Just finished reading the archives on the subject. There seems to be a variety of methods for horn removal.
I leaning towards the one I read regarding the removal of antelope horns where they were wrapped in aluminum foil to disperse the heat of the near boiling water. Then the base of the horns are tapped with a mallet. The claim is the antelope horns will popped right off. What do you thing about buffalo?
Has anyone used this method for buffalo? I am trying to avoid the ripe smell of soaking the horn and then separating them from their cores after a few days or weeks. I am also not wanting to outright boil the skull.
Thanks for the advise!
MS
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Getting in a hurry can end up costing you. I've boiled horns for years and gotten away with it as I monitor them closely.But then a few years back, I saw what happens when you forget and Argali sheep in the boiling pot.
What's the hurry? You aren't going to do anything with the horns immediately most likely, so why not let them sit in a plastic bag and just rot off. Then you can wash them off with a good soap and pour borax over them to sweeten the smell. Buff horns are heavy but they have delicate front edges, so boiling could distort them. The aluminum foil is just like the feather in Dumbo's trunk. It might sound good, but it serves no useful purpose.
Your right, there is no hurry. I will definately not boil the skull. As usual George, thanks for your perspective!
MS
I boiled a set the other night and they twisted right off,no sweat.
Completely done in less than 30 minutes. Why put up with a nasty stinking rotting skull?
Thanks for the tip George. I was wondering how I was going to boil a buff skull as I too am experimenting on my first. I put mine in a heavy plastic trash bag yesterday and carried down to the barn to let sit for a while. Now how long will it take? And will freezing/thawing weather hurt it? Also just curious what happened to the sheep horns? Thanks, Bob