Euro Help

[RogueSamurai]

About to do my first Euro skull on a deer. I've done a hog but it was years ago.
It's been in my freezer since deer season and I have it thawing out right now.

I've never boiled a skull before but someone told me that's how you do it.

Do I need to skin it down as much as I can before I boil it? Any advice would be appreciated.

[dustoffer]

Several ways to do it--from boiling to maceration in a bucket with Rid-X septic treatment mixed in. There will be plenty of advice along shortly. I have one hog skull that I had removed from the carcass, hard wired/tied to a fence post, and let the buzzards, 'yotes, weather and bugs work over. Couple months later I brought it home, soaked it a bit in water with detergent in it to help with the fat, and then let it dry once it was clean. Then I went to the beauty supply place and got the strong peroxide (40 volumes % I think it was), poured/smeared it on the skull making sure to cover all, and set it out in the yard in the summer sun. Had to repeat a few times. Not a taxi-quality job but it sits on top of my reloading cabinet in the garage so that's not a problem.

[RogueSamurai]

Thanks. Wife and kids are gone today so this is as good a day as any for this project.

[Smart]

Do not hard boil it. It is hard on the bones and the nose pieces. I'd simmer it all day with a lighter boil.

Simmer, scrape, simmer some more, scrape.....repeat til clean

[RogueSamurai]

Thanks Smart, glad I saw this when I did. You people better hurry up with the advice around here.....I"m about to crack one open....soon after that I'll be an expert....just sayin.

[Boomerang]

Just sitting in a plain bucket / tub of water will do it. Obviously the more you can skin off, but even leaving it on, after about 4 weeks it will be clean. Wear a gas mask when you dump the water. LOL

[backinthegame]

I skin and cut as much as possible then simmer in dawn water and scrape as needed. Take a hanger and get inside the skull and scramble that nasty mess up. Simmer and repeat. When I think it's nearly done I take it to the car wash. Use engine degreaser and then power wash clean. Gets all the goop outta the inside and will pull any fat and grease outta the small nooks. Let dry and smear with peroxide stuff From Sally's. Wrap in ceran wrap and leave in sun for day or two. Remove wrap and brush it off. Comes out white as can be.

[Beardedbuck]

I use a soft boil with dawn dishwashing soap (regular) and a cup or two of Borax laundry detergent. I put the flame on high until the water starts to boil, reduce the heat so I get a little turn of the top of the water.....and then put the skull in with as hide removed. I used to trim out the tounge and such, but if you let the water do the work you won't have to mess with it. Once it's been in for a couple of hours, I'll take it out and run to the carwash. I only use the rinse. I don't try to scramble the brain with a coathanger or anything, the soaps/boil do the work and I just spray out the brain cavity with the nozle of the carwash. Be careful at this point.....you will get a little wet and some debris on you when spraying.

Post up your work.

[Blue Tick]

What smart says is good, provided you can't mascerate or use beetles. I've done arond 85 or so this year with beetles and masceration. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me.

When it thaws out, get the hide, eyes and as much meat as possible before you start the process. Try and get the brain out as well. I typically use some little hook like things and stir it up and pull it out.

[Fajkus7]

Like others have said, soft boil it and try to get as much skin of as possible as well as the eyes. It helps if you throw a little baking powder in the boiling water too. Good luck and let's see pictures of the progress!