and hung it in the tree. Didn't do a thing to it. So, it still has most of the hair on it, the eyes have dried out, and the skin is tough a leather and well, has almost become one with the skull/ bone. Ideas and suggestions please! I know this is going to blow!
Thanks,
Bill
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If you're mounting it, just cut the antlers out and pry off the hide with a sharpened screwdriver. Get a replacement hide and proceed. If you're doing a European, you're going to have problems. You'll need to boil the mess until the natural glues disbond from the bone and then HOPE you can clean the mess up.
This one is not going to be fun. Soak the head until the skin rehydrates and that might make it a little easier to remove. I would inquire with one of the bettle cleaning services to see if the beetles can eat it after the hair is removed and it softens up.
I'm not sure about the bettle's since the brain, and all the other soft tissue ( and all the other muscle, and "meat" for that matter)was left in when it was hung in the tree. And to add to the mess, I am in the Midwest and the weather isn't cooperating to leave the thing outside. My wife will kill me if I bring the smell indoors. I think it may go back, too much time and effort for a 50/50 chance( at best) on a nice finished product. Any other ideas appreciated, post below.
Bill
The things we will take in and wish we didn't.
Bill,
Maybe you could explain to the customer your situation. I too live in the midwest and I know that it is getting too cold outside to water macerate a skull. Explain this to the customer and ask him if it would be alright to wait until late spring to deal with this. You could leave it outside then, just make sure some dogs don't come along and carry it off.
Hope this helps,
Mark