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Wife's elk mount is back
dcso3009
Member Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭✭✭
I had a European mount done by my friend Jon at Borreson Outdoors (www.europeantaxidermy.com) It turned out well, and is now home on my wall.
He uses beetles to clean the skull which keeps much more of the fine detail in the sinus and nasal cavities.
I had him make a wall plaque for it. Holds real secure, and displays the skull nicely.
He uses beetles to clean the skull which keeps much more of the fine detail in the sinus and nasal cavities.
I had him make a wall plaque for it. Holds real secure, and displays the skull nicely.
Comments
Very nice. Wife's first elk? Was it a bow or gun kill?
Yes her first. Was a gun hunt. She has back problems and has not been shooting bow enough to pull weight needed to shoot an elk. Her 308 worked great.
If I had a nice shed with a room I wouldn't mind getting some of the beetles but the wife won't let me either get a big shed or have them in the basement. [:D]
VERY NICE! Tell her I said congrats.
If I had a nice shed with a room I wouldn't mind getting some of the beetles but the wife won't let me either get a big shed or have them in the basement. [:D]
You would not want them anywhere near your house! That is one hell of a stinky operation! They work best at 90 degrees, and most beetle colonies would take several days to clean even a deer skull. Oh and they typically like the flesh a bit rotten before they even start. I hate to tell you, but she is right! Unless you have access to a small shed that you could make into a "bug room" I'd suggest having someone else do it.
Also the De-greasing and whitening process get tricky too. De-greasing can take months to do right. Some heat can help, but you will never get a white skull without getting the oils out of the skull. Then the whitening process... Hard to find the high concentrated peroxide you need to do it efficiently. Pro40 will work, but takes several applications. Higher concentrations work much better, but take special HAZMAT permits.
quote:Originally posted by Chief Shaway
VERY NICE! Tell her I said congrats.
If I had a nice shed with a room I wouldn't mind getting some of the beetles but the wife won't let me either get a big shed or have them in the basement. [:D]
You would not want them anywhere near your house! That is one hell of a stinky operation! They work best at 90 degrees, and most beetle colonies would take several days to clean even a deer skull. Oh and they typically like the flesh a bit rotten before they even start. I hate to tell you, but she is right! Unless you have access to a small shed that you could make into a "bug room" I'd suggest having someone else do it.
Also the De-greasing and whitening process get tricky too. De-greasing can take months to do right. Some heat can help, but you will never get a white skull without getting the oils out of the skull. Then the whitening process... Hard to find the high concentrated peroxide you need to do it efficiently. Pro40 will work, but takes several applications. Higher concentrations work much better, but take special HAZMAT permits.
We have a couple tanks here in the anatomy lab, it takes months for them to finish a deer skull. And thats taking most of the meat off first
Beautiful!!