Processing deer head into trophy help

[brand]

Hi guys,

I'm a budding deer hunter and looking to get a trophy or two over the next few hunts.

I'd like to give doing a skull/antler trophy myself. Get one under belt then look at having a taxidermist do a proper trophy for me.

Looking for some advice from the experts on what process works best for them in cleaning down the skull and so on.

Cheers.

[Wheelbarrow]

If you're just after the skull all you need to do is boil the head down and voilà.

It's not a fortune to have a taxidermist do you a stuffed one though, just FYI.

[lole]

There really isn't much to taking the skull only, like WB said.

Any reason you don't get a proper trophy from the get go though if you're headed that way anyway?

[Elek]

Not that I'm the expert taxidermist, but... It doesn't look like much of a big deal to take the head off at the shoulders yourself and keep it in the right condition for a taxidermist to do the whole thing for you.

No point letting it go to waste.

[Norton]

Cut it off.

Boil the head.

Keep the antlers out and off of any hot surfaces like the side of the boiling container.

Bleach it.

Mount it.

[Aster]

Grab a pigs head from your local butcher and give it a test run first.

[oohsam]

Hi guys,
I'm a budding deer hunter and looking to get a trophy or two over the next few hunts.

Don't be too confident there mate, you may disappoint yourself!

I've seen deer while out hunting (been over a year now) but I am yet to put one down, or even let off a round.
Maybe you've got more luck than me, if so, there's 2 types of mounts these guys are talking about.

1. The Skull mount, where you just keep the antlers on the skull and screw it into a board
2. The full head mount

Which is a caped head (to the shoulders) and looks quite nice in the living room. I'm sure you know the difference.

Anyway, You can either cape it yourself (quite tricky to do if you're a first timer) or you can cut it off at the shoulders keep it cool and take it your taxidermist to prepare.
But just make sure you know where to cut it...

Good luck mate.

[brand]

Don't be too confident there mate, you may disappoint yourself!

I've seen deer while out hunting (been over a year now) but I am yet to put one down, or even let off a round.

But, but... The deer just come up to you because they wan't you to eat them, right?



Nah I'm good. I don't expect to go out and have a shooting gallery of champion deer just lined up before me.

Just getting my ducks in a row ahead of time. No point needing the info after the hunt when I'm a day away from the forum

[Rakk]

I don't expect to go out and have a shooting gallery of champion deer just lined up before me.

If only.

Nom nom nom.

[oohsam]

Don't be too confident there mate, you may disappoint yourself!

I've seen deer while out hunting (been over a year now) but I am yet to put one down, or even let off a round.

But, but... The deer just come up to you because they wan't you to eat them, right?



Nah I'm good. I don't expect to go out and have a shooting gallery of champion deer just lined up before me.

Just getting my ducks in a row ahead of time. No point needing the info after the hunt when I'm a day away from the forum

hahaha Love it.

Yeah its good getting the info first, but its still a challenge once you down the animal. I had enough trouble skinning and gutting a rabbit for the first time after watching done a few times. Its just one of those 'hands on' things.

I've got a really good caping video (and skinning/gutting/processing) of deer if you like.
PM me and ill send you a copy.

PS. Are you in Melbourne?

Cheers
Sam

[Lorgar]

I had enough trouble skinning and gutting a rabbit for the first time after watching done a few times.

My first one was easy as.

Just shot it with a 185gr Berger and it was completely skin free

[keg]

A skull mount is the easiest way to make a decent trophy. 2 or 3 hrs cooked in a mixture of sodium carbonate (Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda) and water will remove the flesh and non bone matter from a skull in really good order. A good mixture is 1 cup of soda to 3 or 4 gal of water. I wrote cooked for a good reason don't go above 200 deg f or it will boil the meat on the bone and make it way harder to remove. I happen to make a pretty good BBQ and can tell you from experience that meat protein breaks down at 190 deg f but gets tough above 200 deg f. I use a hose once it has cooked to remove the sticky parts of meat off the bone. Then it's a matter of picking the rest off with small screwdrivers or dental tools. If the nasal bones or some of the teeth get loose just super glue them back on. I will usually let the skull dry for a couple of weeks then bleach the skull. To do this tape the antlers off with rubber gloves to protect it from the bleaching chemical. I use 40% hydrogen peroxide that I get from the local beauty supply shop. Ladies use it to bleach color from their hair, it is also called developer. I like the cream type developer and paint it on in the morning and leave it on for 4 or 5 hrs. After it sits I wash it thoroughly with the hose and let it dry. It take 3 or 4 applications of developer to get a really nice white bone color. Once it's ready I mount on a plaque or just on the wall. Another good way do display is to leave in on a shelf in your man cave so when your buddies show up they can pick it up and give it a good looksie.

[greyghost]

Awesome trophy mate.

Jealous...

[The Brass]

A completed trophy on a plaque that I bought at a local hobby shop.

Kudos mate, that's a great trophy.

[brand]

Thanks for the photos keg.

Gratz on the awesome trophy too