Dealing with an old head

[FYT]

I want to start just by emphasizing that I'm very attentive to proper meat care and I take good care of the meat.

But, because I'm a procrastinator with three little kids and not much extra time, I'm not typically good about dealing with antlers after a hunt. So, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've got a bull elk head that's been sitting in an empty garbage can since September.

I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion about how best to deal with it, preferably not boiling at this point because of the smell and proximity to neighbors (and my desire to keep my wife from killing me).

Thankfully I skinned it out mostly, except for under the bases, but it's definitely looking a little gnarly.

Just bury it until fall? Masceration? Any suggestions on a best approach?

Thanks in advance.

 

[justinspicher]

I have a taxidermist in Aztec that handles all of my heads. I’ve found quite a few older dead heads and skulls and he’s managed to salvage them for me. He’s also incredibly reasonable.

 

[Joshk358]

I'd bury it. Let it go all summer, then clean, degrease and whiten it. I've done that many times. I think it'll be a little more difficult to whiten because the fat will leech into the skull and yellow it some. Degrease and whiten...should be A OK.