I prepared three skulls (Whitetail, black bear and a woodchuck) last night for the beetles. It took me 4 hours! Is this normal or can some of you do this way faster?
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The average deer skull should take 30-40 minutes, Bear 25-35 minutes, and chuck 15 minutes. That covers removing the entire brain, cutting all meat off the bone down to 1/8 inch at most while disarticulating the jaw, and setting the skulls up in front of a fan to dry overnight.
What types of tools or knives do you use? Is there any special technique or is it just anatomy and experience?
Thanks, John
I use a 21 or 22 scalpel for all cutting - which is standard. The specialized tools you may not have are spatulas. I use Fisherbrand spoonula for removing brains of coyote skulls on up (the spoon end fits through the foramin magnum). On smaller skulls I use a microspatula also sold by Fisher, though some taxidermy companies might have similar tools to these. The brain has to be removed on all skulls in order to do a good job - I even use a tool to remove the brain on a Microtus (If the brain is left in, it will leak grease into the bone and also start maceration, which in small skulls can lead to disarticulation of the braincase bones).
After you have prepped a few dozen deer skulls you will speed up significantly.
I'll order some scalpel's up today. Have a good Day.
-John