Skull Cleaning Techniques
Last Update: November 2018
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This bull sat in my buddy's shed for 6 years before I got my hands on it. Cleaned up real nice!
Skulling is the art of taking an animal's raw skull, and turning it into a specimen that can be proudly displayed. Common names for skulling creations are skull mounts, and European mounts (technically, a true European mount has the lower portion of the skull cut off so that it lays flush on a board without any teeth). A western mount is the skull and its upper teeth but no jaw (like most skulls portrayed on this site).
The process, when done right, can be time consuming and requires much patience. However, it can be done with little investment, and is a great way to display large and small trophies.
The process, when done right, can be time consuming and requires much patience. However, it can be done with little investment, and is a great way to display large and small trophies.
Philosophy
I have neither the space nor the money to have my racks displayed in shoulder or full body mount fashion. Additionally, I truly like the "look" of a skull.
Techniques
There is a myriad of ways to clean skulls, just do a quick search on YouTube and you'll see what I mean! Most of the methods can be put into two categories: the first is "Amateur: Quick, Cheap, and Easy." This results in a decent skull...for antlered game. The second is "Professional: Slow, Sometimes Expensive, and Time Consuming." The latter category produces white skulls that stay white forever for any species. Over the years, and through much research, trial and error, I have been improving my techniques for cleaning skulls. My methods aren't perfect, but I've learned how to produce an awesome skull in ways that work for someone that cleans skulls on occasion.
Author
I grew up in Michigan, hunting white-tails out of tree stands and off the ground. I cleaned a few skulls over the years, but it wasn't until I moved to Wyoming that I began cleaning multiple skulls every year and perfecting my methods. As I improved my methods, it became increasingly hard to tell people how to do it, or to remember little tips I'd learned. I couldn't find a skull website that had comprehensive instructions, therefore I decided to create my own with knowledge I've gathered off the web, from other professionals, and from my own trial and error.
Author
I grew up in Michigan, hunting white-tails out of tree stands and off the ground. I cleaned a few skulls over the years, but it wasn't until I moved to Wyoming that I began cleaning multiple skulls every year and perfecting my methods. As I improved my methods, it became increasingly hard to tell people how to do it, or to remember little tips I'd learned. I couldn't find a skull website that had comprehensive instructions, therefore I decided to create my own with knowledge I've gathered off the web, from other professionals, and from my own trial and error.
DISCLAIMERS:
I moderate this website for fun and to educate others. I am affiliated with no one.
I don't receive income from this website. I don't have a skull cleaning business.
I am not responsible for damage or harm caused to you, others, or your skulls, due to the methods, techniques, and tools mentioned in this website.
Due to excessive spamming, my "contact me" form has been removed.