Euro Mount

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Just as an FYI. Aaron only had my hog skull for a little over a month. Very quick turnaround on it.

 

[kuhn4]

If anyone wants to try doing their own european mount, here is a method I have used with good success in the past:
1) Cape out skull and carefully remove as much meat as possible with a knife.
2) Pull the brain out using a wire hook.
3) Carefully clean the skull – remove eyes and more meat if you can.
4) Flush out brain cavity and skull exterior with garden hose.
5) Soak the entire skull in water and Dawn dish soap for 3-5 days. Change the water and soap daily until you have a day where the water is clear after soaking for 24 hours. Dawn will draw blood out of the bone. Again, use Dawn dish soap.
6) Boil the skull in a Dawn soap water for approximately 6-8 hours or longer if needed to get the meat to easily fall off. The water should be just hot enough to ripple the surface; a very light boil. NOT a rolling boil. I’m guessing this to be 190-200 degrees.
7) Completely dry the skull.
8) Create a runny oatmeal consistency paste using clear liquid peroxide (27% peroxide @ a pool store is the cheapest and best. ~20% from a hair salon is more expensive. 2 or 3% from department stores is cheap. Need 8-12 oz) mixed with baby powder. Brush this on the skull thick and leave for 2-4 days. DO NOT get this on the antlers. Wear gloves. Brush or blow off with air compressor the mixture.
9) Repeat step 7 if needed to further whiten the skull.
10) Some guys now leave it as is OR apply a wax OR apply a clear sealant. I leave as is.