Finally got my first black bear!!!!!

[Jason Melo]

Went out black bear hunting to my special hole and i finally got my very first black bear he is not a very big one but is good enough for my first one i guess! Now im wondering what is the best way to clean the skull ive had ppl tell me to boil it in a big pot, and also had ppl tell me to burry it in the backyard and let the bugs do the work does this actually work and how long does it take? or should i just boil it and what do i have to do in order to boil it??? do i leave the eyes in or take them out?????http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt135/Jasonfmelo/bostonbar016.jpg (http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt135/Jasonfmelo/bostonbar016.jpg)http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt135/Jasonfmelo/bostonbar015.jpghttp://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt135/Jasonfmelo/bostonbar018.jpghttp://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt135/Jasonfmelo/bostonbar017.jpg

[leadpillproductions]

congrads on the bear

[snareman1234]

If you boil it the teeth will fall out so watch that, and the skull could be weakened.

the proper way I heard to do it, is put it in a bucket of hot water, that can be kept warm,( with an aquarium heater) and leave it for a month or 2. the warmth will bread bacteria which will devour all the meat leaving a clean skull

then go to the store and buy some peroxide which will whiten the skull.

[Steeleco]

Congrats on the first of many, I hope. There's been lots of posts on skull cleaning here on the site, do a quick search and you'll get lots of tips.

[jml11]

Boiling is the quickest way to get it done, I can do a whole skull in about 2 hours. Use washing soda in the pot to help speed up the process. After you should soak it in a hydrogen peroxide bath, never use Bleach as this will weaken it! With practice I have been able to get it whiter each time. Most of the teeth will fall out, just pull them out as they loosen up so you don't lose them at put the aside. I have had the teeth crack over time due to the boiling but never had a problem with the skull. I have heard that soaking them in mineral water will help prevent this. The skull is pretty thick and I imagine you would have to boil it for days to weaken it to the point it would crack and break. Deer skulls are more likely to do this.

I usually boilt the skull for certainn amount of time, maybe 5, 10, 15 minutes, pull it out of the water and pull of as much meat as I can, using needle nose pliers usually, then repeat until, you are satisfied. But do it outside if you can or your ktichen will smell bad for a while.

Yes cut the eyes out and any other extra meat that you can before boiling it as this also help speed up the process.

The other methods suggested will work but will take time and from experience, buried skulls tend to come out dirty and are hard to clean up after. The best way is to get a beetle colony!

[Blainer]

Good on ya!

[Summit 512]

Congrads on your first bear Jason.....looks like some good eats you have there

[hunter1947]

That is a fine bear for your first one ,congrats.