I screwed up-to mount or not mount?

[Captcurt]

that's fine with me. Pics don't do it justice, my buddy has taped his own and then had buckeye big buck score it and he was within like an inch. Im just happy its a 12 non typical.

There's no doubt he is a dandy. I love the older bucks that start to get some character. Of all the bucks that I have killed I have never taken one that I consider big. Nice, yes, but not big.

 

[Axis II]

Okay guys got another question for you. I found two guys near me in Ohio that use beetles to clean the skulls and then they whiten them. Ones price is $95 and the other is $125. One guy seems like its a basement or garage job and the other I've been told has an actual shop. Both have been recommended by forum members on another forum of doing a good job. They are 30mile difference from each other. The guy that does it from home has been doing it about 3yrs and not sure on the other guy. What do you guys think? If i shoot a buck next year or a buddy shoots a mature deer he doesn't cape ill think about shoulder mounting him but right now its in the shed and need to do something asap.

I also have a guy 45min away for $150 my brothers and friends buck is at and they boil it. I would think the beetles are better for a cleanliness standpoint but not sure.

 

[Patocazador]

It doesn't sound like you are saving money if you spend between $95 and $150 on it. If you have to ask what to do, you probably already know what you want and are looking for justification for the alternative.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've done my own Europeans both ways. Both work well when done properly. Beetles are easier, but take longer. Bleaching or painting the skull white is not that difficult, it's when you want a custom paint job where it gets tricky. I've seen very few shoulder mounts that really pay tribute to a live deer, and the ones that did were done by high priced taxidermists. Most "basement" type taxidermists produce mounts that look "stuffed" not real. I say go for the Beetle guy and move on.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I've seen very few shoulder mounts that really pay tribute to a live deer, and the ones that did were done by high priced taxidermists.

Ditto
Lots of people learn the value of a good taxidermist from the "bargain" they got on their first deer mount.

 

[Axis II]

It doesn't sound like you are saving money if you spend between $95 and $150 on it. If you have to ask what to do, you probably already know what you want and are looking for justification for the alternative.

I rent so i cant do it myself. I have no where to do it so have to pay someone.

 

[Axis II]

It doesn't sound like you are saving money if you spend between $95 and $150 on it. If you have to ask what to do, you probably already know what you want and are looking for justification for the alternative.

I was trying to put it nicely but looking for advice on trust the basement beetle guy, drive the extra 30miles to the beetle guy with an actual shop and website or have the boil guy that's closer but more money do it. all 3 come recommended by people i know but that little guy inside me says pay the extra for the boil guy cause he has my brother and friends stuff but beetles seems cleaner to me cause they can eat every nook just don't know if i should trust the cheaper basement guy? I have a head in a bag with eyeballs, meat, etc on it and have no clue what to do with it.

 

[Patocazador]

Beetles are beetles. I wouldn't think the expensive guy had a monopoly on them or that his beetles have a better pedigree. I'd worry more about the character and morals of the beetle owners than anything else.
Nice racks sell for bigger dollars so I'd go with the one you trust the most.

Down here where it's warm even in the winter, I just put them on an ant hill and wait a few weeks then spray paint them.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I rent so i cant do it myself. I have no where to do it so have to pay someone.

Do you not have a balcony? Doing it yourself doesn’t require you to have a ton of space. It really doesn’t smell THAT bad. After you boil it go to the car wash and power wash the bits out of the skull. It’ll be just as clean as the beetles.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I did this one myself and I used a few different videos from YouTube to draw info from. This is one of them.

 

[Axis II]

Beetles are beetles. I wouldn't think the expensive guy had a monopoly on them or that his beetles have a better pedigree. I'd worry more about the character and morals of the beetle owners than anything else.
Nice racks sell for bigger dollars so I'd go with the one you trust the most.

Down here where it's warm even in the winter, I just put them on an ant hill and wait a few weeks then spray paint them.

that is exactly what im worried about. I know its not a 200'' deer but its not normal and i would be worried i wouldn't get it back. The guys who recommended the beetle guys gave them like 80-110 like 8pts and stuff. not downing those deer but i would think someone drops off a 12pt non typical that might be different. both guys maybe hell of guys but i just don't trust anyone.

 

[Axis II]

Do you not have a balcony? Doing it yourself doesn’t require you to have a ton of space. It really doesn’t smell THAT bad. After you boil it go to the car wash and power wash the bits out of the skull. It’ll be just as clean as the beetles.

One thing i was worried about with the power washing is how do you get all the brain matter out of that little hole and the nasal thing? I watched the same video you posted a few minutes ago it seems like with that small hole it might be hard to get it out no? How about all those nook and crannies around the eye sockets where those a pain to clean or just blast out with water? My buddy has some property and he has a better stomach for stuff then me so i will see if he will help me.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

One thing i was worried about with the power washing is how do you get all the brain matter out of that little hole and the nasal thing? I watched the same video you posted a few minutes ago it seems like with that small hole it might be hard to get it out no? How about all those nook and crannies around the eye sockets where those a pain to clean or just blast out with water? My buddy has some property and he has a better stomach for stuff then me so i will see if he will help me.

Simmer in water a few hours and power washing will get it very clean, brain matter included. You will need to pick a few places clean with a wire coat hanger, knife, wire brush......
To get them whiter I make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. coat the skull and leave it overnight, maybe that was in the video I didn't watch. Some get whiter than others, cleaning right away seems to help. On skulls that are badly stained I have used a spray can to paint them white and they actually look pretty good.
This is a three antlered buck from a couple years ago. No white paint on it but I did spray it with a clear coat.

 

[SoonerMedic]

One thing i was worried about with the power washing is how do you get all the brain matter out of that little hole and the nasal thing? I watched the same video you posted a few minutes ago it seems like with that small hole it might be hard to get it out no? How about all those nook and crannies around the eye sockets where those a pain to clean or just blast out with water? My buddy has some property and he has a better stomach for stuff then me so i will see if he will help me.

You can use a screw driver and make a hole in the under side to get the brains out. Just takes some patience. But simmering the skull for several hours and making sure you use plenty of oxiclean will turn everything to jelly for the most part. If you bleach any of the antlers you can get minwax wood stain from the store in a brownish color resembling the antlers and use some qtips to touch up any parts that have lost color.

Edit: this video shows how large the opening is where the skull opens up for the CNS

 

[Iroquois]

If it is your intent on saving money, I would do it myself. Since you are having a trust issue I would definitely do it myself. You may be surprised what you can do and how well it would turn out. Best of luck to you. How about a photo of the buck?

 

[Axis II]

You can use a screw driver and make a hole in the under side to get the brains out. Just takes some patience. But simmering the skull for several hours and making sure you use plenty of oxiclean will turn everything to jelly for the most part. If you bleach any of the antlers you can get minwax wood stain from the store in a brownish color resembling the antlers and use some qtips to touch up any parts that have lost color.

Edit: this video shows how large the opening is where the skull opens up for the CNS

I jacked up a little 8pt i shot and found months later by bleaching the antler base with peroxide and rubbed some stain on and it looked great.

 

[Axis II]

If it is your intent on saving money, I would do it myself. Since you are having a trust issue I would definitely do it myself. You may be surprised what you can do and how well it would turn out. Best of luck to you. How about a photo of the buck?

 

[Axis II]

You can use a screw driver and make a hole in the under side to get the brains out. Just takes some patience. But simmering the skull for several hours and making sure you use plenty of oxiclean will turn everything to jelly for the most part. If you bleach any of the antlers you can get minwax wood stain from the store in a brownish color resembling the antlers and use some qtips to touch up any parts that have lost color.

Edit: this video shows how large the opening is where the skull opens up for the CNS

you didn't post a vid. Btw thanks for the info. I will try it this weekend. I watched some videos and i cant see how i can mess this up. My worry was not getting all the meat and stinking up the house or breaking bone. I might have it sent out and dipped in snow camo cause it was snowing when i shot him.

 

[Nature Boy]

He’s pretty gnarly. Nice buck!

He’d look good either way. Again, if it was me I’d get my taxidermist looking for a suitable cape (neck dimensions are what’s important, then color depending on how important that is to you) and have it full shoulder mounted

But it would also make a pretty euro mount

 

[Axis II]

He’s pretty gnarly. Nice buck!

He’d look good either way. Again, if it was me I’d get my taxidermist looking for a suitable cape (neck dimensions are what’s important, then color depending on how important that is to you) and have it full shoulder mounted

But it would also make a pretty euro mount

That's why i'm so worried about who gets it. If you look at the left main beam there is a nub where something big was broken off. the break is like an inch and half wide. I'm wondering with it being where its located if it would have been a drop or strait up. I will do the euro for now and then shoulder mount him. I am so screwed right now with truck repairs, tires, Christmas. if the taxi took credit cards i would have been there but he doesn't. The color is pretty important to me, shows his age and that makes the trophy even more. I shot an 8pt with big brows thicker then this one last year for my first buck and the taxi wanted to fix it and his ripped ear and scar on neck and i said look that's the way he was when i took his life and that's the way i want him done. I didn't get the ripped ear but kept the scar where the hair is kind of gone and the broken brow. I will do the euro this weekend and see what happens and maybe call a couple taxidermist and see what a cape will run me. My buddy usually shoots big dear each year so next year if he euro's one ill ask for the cape or if i shoot another big one.

 

[SoonerMedic]

you didn't post a vid. Btw thanks for the info. I will try it this weekend. I watched some videos and i cant see how i can mess this up. My worry was not getting all the meat and stinking up the house or breaking bone. I might have it sent out and dipped in snow camo cause it was snowing when i shot him.

I guess I forgot to add it lol

 

[Axis II]

My buddy is doing his this weekend and said bring mine and he will help me. I just got a pm from another forum that is a taxi if my butcher cut the skin off the skull that someone purchased my cape and I need to call the butcher and ask for it cause it must have the tag # on it and ask for it back. I can see that phone call to the butcher going south really quick and even quicker asking the person who bought it for it back.

 

[Iroquois]

Nice buck! Congrats! His left side is a little unusual, but that just adds character!

 

[huntsman]

Okay guys got another question for you. I found two guys near me in Ohio that use beetles to clean the skulls and then they whiten them. Ones price is $95 and the other is $125. One guy seems like its a basement or garage job and the other I've been told has an actual shop. Both have been recommended by forum members on another forum of doing a good job. They are 30mile difference from each other. The guy that does it from home has been doing it about 3yrs and not sure on the other guy. What do you guys think? If i shoot a buck next year or a buddy shoots a mature deer he doesn't cape ill think about shoulder mounting him but right now its in the shed and need to do something asap.

I also have a guy 45min away for $150 my brothers and friends buck is at and they boil it. I would think the beetles are better for a cleanliness standpoint but not sure.

Last years buck was a Euro mount for $125. Done with beatles, I was pleased and for me this is my plan moving forward.

 

[Axis II]

Last years buck was a Euro mount for $125. Done with beatles, I was pleased and for me this is my plan moving forward.

Where did you have this done? My buddy has boiled and power washed a few and said bring it over this weekend and we would boil and power wash.