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Skull Cleaning: Someone's Gotta Do It (1 of 2)

By: Josh Dahlke
15 comments Mixed Bag with Josh Dahlke

Mar 13

Preserving dead animals isn't for the weak. It's a dirty job. Imagine if there weren't professionals we could pay to beautify our trophies; it would suck.

Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy taking on some game care myself, but I can't say I'm prepared to manage a colony of flesh-eating beetles.

As most of you know, I tagged my first bow-killed whitetail last fall—an Oklahoma buck at Croton Creek Outfitters. I decided to get a European mount (see the finished product here). One of the gentlemen I shared hunting camp with, outdoor writer Mike Lambeth, offered to deliver the skull and antlers to Skulls Unlimited in Oklahoma City for processing. Mike raved about their work, and now I know why.

In short, I pulled up the Skulls Unlimited website when I returned from my hunt and quickly realized they're no small-time operation. I connected with Jay Villemarette Jr., the son of Skulls Unlimited Owner and President Jay Villemarette (aka "Skullmaster"). Skullmaster Jr. was kind enough to snap some photos of my "osteological specimen" during the skull-cleaning process, including the beetle feast.

 Fresh in: My Oklahoma whitetail arrives at Skulls Unlimited in Oklahoma City.

 Jay Villemarette Jr. removes the flesh from my 7-pointer to begin the European mount.

 One last look at my buck's skull and antlers before the beetle bath.

 Dermestid beetles dine on a healthy buffet of skull flesh.

 Finishing touches are made before my European mount is shipped.

I got some down-and-dirty details about the skull-cleaning business and Skulls Unlimited from Skullmaster Jr. Click here to check it out. Don't miss it, because I'll also reveal how you can score free Skulls apparel.

15 comments

# nharcher
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:07 AM
Nice , that will be some kinda nice hanging on the wall. A very good and informative article . Thanks for sharing, and good luck on your next bowhunt.
# dtevepaugh
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:57 AM
Always wondered what kind of beetles were used to eat the flesh!
# sharter
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 9:14 AM
Nice first buck. I've payed to have a few done and I've done a few my self. I don't mind the work but no matter what I use mine don't come out as white as theirs. I have something else to try on the next one we'll see how that turns out. Happy Hunting
# barryd
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 9:47 AM
That will look great on the wall. I wounder how much that process cost. And can you send things to them. Do they also do body mounts.Can't wait to read the rest of the storey.
# jflynn511
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 4:26 PM
That looks like something I would like to have done whenever I get me one. Its pretty ausome how they do it and how the beetles clean everything up real nice. I wonder how much it would cost to have it finished like yours or just leave it a bare skull with antlers?
# kclunie
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 6:21 PM
use hair bleach on ur skull and it will look as white as the one in this pic. dont cut corners and use regular bleach it will make ur skull chip and flake, plus it still wont get as white as hair bleach will. alittle tip my taxidermise told me they do instead of buying and maintaning beetles.
# jstilwell
Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:38 AM
I have had one deer done like this here in PA. I paid the taxidermist $150 for the mount. That did not include a wooden baseboard or anything like that. Hope that answers some of your questions.
# JWAGAR
Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:17 PM
Just took my daughter's buck head in to have in done as a "Skulpture". It is a step beyond your normal European mount. To see some examples got to: http://www.mclean-frames.com/ Her mule deer will be done in nickel with the base in bronze and the antlers left au natural.
# JWAGAR
Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:40 PM
view-source:http://www.mclean-frames.com/0819-b-antler-frames.jpg
# nhhunter79
Friday, March 16, 2012 7:22 PM
looked better than i thought it was gonna pretty cool
# lewis2
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 1:15 PM
i remember when i made a European mount out of my first buck. it was a pain and i probably wouldn't want to do it for a job because i didn't have the patience. you are doing a good job though.
# ja_mullins
Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:37 PM
You can get the beetles and their larvae cheap and easy...of road kill...we used them in college to clean bones and such for research and museum mounts...a sponge with water and a container are really all you need...and a place to do it, since the smell is...well...yeah...
# GBOOTHBY
Friday, October 12, 2012 12:16 PM
I just shot a Moose and my partner is doing a skull mount now.
I didn't get a chance to go back to camp to help him do it, account of things breaking down at home.

He has done them before & knows more about how to do it than I.
Now I remember the name of those beetles is 'Demestids.' Plus hair bleach NOT regular Bleach.
# K-Raynewolfe
Friday, October 12, 2012 2:23 PM
Euro mounts arent horribly expensive. Many taxidermists, like myself, can complete this process for you. I wont bash boiling, but I use bettles for all mine. Less shrinkage of the bone and an overall finished product im proud and excited to show my customers. Be sure to ask if they use chlorine bleach to whiten and if they degrease their skulls. if they use bleach. leave. its not safe sitting in your home and deteriorates the bone. degreasing is also very important. In addition to cleaning and proper whitening (some folks use hair bleach. it, by itself, is not the whitening method I use. there are also several strength and temperature, exposure, and even humidity can effect the overall structure of your trophy.. including cracked teeth, plate separation, and dreaded shrinkage!) you can also have them 'dipped' in cammo or other patterns (like maybe you hunted in a ground blind with realtree(tm) cammo on it and want to commemorate it, many of us can use that print and others) via a hydrographics system also use in the automotive industry. Many options these days! As for prices. were all different. I get around $65-$100 for wt/md skulls. Deflesh, beetle clean, degrease, whiten, dry. :-)
# ericjames81
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:26 AM
I just got my first whitetail buck this bow season, and I couldn't afford to have mine done, so I did it! It wasn't too bad, I shaved it, then boiled it. As I was picking the meat out of the skull my 15 year old boy walked to the sink and grabbed a piece of the skull meat and ate it LOL!

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