Started my first European mount today

[Realtree]

I was able to get started on my first European mount of a 10pt buck i harvested last year. After a couple of hours boiling/simmering in the kettle with some baking soda and a touch of Dawn dishwashing liquid it is looking pretty good so far.

After about the first 30-45 minutes the lower jaw came loose and shortly after that the small bones at the end of the nose let loose so i fished those out of the soup. I let it simmer and about every 15-20 minutes I would pull it out and scrape a little more of the loosening meat off.

I wasn't able to get in and remove the brain area before boiling, but after the first hour or so that started to shrivel up a bit and i was able to work it loose from the surrounding skull area and pull it out through the back of the skull.

I'll spend some time after work tomorrow doing a little detail work around the base of the skull in the tiny crevices and hard to reach areas. After that is done, i'll be ready to apply the 40 volume cream peroxide and Basic White mixture to the entire skull to whiten it up.

Here are a couple of pics after boiling today;



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[Outdoors Junkie]

It's looking good Scott.  I can't wait to see the finished product!