When cleaning waterfowl, or upland bird skulls, how much of the meat needs to come off? The area where the lower "jaw" attaches gives me fits. It seems impossible to get all the meat from this area. The wire wheel cleans the outside fine.
What about the upper pallet? It seems to be fleshey, but difficult to clean. Not one of my videos goes into any detail in this area.
thanks Richard
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I also use the real head and clean the meat with the wire wheel. i have never worried about the inside of the mouth and only have a little meat left deep under the eye socket. Once i rebuild the head with clay, ni cant see how bugs could ever get to it. I have never had a problem with bugs or any type of smell. Always comes out great. Just make the best attept with the wire wheel. good luck
I have seen some good reference tapes from Rhinehart Supply, featuring Dave Luke. He basically detatched the top portion of the skull by cutting through the eye orbitals and zygomatic arches. The only portion remaining was the crown of the skull. That portion was wire wheeled to remove any remaing tissue as well as the remaining nicticating membrane around the eye orbital. He then restored the skull by using tow, which wood wool or exclcior works ok, and thread. Then setting the eyes in clay. I've had good results and you don't have to worry about removing all of the tissues you mentioned.