Deer Hunting Archives - Page 8 of 9

How To Bleach A Deer Skull-No Waste: 5 Simple Steps to a Beautiful Skull Trophy

When it comes to hunting, one of the best parts for many of us is taking and cleaning trophies. Whether it’s a rack of antlers or a pelt, they make for impressive talking pieces. One of the favored of deer hunters everywhere is a nice, white skull.

It’s something of an involved process, but if you follow these instructions we can show you how to bleach a deer skull to a sparkling white that will leave you the envy of your hunting friends.

In this blog post, we’re going to show you how to bleach a deer skull. This is a great way to preserve your hunting trophy and keep it looking its best.

We’ll walk you through the steps of prepping the skull, bleaching it, and then sealing it. With just a little bit of effort, you can have a beautiful trophy that will last for years to come. Let’s get started!

What is a bleach a deer skull

Bleaching a deer skull is the process of using Hydrogen peroxide to remove all the flesh and tissue from the bone, leaving behind a clean white skeleton. This is typically done by boiling the skull in a large pot, though there are other methods which can be used.

The advantage of bleaching your own deer skull is that you can control the level of whiteness, as well as how long it takes for the process to be completed. It also allows you to add any additional decorations or finishes that you desire.

The downside of this method is that it can be quite time consuming, and if not done properly can result in damage to the skull. It is also important to note that hydrogen peroxide is a hazardous chemical and should be handled with care.

Why bleach a deer skull?

The most common reason to want a bleached deer skull is for mounting purposes. A nice, white skull makes for an excellent contrast against a dark pelt and really makes the rack stand out. It’s also much easier to work with when it comes to hanging or attaching to plaques and logs.

Another good reason is that it just looks cool. If you’re looking for a unique piece to add to your décor, a bleached deer skull definitely fits the bill. They make great conversation starters and can really add some personality to a room.

What You’ll Need

Make sure to gather what you need before you get started. Since the process will take a few days, we’ll list them in the order you’ll need them to give you a good overview of the whole thing and you can definitely purchase things as you go.

Deer Head
Sharp Hunting or Skinning Knife
A Pot Large Enough for the Skull
A Two By Four Big Enough to Fit Across the Pot

Hydrogen Peroxide of at Least 6% Concentration
Spray On Clear Coat in Your Desired Finish
Optional: A Plaque or Log

If you’re averse to boiling, you might want to look into deremestid beetles and if you’re not the type who’s willing to raise them yourself then there are services available online which can handle the cleaning process for you with them. You’ll definitely want to invest if your deer is a true trophy, as it reduces the risk of damage from boiling.

The hydrogen peroxide can be a bit difficult to source in large enough quantities and chemical suppliers are generally unwilling to sell them to private individuals. It is, however, used for bleaching hair and is available through hair product suppliers quite easily.

Do not attempt to use bleach in lieu of hydrogen peroxide, it will damage the bone irreversibly and makes for an inferior whitening agent anyways.

How To Bleach A Deer Skull- In 5 Steps

1.) Cleaning the Skull

Before you can even begin the process, you’ll need to have skinned and scraped the skull to get it ready for the further preparations you’ll be wanting to do. Removing the head with a saw before preparation can make things rather easy, then remove the eyes and get to skinning and scraping.

Assuming you’ve cleaned a deer before, the initial part is quite simple but the scraping is a little bit more specialized of a skill. With a good knife, you can make short work of this task. Don’t worry too much about getting every little bit off of the bone just yet, that’ll be taken care of in the next step.

Your goal here is to get as much off as you can without damaging the skull in any visual way, so have at it and try not to scratch the bones.

Protip: You can skip this and the next step if you want by utilizing deremestid beetles, professionals who work with bones often opt to do this but it’s an entirely different skillset if you don’t opt to send your skull off.

2.) Boiling

Once you’ve done the rough cleaning, it’s time to start the process in earnest. You’ll begin by adding calcium carbonate to water at a ratio of ¼ cup per gallon of water. This can be a bit tricky of a process, but as long as you’re careful you’ll be good.

Bring the treated water to a rolling boil, but do not add the skull to the water while it’s at this level). Allow temperature levels to fall to a simmer and place the skull in the water for thirty minutes or so. Scrape it again, the flesh and hair bits should come off easily.

Once you’ve done this, use a hose to clear out the nasal tissues and brain and boil for another twenty minutes or so if there’s still tissue left. Don’t over-boil, this can damage the jaw, loosen the teeth, and have other unintended side effects which will make your trophy less attractive.

Protip: You can easily keep the antlers clear of the water by hooking them onto a board held over the pot. Use wood thick enough it won’t bend from a little bit of steam and you’ll be golden.

3.) Peroxide Whitening

You’ll want to let the skull dry out entirely before this step, allow it to sit until there’s no moisture at all. It’s best to do this in the shade, although it will add some time the slower drying process can avoid damage to the skull.

It’s imperative to set up the bath in this instance without getting the antlers in it. Hydrogen peroxide can be a bit difficult to source in quantities, so try hair dressing suppliers. Anything from 12% down will work pretty well, higher concentrations aren’t ideal and are harder to get ahold of anyways.

Mix it 50/50 with water and allow it to soak until it’s reached a desired level of brightness, the bone will actually dry out and look a bit lighter than it does while wet. The process can take a few days, but don’t forget about the skull or you can damage it.

4.)Clear Coat Lacquer the Skull

Once you’ve let the peroxide dry off, you can quite easily help to maintain the finish of your skull and antlers for a Euro-mount or whatever use you want to keep it for by applying a clear coat of spray lacquer.

The finish you want to go for will depend on your personal tastes. I like to use a matte finish to give the sun-bleached, untouched bone look but some will prefer to go with a gloss or satin finish which can result in a very attractive finished skull albeit one that’s obviously been altered post-bleaching.

This doesn’t just give your skull a nice finish, it can also help to prevent mold or anything else from getting into it and will keep air from yellowing the skull for a long time to come.

5.) Optional: Mounting

Many hunters opt for the attractive Euro-mount style after finishing their skulls off. The skull will be placed on a plaque, parallel to the wall and facing downwards in order to show off the rack.

Many hunters will opt to use a belt sander to level out the bottom of the skull and ensure a flush mount in order to maintain a perfect angle. You can easily attach it by running two screws through the back of the plaque and into the skull just be careful about the length and placement as you don’t want things to protrude.

A more creative mount can be made by slicing the front piece of a log out with the bark included, screwing the skull on, and then reattaching the front of the log to make for a round “post” style of mount.

Tips for bleaching a deer skull

1. Thoroughly clean the skull before bleaching to avoid any damage.

2. Use a mild bleach solution and let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour.

3. Scrub the skull gently with a toothbrush to remove any remaining flesh or tissue.

4. Rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before applying a clear coat of lacquer.

5. Optionally, you can mount the skull using a belt sander to ensure a flush mount.

6. Enjoy your beautiful deer skull!

Conclusion

We hope that we’ve given you some ideas on how to bleach a deer skull and what to do with it afterwards. While hunting strictly for trophies is often frowned upon, there’s no need to let any of the animal go to waste once it’s been harvested and with a few simple steps you can make an attractive trophy with minimal fuss and skills required.

Like our tutorial? Have your own methods? Let us know in the comments below.

FAQ How To Bleach A Deer Skull

How do you keep a deer skull from rotting?

The best way to keep a deer skull from rotting is to thoroughly clean it and then apply a clear coat of lacquer. This will seal the skull and prevent any air or moisture from getting in and causing it to rot.

How do you get the brains out of a deer skull for mounting?

The easiest way to remove the brains from a deer skull is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

How do you clean a deer skull for euro mount?

The best way to clean a deer skull for euro mount is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

How long does it take to bleach a deer skull?

It usually takes around 24 hours for the bleach to work its magic on a deer skull. However, you may need to let it soak for longer if the skull is particularly dirty or greasy.

How do you whiten a deer skull?

The best way to whiten a deer skull is to use a mild bleach solution and let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour. You can then scrub the skull gently with a toothbrush to remove any remaining flesh or tissue. Rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before applying a clear coat of lacquer.

What do you use to bleach a deer skull?

The best thing to use to bleach a deer skull is a mild bleach solution. You can make your own by mixing one part bleach with ten parts water. Let the skull soak in the solution for 30 minutes to an hour before scrubbing it gently with a toothbrush. Rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before applying a clear coat of lacquer.

How long do you soak a deer skull in bleach?

You can soak a deer skull in bleach for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. However, you may need to let it soak for longer if the skull is particularly dirty or greasy.

What is the best way to mount a deer skull?

The best way to mount a deer skull is to use a belt sander to ensure a flush mount. You can also attach it by running two screws through the back of the plaque and into the skull just be careful about the length and placement as you don’t want things to protrude. A more creative mount can be made by slicing the front piece of a log out with the bark included, screwing the skull on, and then reattaching the front of the log to the back. This will give the skull a 3-D look.

Can you put a deer skull in the oven to dry it?

You can put a deer skull in the oven to dry it but be very careful not to overheat it as this could cause the Lacquer to melt or the bone to crack. A better option is to use a hair dryer on low setting if you need to speed up the drying process.

How do you whiten an old deer skull?

You can whiten an old deer skull by using a mild bleach solution and letting it soak for 30 minutes to an hour. You can then scrub the skull gently with a toothbrush to remove any remaining flesh or tissue. Rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before applying a clear coat of lacquer.

How do you clean a deer skull cap?

The best way to clean a deer skull cap is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

How do you get the meat off a deer skull?

The easiest way to remove the meat from a deer skull is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

Can you put a deer skull in the dishwasher?

You can put a deer skull in the dishwasher but be very careful not to overheat it as this could cause the Lacquer to melt or the bone to crack. A better option is to use a hair dryer on low setting if you need to speed up the drying process.

How do you clean a deer skull for wall mounting?

The best way to clean a deer skull for wall mounting is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

Is it legal to possess a deer skull?

In most states, it is legal to possess a deer skull as long as it is not attached to the carcass. However, it is always best to check with your local wildlife department to be sure.

What do you do with a deer skull?

There are many things you can do with a deer skull including mounting it, using it for crafts, or simply collecting it. You can also have it professionally cleaned and whitened to create a unique piece of art.

How much does it cost to get a deer skull cleaned?

The average cost to have a deer skull cleaned is $50 but this can vary depending on the size and condition of the skull. It is also important to factor in the cost of shipping if you plan on having it done by a professional.

Where can I find a deer skull?

You can find a deer skull at many different places including hunting stores, online retailers, and even some thrift stores. You can also find skulls for sale on websites like eBay and Craigslist.

How do you clean a deer skull with the meat still on it?

The best way to clean a deer skull with the meat still on it is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

Can you use vinegar to clean a deer skull?

Yes, you can use vinegar to clean a deer skull but be sure to dilute it with water as undiluted vinegar can damage the bone. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar solution to help mask the smell.

What is the best way to clean a deer skull?

The best way to clean a deer skull is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

How do you remove the brain from a deer skull?

The easiest way to remove the brain from a deer skull is to boil it for 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen up the brain matter and make it easier to remove. You can then rinse the skull well and allow it to dry completely before mounting.

Can you use bleach to clean a deer skull?

Yes, you can use bleach to clean a deer skull but be sure to dilute it with water as undiluted bleach can damage the bone. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the bleach solution to help mask the smell.

How long does it take to Whiten a deer skull?

The amount of time it takes to whiten a deer skull will vary depending on the method you use. If you are using a chemical whitener, it could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If you are using a natural method like soaking in the sun, it could take weeks or even months.

What is the best way to Whiten a deer skull?

The best way to whiten a deer skull is to use a chemical whitener specifically designed for skulls. These can be found at many hunting and taxidermy stores. You can also find them online at retailers like Amazon.com.

How To Attract Deer Fast- 6 Steps That Will Have You Attracting Whitetail Like A Pro

Let’s face it, we all want to attract deer, fast. If you own your own land, or have access to a willing friend’s, then you can definitely make the best of things. The American whitetail is an elusive animal, and many of us have spent all morning and afternoon waiting for our quarry only to be irritated that we didn’t see a single one.

Once you’ve completed this guide you’ll have done everything you can in order to make the area you hunt in friendly for deer, which will greatly increase your chances of bagging the big one next season. Read on, because here a primer on the art of how to attract deer fast.

What You’ll Need

Before we begin, let’s take a quick look over what you’ll be wanting to make sure you have in order to get the deer right where you want them.

Land– You’ll need access to some land that you can manage in the off season, ideally this will be yours but a friend’s can work just as well and you might even get some help.
Seeds- Try to make sure that you purchase deer food plot seeds if you’re unsure of what you’re doing. Otherwise, just make sure that you have a wide variation of different foods available.
Waterproof Containers- You’ll be using these to create watering holes. They’re not essential if the property you’re working on has water features like streams and creeks already however.
Basic Tools– You’ll need a few tools to clear trails and possibly make some holes in fences. Chances are you won’t have to go out of your way to find them if you own the property, since you’ll have them around anyways.
Salt Licks- Use these to create spots where your deer can get minerals.

It really shouldn’t cost you too much, the main investment here is going to be your time. Keep in mind that this is certainly going to be a rather lengthy affair, but it’ll all be worth it once the next hunting season rolls around.

How To Attract Deer Fast – In Six Step

1.) Scout the Property

Whether the land you’re on is big or small, you’ll want to scout it out in order to determine what you need and where you need it. You can find great locations for the steps in the rest of this guide by carefully going over the land around you.

Communicate with your neighbors. Not only do you need to know if they’re okay with you chasing a wounded deer onto their property, but you want to provide things that they don’t have on their property in order to attract the animals.

Protip: Treat your scouting trips like a hunting trip. Use rubber boots and scent eliminators in order to avoid getting human scent all over everything while you’re taking a look. Remember that deer will instinctively avoid humans in many cases.

2.) Set Up a Food Plot

Food plots should be your primary consideration for getting deer onto the property. You can attract quite a few of them, and halfway control their movement by planting a few plants. If it sounds too good to be true, well, you do have to put in some work but you’ll love the payoff.

Protip: Consider investing a little bit of money and getting some “forage grade” seeds like this instead of planting something low-quality and overly cheap. It will mimic your deer’s normal feeding routine, and make things a lot easier on you. Either way, go with mixes, as the diversity of food will keep them coming back.

3.)Create Homes for the Deer

If you have the room on your property, you should definitely consider making actual “sanctuaries” for the deer you’re trying to attract. Remember that deer prefer forests because of the cover, if you can see over three hundred feet through the trees… so can they, and they’ll feel insecure.

Bucks, in particular, are extremely wary. If you have a heavily forested section of the property, consider making it off-limits to everyone in order to allow the deer to remain unmolested until, hopefully, you get the shot when they wander into your food plot.

Obviously, this isn’t much use when you don’t have enough property but you can still create quite a bit of traffic by allowing sections of your land to become thickly forested and leaving them alone year-round.

4.)Mind Your Fences and Create Trails

If your property is entirely surrounded by fences, it will be quite hard for new whitetails to get in. Even shorter barbwire fences that they can easily leap can create something of a pain for them to get around and may discourage them.

The easiest way to handle this is to strategically create holes in your fence-line in order to allow them to easily pass. You can do these either by roads where deer sometimes get funneled to, or along adjacent property if your neighbor is okay with it.

The key is to make access easy, but not to completely open your fences to the world. If you scouted properly you probably already have a few areas in mind by the time you’ve reached this point. You might want to consider running some trails through the more thickly vegetated parts of your property as well to make things even easier on the deer.

5.) Make Watering Holes

Deer need water, just like everything else, and not everyone has a creek sitting around on the property they own. You can make your own watering holes pretty easily, however, which can add to the experience of “home” for the whitetails you’re trying to attract.

There’s no need to rent or borrow heavy equipment either. If you have access to some fifty-five gallon drums you can simply cut them in half and sink them into the ground, and if you don’t you might want to just buy a couple large plastic containers and sink them.

6.) Place Salt Licks

Animals are inherently attracted to mineral sources, and you can work on attracting some more deer to your property by making sure that they’re present. Set the salt licks in strategic places around the property for the deer. If you use scouting cameras, they make a good place to set them up.

Bovine salt licks work pretty well for managing wildlife and they’re available for low prices. There’s no need to overcomplicate things here.

Summary

What you’re really trying to do here is to create a stable environment for the deer to exist in even during the off-season.

Once they get comfortable you’ll soon find your property teeming with whitetails and you’ll have a much easier time filling your tags during the next season.

It’s all in the details if you’re goal is figuring out how to attract deer fast. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Did you like the article? Have your own tips? Let us know with a comment below and be sure to share it with your friends.

Best Deer Hunting States-Go on a Trip: Here’s the Best 7 States for Whitetail

If you’re planning on taking a tour of the US, and you’re anything like us you’re wondering where the best action is. You’ll be asking yourself “What are the best states for hunting deer?” Luckily, you were smart enough to find us here.

There’s a lot that goes into making a state fantastic for hunting, including regulations, weather, and the deer themselves. We’ve scoured the information for you, so let’s see just where you should plan on stopping off during your next trip.

Top 7 Best Deer Hunting States

1.) Texas

Texas is a state that’s often larger than life, and the hunting is definitely part of that. If you’re already a resident, you know that the hunting licenses are dirt cheap, while non-residents will have to pay over $300 to partake in the hunt. Unfortunately, there’s no real way around that if your intended quarry is deer.

If you choose to spend the money, however, be prepared for some of the best hunting around. The deer in Texas are numerous, and quite often some of the best in the country, especially in the southern parts of the state.

Overall, more deer get shot in Texas than pretty much anywhere else in the USwhich makes the state a great location for those who want to make sure they get their tags filled during the season.

It’s a huge place, and there’s a ton of different terrain as well, making it a paradise for those who want to switch things up. You definitely won’t run out of places to hunt, or whitetails to chase in the Lone Star State.

2.) Kansas

Kansas’ deer aren’t exactly a secret, it’s well known that there’s plenty of them running around and a lot of them are the exact kind of buck you dream about. It has a reputation as having some of the biggest bucks in the country, but it looks like they’d mostly keep them to themselves. If you’re a non-resident, you can apply for a lottery for the tag but it will cost you almost $500 to come in and take one of their deer.

You’ll probably also want to know someone who has some land there, there’s not a whole lot of public hunting grounds and most land-owners will charge an arm and a leg for the rights to hunt on their property. That said, however, it may be worth the price for those who want to take a record-breaking deer just be aware that it’s going to cost you quite a bit if you’re going to stop there for a hunt.

If you can afford to make the trip, and you’re deadset on not having to pay a guide, we’d suggest hunting in the Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area which is 12,000 acres of hunting bliss.

3.) Wisconsin

While Wisconsin has gotten a bad rap for CWD of late, it’s a great place to hunt for deer. Even better, it’s remarkably cheap for non-residents. You’ll be looking at spending about $160 in fees in order to get out and go for your quarry which isn’t bad at all considering the exorbitant fees you’ll be paying in some states.

The state has some big bucks and millions of acres of public land which can be hunted on. They’re actually rated third in the nation for prize-winning deer taken which means you’ll have a great chance of getting out there and getting one yourself.

Between the low fees, large amounts of public land, and the sheer number of record-breaking deer taken in this state it should be any hunter’s dream stop if they’re going to take a trip to find a new stomping ground.

If you’re going to make the trip out there, there’re a few counties you’ll definitely want to be on the lookout for. These include Marathon, Shawano, and Waupaca where a huge amount of deer are successfully harvested each year. Those looking for prize winners will probably be best off heading into the more wild Western parts of the state near the Mississippi River, however.

4.) Kentucky

Kentucky is associated with the frontier days in a big way, and it’s one of the best deer hunting areas in the US. The fees can be a bit high, but nowhere near the prices you’ll be paying in Kansas and there’re over a million acres of public land to hunt on in the Bluegrass State.

They also rank higher than Kansas when it comes to trophy winning bucks, which is something that most hunters would consider a definite plus.

If you’re considering hunting on public land in Kentucky, you’ll definitely want to take a look into hunting at the Peabody Wildlife Management Area which totals some 60,000 acres.

It’s especially attractive to bow hunters, as things can get a bit crowded during the ten day rifle season in this coveted hunting ground. If you have the tags, you’re even allowed to take up to four deer during the season when you’re hunting in the area, an impressive bag limit indeed.

With tons of public land to hunt on, lower fees and a lot of trophies to their name, you can easily see why Kentucky is rated so highly among those who like to chase after whitetails.

5.) Iowa

Iowa has produced more trophy deer than anywhere else in the United States, but it can be super expensive for non-residents which can curtail some of the enthusiasm for hunting in the state.

If you can afford the tags, though, it’s a place where some of the biggest deer around can be taken provided you’re lucky and wealthy enough to get a tag.

What is nice about the state is that some of the best hunting here is on public land, so you won’t have to pay for a guide just to have a chance at an enormous buck.

Two of the best areas to give a shot are the Loess Hills State Forest and the Rathbun Wildlife Area. Both areas are quite considerable in size and make for some good hunting.

There’s plenty of private lands available for the hunt as well if that’s more your speed. Most hunters will find a trip to Iowa well worth the steep entry cost, however, with some patience you just might land yourself a Booner and that experience is pretty much priceless.

6.) Arizona

While Arizona might just call to mind visions of the forsaken Mojave desert, there’s actually quite a bit of land here where you can hunt deer. Even better, you won’t be limited to whitetails if you decide to pay the $315 out of state fee to get in on the action.

In Arizona, you have some exotic varieties of deer, including the impressive mule deer and the smaller Coues deer pictured in the video above.

In fact, Arizona pretty much the only place you’ll be able to find them, although they can sometimes be found in New Mexico right on the border.

These diminutive deer are becoming more and more sought after for the sheer novelty of hunting them, their smaller profile makes them a bit harder to hunt and they’re every bit as alert and exciting as the whitetails we’re used to.

If you’re going to Arizona and planning on hunting on public land, your best bet is probably in the southern regions of the state. Give this state a chance, it just may be the hunt of a lifetime.

7.) Oklahoma

While Oklahoma isn’t at the top of the list for a lot of deer hunters, and nowhere near the top of the list for the highest number of trophy deer what it does offer is low fees, a ton of public land, and a huge number of deer.

You probably won’t hit a record-breaker here, but if your trip has you passing through it’s definitely worth taking a look at getting some tags. Pretty much what’s here is beautiful land, and solid whitetail hunting grounds.

If you decide to make the trip, and you don’t know anyone with any land you might want to take a look at the James Collin Wildlife Management Area, especially if your preferred hunting method is with a bow.

You’re sure to be able to fill those tags out, and it’s an area that’s well managed and thus not under a lot of pressure from hunters.

Conclusion

If you’re bored with the area you’re in, you no longer need to ask yourself where the best deer hunting states. Any of these seven states is sure to be a winner for you, and there’s something here for everyone from the trophy hunter, the bucket list Coues deer, or just someone who lives in a state with terrible hunting and wants to finally bring home a whitetail.

It’s a lot of fun to get out of your comfort zone, and the United States is enormous and offers some amazingly diverse hunting if you’re willing to get off your porch and just go.

Like this article? Think we left somewhere out? Leave us a comment below! You should find a best hunting boots for perfect trips