Drowning Flies?

It's getting quite warm here in upstate NY in recent days. Up until now I haven't had to worry about flies and maggots. I only have a couple of deer heads left. I prepared them(took off meat and brains)and stored them in a metal job box. They are dry like jerky, but bugs can get in there. It has been freezing everynight at least but now it's not freezing at night.

My question:

If I submerge the heads in water for 24 hours, will that kill flies and eggs? Also the antlers don't get submerged, is there the possiblity that flies lay eggs on the antlers themselves? I planned on wiping the antlers with alcohol before they go in with the dermestids.

My beetle colony is finally thriving after much trial and error. I'd hate to have something happen to them now. I have several bear skulls in the freezer to clean.

And being that the deer have antlers freezer space is an issue for me right now, although I plan on getting a big one before next season.

Please advise, thanks in advance, Eric

 

I don't have really hot water readily avalible (but I can use it, it's just a real pain). Does anyone know if just a 24 hour soak will drown stuff? I only have cold water near my beetle shed. Right now I'll get the hot H2O, but for future referance I'd like to know if flies and their eggs will drown. Thanks for the replies, Eric.