Cleaning a Deer Skull

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

I was walking around our property yesterday and happened upon a deer skull that a coyote was enjoying. I'd like to clean it since I know my wife would like it. The last time I cleaned a skull was about 25 years ago (**** time flies . What the hell have I been doing with my life?) so I barely recall what I did. I remember I boiled it (bear skull) for an afternoon and was scraping it for a good while, but don't really recall much after that. So, anyone care to walk me through what I should and should not do?

I can boil it outside on our grill, but my #1 question is should I use a pot that we're ever going to want to use again or is this going to be the swan song for the pot?

Thanks!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Well, 'round here we'd just find a fahr ant mound and place it right in the middle being sure to pi$$ off the ants while you're doing it. Come back in a couple days and it'll be slick and clean as a whistle. (time may vary depending on how big your ant mound is)

 

[Mini Horses]

Well, in TX you could just hang it in the sun and it would dehydrate! Then brush it off. Of course, you aren't there!

What did you do about the coyote? He ran and left a meal?? Hope the rest of that animal was somewhere near....doubt it.

Next option -- Borax -- don't even think you need to boil. Pack it in wet Borax. check the net.

 

[tortoise]

Give it to some chickens? Or bury it (and hope coyote or dogs don't dig it up). I had bad results with boiling and with bleach. DH did one where he left the skull in a 5 gallon bucket of water - I think that was for months and it stank. Before we met, I'm fuzzy on the details. Chickens do a righteous good job of picking meat and skin off bones though!

The bone pros like skullsunlimited.com use beetles

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I know I'm late to post, but maybe it can help someone else later on.

I've tried to put a deer skull in an ant bed a few times, and somehow no matter what we do a critter comes along and takes off with it. I've even put heavy weighted buckets over the mound and skull, only to catch a dog in the middle of taking off with it.

Heads up- talking about gross things in case anyone may be sensitive to this type of stuff. You've been warned!

Some people use the beetle method in a controlled situation where they can clean it for you over a period of time. Others will clean by hand and boil off. I tried something in early 2018 deer season when we picked up a bunch of hides- we took a few skulls including a MASSIVE domestic hog skull and placed them inside of a washing machine drum out in the woods away from the house so the smell wouldn't really bother anyone. We heavily weighted down a piece of tin and left this in the woods this way for a year (long turn around time but little work- the critters did it for us). The little holes on the side of the drum and in the tin from old screw holes allowed insects to find their way in- and the end result was an almost mummified skull that peeled away easily, and we then tried peroxide vs. bleach

I've also literally just left skulls out for the scavengers and they cleaned them so fast it was crazy - leaving them in nearly the same area. I've had some turn out really nice this way, though the teeth may be lost in the process and the nasal bone on deer is pretty flimsy and may end up broke. And certain animals may come along and jut gnaw on it....we've been lucky that usually in this scenario, buzzards and beetles are the ones really messing with them.

 

[CrealCritter]

Honestly if you leave it to the weather and bugs they will take care of it for you. Or you could throw it into the chicken yard, they should peck it clean after a couple of months.

 

[Britesea]

I like it. Let someone else do the work for you.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Well, in TX you could just hang it in the sun and it would dehydrate! Then brush it off. Of course, you aren't there!

What did you do about the coyote? He ran and left a meal?? Hope the rest of that animal was somewhere near....doubt it.

Next option -- Borax -- don't even think you need to boil. Pack it in wet Borax. check the net.

You are right, I ain't there.

The spine was severed straight, so I'm guessing this was someone's legit or illegit kill. This section of my property isn't roadside, hence my assumption of coyote dragging it from elsewhere. It's a great distance though across a cornfield, so it's odd.

Never heard of the borax method. I'll check that out

 

[YourRabbitGirl]

I was walking around our property yesterday and happened upon a deer skull that a coyote was enjoying. I'd like to clean it since I know my wife would like it. The last time I cleaned a skull was about 25 years ago (**** time flies . What the hell have I been doing with my life?) so I barely recall what I did. I remember I boiled it (bear skull) for an afternoon and was scraping it for a good while, but don't really recall much after that. So, anyone care to walk me through what I should and should not do?

I can boil it outside on our grill, but my #1 question is should I use a pot that we're ever going to want to use again or is this going to be the swan song for the pot?

Thanks!
View attachment 13314

That is so eerie, but somehow I want one too. If it's cleaned properly, I bet that would be a great wall decor in my house. just above the sofa.

 

[YourRabbitGirl]

I was walking around our property yesterday and happened upon a deer skull that a coyote was enjoying. I'd like to clean it since I know my wife would like it. The last time I cleaned a skull was about 25 years ago (**** time flies . What the hell have I been doing with my life?) so I barely recall what I did. I remember I boiled it (bear skull) for an afternoon and was scraping it for a good while, but don't really recall much after that. So, anyone care to walk me through what I should and should not do?

I can boil it outside on our grill, but my #1 question is should I use a pot that we're ever going to want to use again or is this going to be the swan song for the pot?

Thanks!
View attachment 13314

After a very intense cleaning. that would be a very very interesting thing to hang on top of the sofa in our living room.