biggamefish Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Over the weekend hunting camp got a bear and I was the one to finish the bear off. I got to keep the head. That being said I got it home and skinned the head. I am going to boil the head down so I have the skull. First question is when boiling how do you get the brain out? Second question is is there an easy way to get the crap off the skin of the head. I have tanned skins before and I am going to self tan what is left of the skin on the skull. Just wondering if there is an easy way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveboone Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Last spring I macerated a bear skull- that is, soaked it in water and let the soft tissues rot off. Just fill a 5 gallon bucket with water, put the skull in and put a top lid on. Place it somewhere warm (at least where it wont freeze). I kept mine in the back shed about 3 months, then scoured it with a heavy brillo. Give it another month or so in a bucket with some strong detergent to get the grease out. I have previously boiled bear skulls, and they tend to shrink a bit. You still have alot of hard scrubbing to do. I found the macerating easier and did a better job. The teeth will all fall out though, so be careful to strain the gross water as you pour it out, or pull the teeth out when they come loose. Just use a little Elmers to glue them back in with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbearklr Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Boiling is really hard on a skull. You lose a lot of the inner nasal cavity bones. You should really consider maceration or send it out to a beetle guy. Do not use bleach on it. It will detoriate the bone over time. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggamefish Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 What is maceRation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggamefish Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 Didn't see daves response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEADDEER1 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 look on the web for bare bones and bugs his name is scott his work is flawless he can even dip the skull in camo patterns or bronze a reg skull runs 90 and dipped ones in the 140s hes a beetle man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveNY Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 What is maceRation? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maceration_%28bone%29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culvercreek hunt club Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Had my bear skull done by beetles...It came out PERECT. Every detail is there and the teetha re intact. If you can swing it I would highly recommend it. It looks polished after they are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tughillhunter Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Beetles huh? never heard of it. where do you find beetle people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culvercreek hunt club Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 http://www.barebonesandbugs.com/ You can also buy the beetles yourself....LOL. good luck with that one. I wouldn't suggest having tose critter out and running around your house...Might make for a restless nights sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveNY Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Beetles huh? never heard of it. where do you find beetle people? Say BeetleJuice 3 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 never had any done but have seen the work,its worth $100.00 all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sits in trees Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 What is maceRation? these guys just love using technical terms which they damn well know you havent heard of or you wouldnt be asking about what to do with a skull. they want you to reply and ask as you did just so they can go " oh this is the process in which, yadi, yadi, yada". makes em sound real smart instead of just saying that taxiderms have flesh eating beetles which they put in a tank with yer skull for a week or two and they do all the work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culvercreek hunt club Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 From what I gather an established colony can clean a head in less than 2 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizCT Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 beetles work great! I use a guy in Greenfield Park named Scott. Company called Skulptures. I forget the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveNY Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 these guys just love using technical terms which they damn well know you havent heard of or you wouldnt be asking about what to do with a skull. they want you to reply and ask as you did just so they can go " oh this is the process in which, yadi, yadi, yada". makes em sound real smart instead of just saying that taxiderms have flesh eating beetles which they put in a tank with yer skull for a week or two and they do all the work. Lol, if your sitting in front of a computer like I am, all you have to do is type it into google. Also, the beetle technique and maceration are totally different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbearklr Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 these guys just love using technical terms which they damn well know you havent heard of or you wouldnt be asking about what to do with a skull. they want you to reply and ask as you did just so they can go " oh this is the process in which, yadi, yadi, yada". makes em sound real smart instead of just saying that taxiderms have flesh eating beetles which they put in a tank with yer skull for a week or two and they do all the work. Sorry I will make it very slow and simple for you, ROT the meat off with the use of water, hence MACERATION. You are on the computer look it up there are all kinds of videos about it. But I will tell you it stinks not bad, but really really bad!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the blur Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Over the weekend hunting camp got a bear and I was the one to finish the bear off. I got to keep the head. That being said I got it home and skinned the head. I am going to boil the head down so I have the skull. First question is when boiling how do you get the brain out? Second question is is there an easy way to get the crap off the skin of the head. I have tanned skins before and I am going to self tan what is left of the skin on the skull. Just wondering if there is an easy way. The finisher gets the whole animal, according to the hunters ed class. But when I recently took the bow class, they said the first leathal shot takes the animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tughillhunter Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Say BeetleJuice 3 times. hahaha good one. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggamefish Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 Thanks for all the responses. How much of a pain are these beetles to keep around and how expensive are they to buy? A buddy said they stink real bad and the heads come out smelling awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbearklr Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 the beetles are a pain, you have to constantly feed them, they have to stay at a certain temp. If they get out of contanier they will be every wheres. In your house etc. Unless you are planning on doing a lot of skulls you are better off not getting beetles. The skulls stink because a lot of people throw the entire thing in there without taking most of the meat off. The object is to take most of the meat off so it can be consumed within about 5-7 days before the meat starts spoiling and rotting. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggamefish Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 How does maceration work in cold temps? THere is no way that I am keeping the head indoors stinking up the house I don't have anything heated outside. So I might have some ice in my maceration process. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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