Refurbishing a dead head

[Stache Attack]

I think shed hunting is a consolation prize.. However I saw those buck late November and found it today scouting fields. I think it’s pretty special and worth a boil or atleast pressures wash.

How would you refurbish this it’s a prairie buck, most I have shot are very light colored around here.

Sorry for the terrible photo if someone cares I’ll post better tomorrow.

 

[saltfork]

You can simmer it in water for a few hours, and then pressure wash. All of the hide and dried stuff should come right off. Then you can bleach the skull and color the antlers if you want. I use a minwax stain. Put on light and wipe off until you get the color you like. I've done a bunch of dead heads this way.

 

[WCB]

I'd saturate that hide portion and get it off...then just give it a quick simmer with some oxiclean. Pull out after about 30minutes and give it a spray off, then re-simmer for another 30ish in dawn dish soap. rinse and done. I am not a huge fan of "bleaching" the skulls. Well cleaned nature looks better in my opinion.

The antlers themselves I'd just leave...looks like most Prairie bucks I've killed.

 

[ColPenguin]

Soak the face in some warm water with a bit of dawn dish liquid. Kentucky wild has a good DIY euro mount video on YT.

Peroxide cream to bleach the head.

Could use brown shoe polish on the antlers. I think it might look better, as is, sun bleached and cleaned up a bit.

 

[Tired03]

I'd saturate that hide portion and get it off...then just give it a quick simmer with some oxiclean. Pull out after about 30minutes and give it a spray off, then re-simmer for another 30ish in dawn dish soap. rinse and done. I am not a huge fan of "bleaching" the skulls. Well cleaned nature looks better in my opinion.

The antlers themselves I'd just leave...looks like most Prairie bucks I've killed.

I too do not like bleaching the skull, I feel it gives it an almost fake looks. I do however recommend using a clear coat over the bone if you do not bleach it. It helps it from darkening.

 

[Stache Attack]

Has anyone used coffee grounds to add a little yellow/brown to the bases and beams?

 

[saltfork]

I tried coffee grounds a couple times. To me, it didn't do too much. If you decide to bleach the skull, you may not want to stain the antlers. The skull will be really white, and the antlers will appear darker as they are.

 

[30338]

Google Potassium Permanganate. It is very good at browning white antlers. Practice on a shed or two first. Then with some sandpaper, you can whiten tips and high spots.

For the skull, I'd soak in warm water for a few weeks. Use a fish tank heater. Then I'd rinse well and soak in warm water and 20 mule team borax for a few days. Then paste peroxide. May not turn totally white but it would be very clean. Good luck.

 

[realunlucky]

I just did this one

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[UKwildcatfan]

Coffee grounds works great to darken antlers.

 

[WCB]

Has anyone used coffee grounds to add a little yellow/brown to the bases and beams?

I've used it a few times. Best thing to do is soak some grounds for a day or so before. Apply them to the antler and let it sit for a few minute and then wipe off....not sure what the deer in your area look like but coloration of those antlers look identical to a couple Wyoming deer and a ND deer I have euro'd right now. All were Euro'd within 2 weeks of being killed and put in the house. No sun bleaching other than when the deer was alive.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I also have used some light brown shoe polish. If it's not dark enough, put on another coat.

 

[Sawbonehunter]

If treat it like a normal euro mount and do the whitening process. Should turn out fine


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[Sneaker]

Some of my deadheads of that age are tough to get degreased, it has just been saturating the skull for so long, you need to go through a few degreasing cycles before moving on the whitening.

 

[Stache Attack]

I've used it a few times. Best thing to do is soak some grounds for a day or so before. Apply them to the antler and let it sit for a few minute and then wipe off....not sure what the deer in your area look like but coloration of those antlers look identical to a couple Wyoming deer and a ND deer I have euro'd right now. All were Euro'd within 2 weeks of being killed and put in the house. No sun bleaching other than when the deer was alive.

Yep pretty similar to central Montana deer aswell