Well guys, I just recently lost my job a couple of weeks ago due to downsizing of my position. I think I'll be alright and hopefully will have something lined up pretty quickly. Although my anger was through the roof for a couple of days I decided to bide my time, keep a positive attitude and take a crack at doing my first European mount. He had been sitting in the freezer since last Halloween and with temps finally getting above freezing it took about 2 days for him to get partially thawed out. I would say I spent around 8 hours total which included slicing all the meat and other nastiness off of him and sitting in front of a steamy turkey cooker. I finally gave him a bath in a 50% peroxide and set him in front of a heater. I'm putting him on a plaque to commemorate my grandfather who I just lost the same week I lost my job. He was 99 years and 9 months old, WWII Vet and my hero. Without him or his little 90 acre farm I probably wouldn't be the hunter or person I am today. Here is a little progression from directly after I harvested him to what he is now. I think it turned out pretty good!
That turned out awesome! Looks great! Did the foil around the bases actually work to keep the peroxide water off?
Actually I didn't use peroxide in the turkey cooker. I used about a cup of Borax along with a little Dawn dish soap to cut down on the grease. I just put that foil around it as a little added measure just in case. I used a paint brush to paint the peroxide on and set it in front of a heater. Heat makes peroxide work not time. After I let it sit for around an hour I washed him off with cold water and put the peroxide back on him again followed by washing him off in cold water. I haven't decided whether to put clear acrylic on him or not. I've read in terms of keeping him clean it helps so I probably will.
This is sweet, it's what I'm hoping to do if I ever draw on some bone, you should write up exactly what you did so newbies like me can copy you
Dang man that looks great, I attempted a euro mount on a dead buck my brother found this year but it didn't turn out good at all.
Perseverance! The way I did it was by using needle nose pliers and a butter knife to scrape and pull all the pieces of flesh off. When I got all I could I put it back in the pot and let it "cook" some more. I left the brain cavity on so I had to get a knife in there and stir the brains out. They came out looking like sour cream mixed with salsa, which was pretty nasty. Next time I plan on removing the brain cavity and removing the brains first since after you lay it on a plaque you won't be able to see it anyway.I also used my garden hose and tried to pressure wash most of the flesh off. I know I've read about not boiling the skull because it can turn your skull yellow. I didn't have this problem, however, and after painting on the 50% peroxide it was gleaming white. Just make sure you don't use bleach. Bleach will break down the bone and turn it extremely brittle.
That turned out freakin' AWESOME!!! BIG-TIME congrats to you!! I understand you lost your job and that may have very well played into the decision, but that brute was plenty nice enough for a full shoulder mount... what a stud! Sal soda helps loosen the remaining bits of fleshy stuff when you're boiling it; you can order it through Van Dyke's taxidermy.
This mount looks great. I did my own last year and it turned out good. My wife is a hair stylist and I used some of the peroxide she uses to bleach hair and that works well too. It is pasty so its pretty easy to put on also. I also boil my skulls and I have never had one turn yellow on me.
Greg - Thanks for the kind words. I was sort of in the boat with you and the buck you shot last season. I was proud of him but wished after the fact I would have given him another year. Nonetheless, I already have three shoulder mounts on the wall and wanted to try something different this year. Thought he was a perfect candidate.
Thanks man. Gramps was a great man and grandpa. He was always so proud when I would come back to the farmhouse with a deer or turkey. He lived a great, long life and unfortunately it was time for him to go on to his next great adventure.
That's an awesome pic! You're lucky to have that. His house was really put together!! I wish I had a good pic of my grandfather.
