Any one else have a good deer season this year? I sat in my stand only one night for about 3 hours and sealed the deal. To top it off I've had a record number of customers for my european mount side business and they keep coming in. Now I should have plenty of money to stock up on some camping gear for next year.

That's an awesome 8 pt.! Congratulations.

Very impressive buck. Well done.

Wow, a beauty.

Very nice look, contrast between the wood and white is striking.

Are those the actual skulls? If so, how do you get them so clean?

quote rtallent: "Are those the actual skulls? If so, how do you get them so clean?"

They are the actual skulls. After skinning the head I remove as much meat as possible including tongue and lower jaw. I simmer the heads in water with oxiclean laundry detergent for about 4 hours. Gets kind of tedious but continue to remove meat & brains during the cook time. Then I de-grease the skull in fresh simmering water with dawn dish soap. After it's dried I apply 50 volume salon peroxide developer cream to skull & let sit maybe 4 or 5 hours. Rinse it off & let dry & it's ready to mount.

Look at those tines!

quote offroadjeeper: "

quote rtallent: "Are those the actual skulls? If so, how do you get them so clean?"

They are the actual skulls. After skinning the head I remove as much meat as possible including tongue and lower jaw. I simmer the heads in water with oxiclean laundry detergent for about 4 hours. Gets kind of tedious but continue to remove meat & brains during the cook time. Then I de-grease the skull in fresh simmering water with dawn dish soap. After it's dried I apply 50 volume salon peroxide developer cream to skull & let sit maybe 4 or 5 hours. Rinse it off & let dry & it's ready to mount."

That might be useful to my museum friends. Thanks.

Nice buck. I now do European mounts . Like them more than traditional hide mounts.
I just wrap up the antlers in aluminium foil and bury in the garden. Let the bugs do most of the work.
Be careful if you boil them to long ,the teeth will fall out.
Also don't call it a business..its a hobby.
Uncle Sam might be listening.

I know in Illinois, you have to have a taxidermy license..

Peach of an animal there, Mike - nicely done!

My last 3 I have done...

yogi59weedr: "


My last 3 I have done..."

Nice work. I've been tossing the idea around about getting some dermestid beetles. Just need a faster turn around time. Of course then I would have the little critters to take care of year round.

OffRoad, my 14 year old got his 5th buck this year and took it upon himself to do his own European mount. He went the boiling method route. Said he learned a lot, but probably won't ever want to do it again. What do you charge for a European mount?

Also from Iowa East Central Iowa Center Point I didn't get a chance to get out bow hunting with my daughter playing a lot of volleyball but I did make it out for shotgun season I harvested this buck

Those are some tall antlers! Congrats - I bet he will be delicious

mcsweem: "Also from Iowa East Central Iowa Center Point I didn't get a chance to get out bow hunting with my daughter playing a lot of volleyball but I did make it out for shotgun season I harvested this buck "

Nice, congratulations.

Kawishiwashy: "OffRoad, my 14 year old got his 5th buck this year and took it upon himself to do his own European mount. He went the boiling method route. Said he learned a lot, but probably won't ever want to do it again. What do you charge for a European mount? "

My very first one grossed me out too and thought it was way too much work to be worth it. Now I'm ok with it though. I charge $80 for skull cleaning and $40 for my walnut plaques.