found this guy while huntin for sheds last year. i found him in the spring and im guessing he died in the fall. he was exposed to the elements for maybe 5 months or so. im guessing. i was gonna cut the rack up for a coat hanger or a wine rack that im workin on. i was messin around with some old wood and barbed wire and this is what i came up with. i thought it would go great at my uncles rustic little hunting cabin in real county. i was wondering though, how would the bone hold up against the bleaching process after being exposed to the elements? would it even be worth it. the bone appears to be in pretty good condition aside from staining from the rotting process.

Now that is original. Very nice!

Good find. It will whiten fine. Use peroxide NOT bleach or it will get brittle and start flaking on you.

I like the barn board mount, looks great! the nose and nasel bonel look incredibly intact for being found usually the ones I find have the nose chewed up pretty bad.

Personally I like it the way it is. I wouldn't bleach this one if i were you but that is my personal prefernce on found euro's. The barb wire is a nice touch!

Very nice!

funny story, despited my constant attempts at displaying wildlife trophies my wife stands firm. for years i just couldnt get her to let me put up any critters on the walls. i had that skull sittin around and i was playing with that old barn wood and thinkin of what to make when the idea hit me. i pretty much just did it to see if i could get a rise outta her. when she walked in the room she said "oh, thats neat". so its still sittin there. if shoot a nice mallard, red head, or can this next season i will get it mounted. im thinkin i might be able to pull switch a roo on her. maybe it will open the door to other mounts.

will any old cheap peroxide work?

Yes. Wash it off really good first. Maybe a soak or 3 in hot hot dawn/water. Then let dry completely. Then peroxide for 24-48 hrs. Will be as white as it will get with the mineral dirt stains on it.

I would use the 40% beauty salon peroxide for the best results mixed into a paste and brushed on. The 3% stuff you get at the regular stores will work but you won't get the best results out of it.

I am assuming the 99 cent 32oz Hydrogen peroxide will do? Help me out JB, I read that you pour in the peroxid & then enough water to cover the skull. Let soak for 24 hrs. Is this on par with your experience? I am also atempting my 1st euro mount. I am using a coyote skull. I allowed nature to do its part on most of the meaty tissue. I then removed the dried skin. I have been soaking it in water since January, picking at it every other wek or so. I feel it is about ready to be whitened. I am going to try to glue the teeth in & start the soak this weekend unless you point out something else I may ned to do. To the OP, I love the rustic mount! I may use it as an inspiration for mine!

Yes the cheap stuff will work. Its only 3% from wally. I use 35%. Dangerous stuff but the white you get from the 35% is like night and day from the brown bottle walmart stuff.

I use it straight. I do not dilute it with water. I let soak for 48 hours.

Next time skin the head and throw it in a sealed bucket. Yes the whole thing. It will rot much better as the brains, eyes and tongue give lots and lots of bacteria that actually rot the meat. The more you pick at it, the more you are hurting it.

I really like what you did with thw wood and bobwire!

Roughneck, the paste method on this skull will do NO good. You see the mineral and dirt stains on that bone. Will not work. I dont paste anything. The skull submerged in liquid is the only way I do them. Much much cleaner and whiter.

is the 35% stuff a controlled substance if not where do you find it?

I order it by bulk. I think 45 or 55 gallons is minimum order from my place.

thanx for the advise i think im gonna try the cheap brown bottle route. i will post the results when its done.

Sure. Or beauty supply store 40 volume peroxide is 12%. Would be a bit better.

X2

good idea! i will check into that.

I like the paste for the application purposes, in my experience when you submerge the rack in peroxide you either have to partially submerge the antlers in the peroxide to cover the top of the skull or you don't submerge the antlers in the liquid but you don't get 100% of the top of the skull covered. The paste mixed with 40 volume lets you get complete coverage without worying about the antlers getting submerged in peroxide. I know if the skull is dirty it won't whiten dirt stains but I have had better whitening results using the paste, letting sit for a day, rinsing off them repeating twice more than submersion for a weak in 3% peroxide. After the last round of peroxide i let them sit in the sun for a day or 2 and they seem to come out quite well.

U dont have to get the antlers in the peroxide. Rags laid over the top of the skull wick up the peroxide. Then no restaining necessary.

I like it just as is. It is a found on the ground skull. It should have a "dirty" look. It being dirty fits right in with the rustic presentation you created.

Nice rustic look, I'd leave it the way you found it. Very nice job with the wood and wire.