i tried the inside trash bag for a week and a half -no dice, also tried boiling them off-made it looser. was pulling and twisting and both as hard as i could and still nothing. so after boiling i put them back in the trash bag to rot been 4 days now, same thing. what should i try next? boiling again? do i boil the whole horns to the tip? was just boiling /simmering up about an inch above the base of the horns. not sure i want to microwave the guy maybe as a last resort.
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I have never had a problem getting them off. In fact they are the easiest of all horns i do to come off. Your mistake was not putting the whole horn in the pot and simmer. The core goes up about 2/3rds of the way up but i still put the whole horn in, it doesn't hurt it. I can get them off in about an hour of simmering. Try again.
5 gallon bucket, fill hot water, replace hot water on day 2, pull off horns that evening. Always without fail.
Submerge the entire horn like Jeff says, it ccomplishes 2 things.
You cook the entire length of the core as he said, which will loosen them faster; and you will not have a greease line stain like you get when you put them in low water.
Being entirely submerged allows the grease from the bone and tissue to float to the top, away from the horn!
We don't boil pronghorn horns. Put in microwave for 2 minutes (use towels to handle) and they come right off. All horns that fit in the microwave will come off in this manner.
I am guessing the membrane in between the sheath and the core has dried. This area needs to have moisture introduced in order for horn loosening ROT to occur. I drill a 1/4" hole from the skull cavity side thru the skull plate and into the horn core, deep enough to allow water the get into the porosity of the sheath. Drill a drywall screw sized hole at the rear of each horn, even with the base of the sheath. When you bondo the sheaths on, put a screw in the hole so the sheath is placed in its original position. You can also take a knife/screwdriver insert it around the bases upwards, more water entry routes. Fill the holes with water, seal in a black plastic bag and set in the sun,if available, and let ROT do its job.
If they are petrified dried, soak them in a bucket of water for a couple of days then bag.
Good Luck