Let’s do a euro mount .

[dougan]

Too much negativity and chicken little sky falling horse manure on here lately, it’s giving me a rash. So let’s do a euro mount for fun. I’ll post my step by step process wich I’m sure is all wrong but they turn out pretty ok for a 5 to 25$ investment depending on how much beer it takes to get it done! Anywho I know there is more than one way to shave a beaver but here is my method. Give it a try and you won’t be too disappointed.


step 1)
you cannot skip step one it just won’t work out no matter what. Step one is shoot a critter ! A deer , moose, elk , whatever . Bigger antennas on there head look cool and also make your buddies jealous wich is great but not entirely necessary.

[dougan]

Step number 2)
get a beverage and a good knife and your skull to be and skin it out . I star by slicing up the forehead and go from there . You will need to remove the eyes just a warning these are held in by the same crap that holds the tail on the shuttle . Then you need to take your d-8 cat and remove the lower jaw. Don’t get too crazy about getting all meat and whatnot off.https://i.postimg.cc/hPz3s28M/B3-C5-EF07-9676-4356-903-D-8-D21-DA59-AE00.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bsPTNHB2)

[dougan]

When I’m done it looks like this.https://i.postimg.cc/cHF59j5k/13-E2-C85-F-6-A61-4-CEA-9-AE7-EA82-D818-A336.jpg (https://postimg.cc/KkgN49bt)

[fuzzybiscuit]

When I’m done mine’s a lot whiter with no meat on it.

Where’s the Lucky’s. I thought you were an Island boy...

[dougan]

Step number 3
put your skull in a big pot and add enough water to cover all tissue at base of antlers . You can put a rock in and set nose on it to change angle if it works better. Don’t be shy about antlers being in the water . Add a good amount of dish soap and dish soap only and cook it on a simmer to slow boil for probably 4 hours less is more here as long as meat peel from bone your good.https://i.postimg.cc/dtrwcKkp/05264400-278-B-4-CD8-9661-28-CF1-DCCE8-FD.jpg (https://postimg.cc/kBJkWzyv)

[dougan]

Woooops back up the wagon step 3 should be if you can and have an air compressor stick a blow gun in hole where spine atched to skull ., then stand aside cause everything this critter has ever known is coming out that hole once you put air in there . This is an important step I’m sorry I put it out of order.

[dougan]

After boiling skull looks like this.
https://i.postimg.cc/WzqYrTcv/15-E4777-D-B3-CE-4760-AB3-B-0853-A1-EF8804.jpg (https://postimg.cc/rRc926pn)

[robert05]

Love it! Good to see a good humerus thread rather than all the crap on here. Oh and also informative-- thanks!

[dougan]

Step number ....????
Whatever next step after boiling not too long now cause nose will fall off if ya boil too long , 4 hours should be good.I like to pull big chunks of stuff off then get your power washer out and have at it get all the little holes brain cavity every little nook and cranny Now this will take mostly all of the nasel bones out wich some people like but I’m on beer 6 now and getting impatient.. there is a substance on back of skull that is atached by forces beyond this world but persistence will pay off with your power washer if you don’t have a power washer head down to the chevron dime and dash I’m sure they will enjoy the yucky junk on the floor anyway. You will need to remove the brain lining with plyers it comes out easy.https://i.postimg.cc/cLZszZwL/04636-B49-8-FD5-4-A4-B-A9-F4-97-C80-AEB910-C.jpg (https://postimg.cc/KRqSK606)

[dougan]

Next step ..
you will need to get a screw driver and remove the ear bones as there is tissue under them that will smell like a herrings but hole .
https://i.postimg.cc/BZrZx2vD/17-B3-F780-2678-4-B6-E-96-C8-B9-D4-BEFCEFE7.jpg (https://postimg.cc/9zBj2RZF)
after it is removed it looks like this
https://i.postimg.cc/MK16tXcL/158-B5058-5-CDF-4-F31-93-FB-0-BED856-D01-EA.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7fYrZHn1)
then wash again to remove tissue.

[dougan]

It’s getting close now couple steps to go and some waiting too .

[panhead]

How about leaving out the soap and throwing in a few veggies?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just the other day, a waitress called me Sir. Who is she to presume my gender identification?

[fuzzybiscuit]

I do my pressure washing at the local car wash. Best $5 I ever spent...lol.

Instead of dish soap I also use 100 Mule Team Borax. But don’t pour the leftovers out on the lawn afterwards. 3 years since I poured the last batch out and grass still won’t grow there!

[dougan]

Almost done couple steps to go

[dougan]

Next I stuff all sockets with paper towel brain cavity ect as many spots as you can find then wrap skull with paper towe more the better
https://i.postimg.cc/SNK0Ys68/75-D90-A06-37-AF-4428-B0-F8-812-B9745-E541.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PN0VBdFr)

[dougan]

Then take your normal average everyday hydrogen peroxide . This is the 5$ I spoke of.
https://i.postimg.cc/j2LXKGfW/C6-E8-CF3-D-2563-486-B-B202-03-E752-D1-A612.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xNVH3ptY)
Then simply soak the paper towe from top down do not worrie about getting the paper towel in brain cavity wet as it will wick up in there also don’t touch antlers with peroxide soaked hands just soak it top down make sure it’s in a dish of some sort.

https://i.postimg.cc/1zG7jh0s/79-ADDCE6-5-EF3-4-AF7-A695-C18-CD3-DCF976.jpg (https://postimg.cc/94fBDkNn)

[fuzzybiscuit]

Nice. I didn’t know the paper towel trick. Should look pretty good when done.

[dougan]

Now just put skull in a dark room from two to four days check daily and reapply peroxide if needed. I just finished soaking this skull it’s going in dark room now will check back with results when finished . Good luck the rest of the season to all and happy euro mounting. Ps shoot straight so as to not kick yourself in the ass too hard. Regards ... Dougan.

[rocksteady]

I do mine similar except i use Oxy Clean laundry detergent, simmer for no more than 2 hours and after the wet tge papertowel i wrap in saran wrap to keep in moisture. Small slice of the saran on top of the head allows me to add more peroxide if towel starts to dry out..

Good job

[srthomas75]

I just tried this myself. for the peroxide I found a 40 volume hair die product [ also at shoppers drug mart ] that was about 5$ a small bottle. it was thicker and I painted it on for an overnight soak. then washed it off to a bright white skull.

[Ride Red]

Great post and look forward to the finished product.

[guest]

Terrific thread. Way to go on the DIY Euro mount step x step.

Well done dougan. Good share.

[HarryToolips]

Great thread, I have only done it once with a friend but we boiled it in the peroxide, after an hour for that last step, it was done..

[RICKADY]

Nice job, did almost the same thing for my son's (Dirtymax) first head, easy to do, a great time to kill a few brew's, shoot the empties with pellet gun while it simmered. He hung it on the wall, now his dog just tilt's his head sideways when he looks at it.

[twoSevenO]

I used peroxide from a hair salon. More than 3% and a lot more than $5. I think it was like $30

Someone suggested I mix it with baby powder to make a paste then apply.

It was a terrible idea. The paste is incredibly difficult to make as the two do not mix well. And also it didnt work very well at all.

I love the paper towel trick. I will try that next time I do it.

The last buck I just paid to have done because I couldn't be bothered to make a mess again pressure washing all the boiled meat off the inside of the skull.

[Wagonmaster]

Nice result and thanks for posting. Looks like you've got the technique nailed down. I tried the boiling method, but found it difficult to get all the little bits of organic matter out of all the nooks and crannies. Seemed like it was going to take hours. Anyway, I ended up wrapping the antlers with heavy tin foil and buried the skull in the ground up to the antler bases. Can't remember how long I left it buried, but maybe a month or two or three. Bugs of some kind got rid of every spec of organic matter. Not saying this is a better method, just another option. If you are in a hurry to get it done, then this method won't be for you. Went right to the peroxide step after digging it up and it turned out pretty well. I got some 40 vol. 12% peroxide from the guy that cuts my hair. He suggested that I mix it with a powder that he also gave me to enhance the effectiveness of the peroxide (Light Master lightener).

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/IMG_1645.jpeg

[twoSevenO]

Where do you live? I"m not sure what you had in the ground that did the job, but i know people that tried and it came out pretty gross. A buddy also lost a bear skull when a coyote or something else dug it up and took it away.

[Wagonmaster]

Where do you live? I"m not sure what you had in the ground that did the job, but i know people that tried and it came out pretty gross. A buddy also lost a bear skull when a coyote or something else dug it up and took it away.

I live in Victoria...no coyotes or bears around here. I guess you could try and protect it with some kind of structure or garbage can. If you live in the Interior or up north and get a nice buck near the end of November, and the ground is frozen, you may have to break out the boiling pot.

[markomoose]

Great informative job Dougan.I will try the paper towel trick when I hopefully get my buck this weekend.

[rocksteady]

I use the 3% peroxide from Wal Mart, as I prefer, as do my clients, skulls that are not absolutely bright white. I feel they look to much like "plastic".. If is use the 3% I can make them off white and all of the little seams in the bone plates are a bit darker. Gives it more of an old skool barn hang euro vs plastique

[wideopenthrottle]

I am working on my euro for an immy moose. I put the photo of us posing over the moose, the skinned head and the mostly fleshed skull (2 hours with pressure washer and a knife to get 90% of flesh off. I got two nice steak sized chunks of meat off the cheeks that I ground up and put in a chilli, I also cut off the base of the skull (where it connects to the spine) to pull out the brain and it also makes it easy to hang on a spike

the photos are in the site gallery

[weed782]

This procedure works fantastic. Just put it to use on a buck I got last week. Only thing I do extra is drill a 5/8" hole in the underside of the skull, at the front of the brain, put in the air wand hooked up to my compressor, and blow the brains out the existing spinal cord hole at the base of the skull. Great Stuff!!

[srthomas75]

if you have access to it, the ocean works great too. I have tied an uncleaned head to the wharf and it was picked clean with ease.

[firebird]

From what I understand is you have to get the grease out of the head completely and may need to freshen up the boiling pot with clean water and soap, or your euro will discolour over time.

[dougan]

From what I understand is you have to get the grease out of the head completely and may need to freshen up the boiling pot with clean water and soap, or your euro will discolour over time.
Unlike our legal system you can trust the process here. I will post my results probably Saturday and also I will post pictures of skulls that are 6-8 years old now using the same method. It works well and doesn’t require too much overthinking.

[dougan]

This one is 5 years old now . I took papertowel off after 48 hrs should have given it another day but still looks ok. https://i.postimg.cc/9fJJbWMD/FA7-E1282-22-C4-4-E76-8568-3-C97-B25-CA056.jpg (https://postimg.cc/B8PTQf23)

[Cyrus]

https://i.ibb.co/Nr0KmFv/20191111-163831.jpg (https://ibb.co/f93HnXg)
img hosting (https://imgbb.com/)

My last few I've done. One on the far wall was done by a taxidermist who ruined it. Too bad as it is my biggest buck ever but does not look like because of they its mounted. Big waste of 500 bucks before I knew better....

[139grainsofhell]

Will this process work with a velvet buck?

[dougan]

Will this process work with a velvet buck?
This I could not answer as I have never tried .

[Ride Red]

https://i.ibb.co/Nr0KmFv/20191111-163831.jpg (https://ibb.co/f93HnXg)
img hosting (https://imgbb.com/)

My last few I've done. One on the far wall was done by a taxidermist who ruined it. Too bad as it is my biggest buck ever but does not look like because of they its mounted. Big waste of 500 bucks before I knew better....

That’s a whole lot of bone; nice job.

[dougan]

https://i.ibb.co/Nr0KmFv/20191111-163831.jpg (https://ibb.co/f93HnXg)
img hosting (https://imgbb.com/)

My last few I've done. One on the far wall was done by a taxidermist who ruined it. Too bad as it is my biggest buck ever but does not look like because of they its mounted. Big waste of 500 bucks before I knew better....
These look fantastic great job . The skull hookers look sweet as well.

[Cyrus]

These look fantastic great job . The skull hookers look sweet as well.

I like the skull hookers as you can set them to whatever angle you want. Fairly pricey at 50 bucks a pop. Guess a guy could make them if so inclined. I have 12 more 4pts and above in the basement but not euro mounted. Thought this was a difficult process until I tried it

[twoSevenO]

https://i.ibb.co/Nr0KmFv/20191111-163831.jpg (https://ibb.co/f93HnXg)
img hosting (https://imgbb.com/)

My last few I've done. One on the far wall was done by a taxidermist who ruined it. Too bad as it is my biggest buck ever but does not look like because of they its mounted. Big waste of 500 bucks before I knew better....

500 bucks for that?!?! Highway robbery!

What he did is the way they chop them up in Europe, keeping only the top part of the skull, above he teeth. To me it looks stupid. Not sure why they do it that way.

Sweet buck though )!

[Cyrus]

500 bucks for that?!?! Highway robbery!

What he did is the way they chop them up in Europe, keeping only the top part of the skull, above he teeth. To me it looks stupid. Not sure why they do it that way.

Sweet buck though )!

He said the nose was broke and it fell apart during the boil. I suspect it was overboiled and things fell apart. The nose was fine

[The Hermit]

I do my pressure washing at the local car wash. Best $5 I ever spent...lol.

Instead of dish soap I also use 100 Mule Team Borax. But don’t pour the leftovers out on the lawn afterwards. 3 years since I poured the last batch out and grass still won’t grow there!

Yes the War Department is still pissed at me for killing the lawn this way... and I've dug it out, put in fresh soil, and replanted... still won't grow!

Love the paper towel trick! Gotta try that next time!

[rocksteady]

My war department does not cut, fertilize or water the lawn so has zero say in how it is managed

[twoSevenO]

He said the nose was broke and it fell apart during the boil. I suspect it was overboiled and things fell apart. The nose was fine

X2 on overboiled. Either that, or he dropped it and the bone snapped so he did what he could to save it.

Still overcharged you for sure. Live and learn I guess.

Still a nice buck regardless

[Salty]

Good stuff dougan this thread will help a lot of folks me thinks..

[Cordillera]

I love euro mounts so this thread is awesome. A couple ideas.

First moose tend to be flat antlers so the water doesn’t always cover the skull. If that happens use a terry towel across the top of the skull that wicks the water up from the pot. Make sure to put a tarp over the top so the top of the skull stays warm.

It takes longer and smells very sweet but you can “mascerate” the material off instead of boiling. Boiling tends to wreck the fine nasal bones (which are really cool). Masceration requires a water temperature of about 85 degrees for a few weeks. Search “tank heater” on amazon and you’ll find a heater that keeps the right temperature. But make sure you keep your skull away from people as it gets really ripe.

A moose skull needs a pile of hydrogen peroxide. You can buy greenhouse strength hydrogen peroxide on amazon. I think it’s closer to 30 percent.

And finally for a decent moose it’s hard to find a pot big enough. Some people use a big plastic tote (with the lower temperature masceration method). Cheaper solution is a 45 gallon drum cut down to about 18 inches depth.

Go euro!

[slowjo]

during an attempt to boil out a bear skull, the skull got really soft and teeth started to fall out. that was after a couple hours. i stopped then because i didn't want to ruin it. any ideas on what happened? too much of a rolling boil? too long in the pot?

[twoSevenO]

As far as I know it's common to have to glue some teeth back in

[Muliechaser]

during an attempt to boil out a bear skull, the skull got really soft and teeth started to fall out. that was after a couple hours. i stopped then because i didn't want to ruin it. any ideas on what happened? too much of a rolling boil? too long in the pot?

Yes for sure . Either to long in the pot and/or to hot . Being a bear skull and depending on how big your pot was i eould assume it was sitting on the bottom of the pot more near the direct flame of the burner .

[Muliechaser]

Great write up dougan !

[5HORTY]

He said the nose was broke and it fell apart during the boil. I suspect it was overboiled and things fell apart. The nose was fine


This is a cop out! The nose can easily be glued back in place and when done right you can't tell the difference!

[Arctic Lake]

Dougan. I have 2 moose racks that are about 15 years old they have a portion of the scull holding the both sides of the rack togeather . Both racks basically have just a portion of the forehead holding both sides of each rack togeather .Could I shape the skull with a Dremel then whiten the skull with peroxide ?
Thanks
Arctic Lake

[dougan]

Dougan. I have 2 moose racks that are about 15 years old they have a portion of the scull holding the both sides of the rack togeather . Both racks basically have just a portion of the forehead holding both sides of each rack togeather .Could I shape the skull with a Dremel then whiten the skull with peroxide ?
Thanks
Arctic Lake
Wish I could answer your question . Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with what you are wanting to try. I’d say give it a try worst case it doesn’t work .good luck.

[dougan]

Well I unwrapped my little project and all in all I’m happy with the results. Note it will whiten up a bit more as it dries .Only cost me about 7$ for two bottles of 3% peroxide, a little elbow grease and a box of beer but can’t count that. There are better methods I’m sure but thanks for letting me share mine. Good luck the rest of the season to all of you and hope this helps a bit with your next project.https://i.postimg.cc/6qSXr4jW/4-B37-CE92-EB64-461-D-B180-4-FD9-CE76-BCC1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5QwT1yWT)

https://i.postimg.cc/mkh41ySp/50-D26110-6-C1-C-4286-B83-B-B1-C150-E607-B7.jpg (https://postimg.cc/zHm69W6T)

[rocksteady]

Nice work.. now that the season is over i been doing my side hussle.. skulls..

As of today, 1 wolf, 2 elk, 1 muley, 7 whiteys.. tomorrow is a wild boar and a bear..

[RambleOn]

Looks great! Good work!

Doesn't take long for the wet spots to dry out and blend in when it's inside.

Great step by step. I know you will help a lot of people preserve their memories. Most think this is a difficult process but your effort to make it easy and step by step will go a long way.

[parrothead]

Does anyone have any tricks for keeping the antlers dark ? I have heard of shoe polish on moose antlers or is it better just to keep them in natural colour and let them fadeout ? Thanks

[srthomas75]

Does anyone have any tricks for keeping the antlers dark ? I have heard of shoe polish on moose antlers or is it better just to keep them in natural colour and let them fadeout ? Thanks

I just cleaned up a skull that I had sitting out in the weather for a few years. skull and antlers were faded and dirty. I scrubbed the crud off the antlers and peroxided the skull. To make the antlers look more natural looking I used some darker wood stain. [ black walnut tone I think ] just applying it with a small paint brush and then wiping it while still wet to blend the colors. I'm quite happy with the results.

[Falseadoom]

It happens.

[Falseadoom]

You have some nice deer there... 500 for just the 1?

[Pauly]

Does anyone have any tricks for keeping the antlers dark ? I have heard of shoe polish on moose antlers or is it better just to keep them in natural colour and let them fadeout ? Thanks
Linseed oil 👍

[dougan]

I was bored so thought I would get the plasma cutter out and make a couple hangers for my euro mounts they were just a quick job actually 17 min to make two and paint em . Better than dropping 50$ a pop.anyway was fun and turned out ok https://i.postimg.cc/QHDSVbtY/0-AFC46-AC-A6-DA-488-E-93-F0-2-A0-E04-B8-B6-B3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/QHDSVbtY)

https://i.postimg.cc/hhTpSwS7/28-BBF697-7258-4-FD2-929-C-32-DBC2638-D83.jpg (https://postimg.cc/hhTpSwS7)


https://i.postimg.cc/tYzk6xnq/CD29-F15-E-002-B-404-B-86-BC-36-CF4-A096323.jpg (https://postimg.cc/tYzk6xnq)

[IslandWanderer]

Looks great! The hanger turned out nicely.

[Arctic Lake]

Dougan. I have 2 moose racks that are about 15 years old they have a portion of the scull holding the both sides of the rack togeather . Both racks basically have just a portion of the forehead holding both sides of each rack togeather .Could I shape the skull with a Dremel then whiten the skull with peroxide ?
Thanks
Arctic Lake

Sorry Dougannot trying to derail your great thread but maybe someone with experience could reply to this question . I need to shape what is left of the skull that is holding both sides of 5he rack to getter on two sets of moose antlers . Could I use a Dremal for this if so what type of attachment or maybe a type of grinding burr on a fast rpm drill ? I wonder what attachment would be best for removing bone
Thanks
Arctic Lake

[rocksteady]

I use carbide bits for finishing my mounts. Shape is dependant on what i have to finish. I use cones for hard to reach crevices, ball for holes and barrel shape for flat surfaces. Bits last forever when using on bone

All with my Dremel.. i buy them from wish.com for like 3$ for 10 (variety pack)

[Arctic Lake]

I use carbide bits for finishing my mounts. Shape is dependant on what i have to finish. I use cones for hard to reach crevices, ball for holes and barrel shape for flat surfaces. Bits last forever when using on bone

All with my Dremel.. i buy them from wish.com for like 3$ for 10 (variety pack)
Thanks Rocksteady !
Arctic Lake

[srthomas75]

I just cleaned up a skull that I had sitting out in the weather for a few years. skull and antlers were faded and dirty. I scrubbed the crud off the antlers and peroxided the skull. To make the antlers look more natural looking I used some darker wood stain. [ black walnut tone I think ] just applying it with a small paint brush and then wiping it while still wet to blend the colors. I'm quite happy with the results.

https://i.postimg.cc/1RGyk4yh/whitetail-euro.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[RainyLaker]

https://i.postimg.cc/1RGyk4yh/whitetail-euro.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Wow that's very cool! I have a bear skull in the freezer still from this spring. I'll get to it around Christmas probably. Never done this before but it looks doable. I appreciate the tips in here.

[Avalanche123]

Yep cool thread. I've done quite a few skulls and it's refreshing to see new thoughts and ideas.

[MOOSE MILK]

I like the burry the head method, gonna give that one a try.
When I used to more my boat I used to put bear heads in crab traps, added bonus crab dinner!