Brain removal in the field?

[BBob]

Many jurisdictions require the removal of all tissue including the brain lining which is real hard to get out. I have all but given up on bringing back heads for euro mounts and now just skin the head and cut of the skull cap like for a full mount.

Exactly. Not what the OP asked but AZ requires it to be capped and the membrane removed to bring something into AZ. I stand corrected as to AZ requirements. Another note: I didn't know is velvet needs to be stripped or treated before coming in. In the past I injected velvet with formaldehyde so I'd have been fine.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon/wp-content/uploads/archive/Chronic-Wasting-Disease_082919.pdf

 

[wapitibob]

The following elk or deer parts harvested out-of-state are OK to bring back into Arizona;
• Boneless portions of meat, or meat that has been cut and packaged;
• Clean hides and capes with no skull or soft tissue attached;
• Antlers, clean skull plates or skulls with antlers attached with no meat or soft tissue remaining, including velvet;
• Finished taxidermy mounts or products, including treated antlers with velvet; and
• Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories) with no meat or tissue attached.

Just talked to an AZ Game Warden, there is no provision for skull lining.

Caping a skull, removing eyes and brain matter, meets the legal CWD requirement for WY, straight from the Chief Game Warden.

 

[go4thegusto]

@go4thegusto Is that 1/4" or 1/8 copper? I was thinking about a similar setup

I believe it is 1/4 but both would likely work. Get off to the side! Comes out of there fast.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Learn something new every day. Had no clue that was a requirement for transport through some states.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I have been bringing the necessary items to do a euro mount simmer/boil on the tailgate of the truck the last couple years.

I also prefer to cut the back off the skull to get brains out. The euro's mount great on a wall if you cut them at a 30-45 degree angle. It sits flush with the wall, with the nose jutting out.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Learn something new every day. Had no clue that was a requirement for transport through some states.

Texas is a state that requires clean skulls if coming in from another CWD positive state.

 

[Mattyq17]

I have used hot water and dawn dish soap, pour it in, wait a bit and then use a stick or wire to get the brain matter out. Takes a while but it did work. Then coming into California, they didn't even check!!

 

[sierracharlie338]

Texas is a state that requires clean skulls if coming in from another CWD positive state.

I have not hunted outside of the state since I was a kid so never really looked into. Hopefully that will change here in the next couple of years

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I have been bringing the necessary items to do a euro mount simmer/boil on the tailgate of the truck the last couple years.

I also prefer to cut the back off the skull to get brains out. The euro's mount great on a wall if you cut them at a 30-45 degree angle. It sits flush with the wall, with the nose jutting out.

I don't suppose you could detail a bit more on the cutting of the skull, maybe a pic of it done? I'm curious and if it makes it easier to clean the brain matter out in the field I'm all for it.

I have not hunted outside of the state since I was a kid so never really looked into. Hopefully that will change here in the next couple of years

If you hunt in a CWD zone you can't leave the county without having it sampled.

 

[JDPAPA]

Going out to New Mexico in November and on the “assumption” that I am successful, I would not have thought about this. Looks like the best option would be the car wash.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

We only got caught once coming across Reno into California many years ago. Usually we leave the head double bagged and take care of it at home.

You should have seen the looks of people’s faces coming into California as we used a hammer to literally beat the brains out of a deer skull at the check station.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I don't suppose you could detail a bit more on the cutting of the skull, maybe a pic of it done? I'm curious and if it makes it easier to clean the brain matter out in the field I'm all for it.

Angle of cut:


Brain Cavity:


On the wall:


Single Nail through the Skull:

 

[ScreamingPotato]

That looks good and definitely would make it easier to clean out the cavity. Thanks!

 

[MuleyFever]

Angle of cut:
View attachment 756869

Brain Cavity:
View attachment 756872

On the wall:
View attachment 756868

Single Nail through the Skull:
View attachment 756873

I think I have also seen this done with a wire attached to the back and then it hangs on a nail like a picture frame/painting.

Edit: found this

Hanging European elk mount

You can fish a piece of wire through the ear canals to make a loop to hang on a nail/screw. Or there is probably enough to screw a 2 hole D ring to the bone just below the brain cavity, if you don’t want to do a plaque. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ^This!^ It’s really easy to run the...

rokslide.com

 

[sierracharlie338]

If you hunt in a CWD zone you can't leave the county without having it sampled.

Yep knew that.

 

[Rich M]

I know back home you can not take meat on the bone or any brain or spinal material across state line.

I am hunting Az. this next week and was wondering about this, If I kill a buck I would like a euro mount so I was curious how guys are removing the brain in the field?

I have seen guys hose the brains out but I will have no access to anything like that before leaving the state, I camp near a river so I am thinking I can just stick a screw driver or something in there and rinse it out?

Thanks

Bring a folding saw, cut the back of the skull or brain stem off and either scoop or shake it out. YUP - Post #32 all the way.

You can stop at a self service car wash and give it a rinse.

I cut the skull plate off mine - hanging on the wall like that.