What kind of pots do you use for large game skulls. Such as large elk skulls for a european mounts. Just wondering whats out there that they fit in without hitting the horns before the whole skull is under water. Thanks Jack
Return to Gamehead Taxidermy Category Menu
Try to find an oval pot . You can find them in the black colored enamel that seams to be cheaper than plain aluminum . Try a flea market or yard sale . If not , check your phone book for welders and see if you can get someone to weld an aluminum one for you . A lot of guys on here will give you crap about boiling . They say to just leave it in a bucket of water for a few weeks until the meat falls off . Thats if you have the room to do it . Rick
I have a 250 gallon fuel oil tank that i had cut off about 2\3 of it. The 1\3 piece i use for my large skulls. I put it flat side down so it sits real nice. The only thing i am careful of is the part of the antler that hangs outside the pot. There i double wrap that part in aluminum foil just as a security measure so i don't cook the antler. I use wood for a heat source so i need to be careful to control the amount of flame. Skullery.....Jeff
be careful cutting fuel drums, cause torches and even disc grinders will ignite gas VERY easily and will ignite diesel if given enough chance.
We dont give people crap, just good advice based on experience. Go boil them, its not going to affect MY customers. Maybe not yours either...until you get that ONE skull that breaks down prematurally, or falls apart. THEN we arent such a'holes anymore! Funny thing how you say you can soak them, you cant get a big enough container, yet youll boil one in it....hmmm? I soak big skulls in plastic, anything. Just try ONE skull using maceration and you wont call us guys names anymore. Better yet, send em to the bug guys, best job there is...hands down.
...you tell em :) But IMHO I say maceration is the best :)
If someone is in a hurry, I will SIMMER a skull GENTLY, but I've done this before and know what can happen and I don't like to, so I tell them all the things that can happen, and if they still want it cooked, so be it. One other thing that isn't mentioned very often, is that heat shrinks a skull... so what if you have one that's MAYBE record size and you shrink it? OOPS!
Wolfie
and you don't need a very big pot. My friend from Alaska even does moose this way. He has a large metal bucket (about as big around as most five gallon buckets but much taller) He puts about a foot of water in and sticks the head in as far as it will go. It never touches the water. Then he wraps the whole top with ten foil till it is all sealed and turns her on. Takes a little longer but the results are every bit as good as boiling and you don't have to try and find such a huge pot.
Big Sky Beetle Works.. Florence Montana
I agree with you both. I like simmering only if that means bringing the water to temperature first, and then setting the skull in, not during. I just worry about that one time it splits or falls apart, so I guess Ill always argue this point. Been there ONCE, done that...once! I had great luck with Steve from MOA, and his business is being run by Steve (?) Snodgrass is Ohio. I dont have the particulars but Ill get them posted.
Where in Alaska is your friend? I am in Alaska also.
As far as steaming, done that too :) Works good for skulls that are not greasy, however, doing bears and pigs this way will make the grease from the head sink into the bone a LOT more than other methods.
Wolfie
His name is Dole Carter from Anderson, just south of Fairbanks.
...about 30 miles is where I'm at in a little town called Chickaloon. Or about 70 miles NE of Anchorage if that gives a better reference.
Wolfie
if you are between 45 and 65 and singal and at least moderatly hot I can fix you up. I think Doyle is about 65. He drives tour boats on some river up there that I cant remember the name off. Anderson is a few hundred miles north of you. He is also an artist and a trapper, and not bad looking for an old guy.
...not quite 45 YET (pushin in close tho!), and as for the other, you'll have to ask hubby...LOL! Thanks for the offer tho..heheh.
Wolfie