Some skulls I am planning on cleaning this summer have all meat and what not still on them. I'm planning on doing the method where you cover them in water check them every week and spray off the loose flesh then replace half of the water. Would it be okay if I didn't clean anything off of them. I know It'd probably take longer if I did. If not, could I place the skulls in scalding water to cook some of the meat and then remove what I can. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Easton:
As long as you have the skin off them, you are OK. Even with the skin on you could macerate them, but I wouldn't recommend it...it would take longer, and the skin around antlers would have to be cut off somewhere along the way. The more material you get off them, the better off you'll be. I would recommend removing eye, brain, lower jaw (on deer). Same on smaller skulls except you may want to hold off on lower jaw removal to keep from breaking it. Down here in the southland (MS), we macerate skulls outside year round. Whittle off as much meat as possible, and it will speed the process.
if you start a beetle colony now by the time summer came around it would be mature and your skulls would be clean. they are easy to start and care for. many kits are aviable on e-bay that come with starter instructions. i recently started mine and i love them. i now have 2 full working colonies that clean 4-5 skulls a week.
Bob what do you do to keep the smell down from the bugs?
Beetles just aren't an option for me. I have no place to keep them and if they get out, there goes all my beautiful mounts.
I Have Boil the hog head and whiting it but grease is still come out of the head.what can I use to get the grease out. I hear that you can use white gas