Deadhead / Euro method test

[Bullshot]

This whole process is a great lesson in the ecology of decomposition. Check out this burying beetle that turned up at the tote (along with it’s hitchhiker minions).

Burying Beetles | Department of Entomology

entomology.umn.edu

 

[X13]

I ended up sticking mine two in a 5 gallon bucket of water, wrapped the whole deal in a couple of contractor bags, and put it in the sun.... far from the house. We'll see how that goes.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

So walked into pole barn today and WTH is that smell? Oops, hung a head along back wall and completely forgot about it.

Out of propane for stove so had to get that first. Fired it up with pool soda ash which really helps with organic breakdown. Have used it for last 5 years on Euro's and really think it helps breaking down tissue and whitens at same time. Got this tip off a forum. Damn! It stunk like hell from air cooking! Flies were horrible until it started to actually cook down.

 

[Nick87]

Here is the before and after. Just completed from a find last fall. Proud of how it turned out!

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You did that one justice. Deadheads can be tough to get clean.

 

[Nick87]

The horns stunk like big-foots penis. A year later, they still stink.

Soak some paper towel in ammonia and wrap the antlers overnight.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

This is not a big buck by any standard but I was told I was not going to deer hunt last year due to recovering from a L2-L5 back fusion. I was very happy to even be in the woods. So when he gave me shot, I knew I just had to kill him.

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

So walked into pole barn today and WTH is that smell? Oops, hung a head along back wall and completely forgot about it.

Out of propane for stove so had to get that first. Fired it up with pool soda ash which really helps with organic breakdown. Have used it for last 5 years on Euro's and really think it helps breaking down tissue and whitens at same time. Got this tip off a forum. Damn! It stunk like hell from air cooking! Flies were horrible until it started to actually cook down.

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Haven’t heard of using Soda Ash? Do you know how it compares to using Bright White or Oxy Clean? JC

 

[Bullshot]

I ended up sticking mine two in a 5 gallon bucket of water, wrapped the whole deal in a couple of contractor bags, and put it in the sun.... far from the house. We'll see how that goes.

Man that is probably gonna be EVIL when you open those bags and dump the water. My wood shavings tote doesn’t smell as fresh anymore but you still have to get right up on it to notice much.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Haven’t heard of using Soda Ash? Do you know how it compares to using Bright White or Oxy Clean? JC

I think it works better than Oxy Clean. Haven't used Bright White. The key is the increased pH which does seem to work better. You don't need much, 1/2 cup in the large pot you see is all I use. This head might be one I try some new "chemistry".

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Haven’t heard of using Soda Ash? Do you know how it compares to using Bright White or Oxy Clean? JC

Soda Ash, or Sal Soda (sodium carbonate) is used in the defleshing stage. It turns the flesh into a gelatinous texture and it comes off the bone easier. It doesn't really help whiten skull at all.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Started it yesterday for four hours then 3 1/2 hours today. The water could have been used as a bio weapon. Dumped water last night and prayed no splashes on me! Still have to hit it with 40% Hair Salon peroxide. Its going to whiten up pretty good!

I can make somebody really good deal on deadhead soup if interested. Free shipping!

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

Started it yesterday for four hours then 3 1/2 hours today. The water could have been used as a bio weapon. Dumped water last night and prayed no splashes on me! Still have to hit it with 40% Hair Salon peroxide. Its going to whiten up pretty good!

I can make somebody really good deal on deadhead soup if interested. Free shipping!


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Cleaned up nice! Glad you didn’t splash any !

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

Soda Ash, or Sal Soda (sodium carbonate) is used in the defleshing stage. It turns the flesh into a gelatinous texture and it comes off the bone easier. It doesn't really help whiten skull at all.

Does it work better than sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)? It would be nice to speed up the process when in the boil stage.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Does it work better than sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)? It would be nice to speed up the process when in the boil stage.

In my experience yes

 

[RealMuddyboots]

In my experience yes

X2!

Although it is not a whitener, my skulls seem to be in better white condition for final peroxide step.

 

[MarvB]

Soak some paper towel in ammonia and wrap the antlers overnight.

Glad you noted that it was the antlers he need to wrap....might have pissed Bigfoot off otherwise!

 

[howl]

My method came from a taxidermist who said he didn't have time to do a euro. He has full body stuff in his showroom like a tiger, etc.

He said when he does personal euros he puts them in a bucket of water "out back" and forgets about it. Then use bleach to kill the smell. Then pressure wash. Then stain antler bases for color because bleach.

Some people claim high test hydrogen peroxide will white the skull well. I never had any luck, but I may not have tried enough to figure it out. A pure white skull looks weird to me anyway.

I do skin the head and remove as much anything as possible. You don't have to, but there's less to splatter when you pressure wash.

I'm not sure the whole process involves less time than boiling, but it's 15 minutes here and there versus hours all at once.

 

[Nick87]

Then use bleach to kill the smell.

Some really bad info out there on the internet.

 

[howl]

Some really bad info out there on the internet.

Some really cryptic, uninformative posts as well. It's a pandemic!

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Comes down to how nice do you want it look? Spend the time, use established methods, tweak to your own and hang it up in den, reloading room wherever. I whiten them up, use Skullhookers and mount on barn wood with kill photo. Just a nice little remembrance. I saw where a dad Euro'ed his son's first buck and doe. Mounted both on board with photos. His son will have it forever.