What to use to boil a moose head?

[Hammerhead]

I'm looking to do a European mount with my moose head. The issue I'm running into is that the thing is way too big for the pot I use for my deer head. Before I go out and spend $300 on a massive pot I was wondering if anyone else has a cheaper option?
Thanks in advance.

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[Looper]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

I'm looking to do a European mount with my moose head. The issue I'm running into is that the thing is way too big for the pot I use for my deer head. Before I go out and spend $300 on a massive pot I was wondering if anyone else has a cheaper option?
Thanks in advance.

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45 gallon steel drums on Kijiji are cheap. Sometimes free.

Cut one in half?

Looper

[Hammerhead]

That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. I would like to get something more narrow and long so my burner can take the weight. I'll have to see what's out there.

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[3blade]

Originally Posted by Looper

45 gallon steel drums on Kijiji are cheap. Sometimes free.

Cut one in half?

Looper

I believe this is the standard solution, when I looked into it for my moose hunt last year it's pretty much the only answer I found outside of specially made containers by someone with a welder.

[blgoodbrand1]

Garbage can


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[st99]

I had a stainless tub custom made years ago, if you're planning to boil elk and moose every year, it's worth it

[bullgetter]

Originally Posted by st99

I had a stainless tub custom made years ago, if you're planning to boil elk and moose every year, it's worth it

Could you share the dimensions of your tub? I just finished my third moose head in a garbage can again. Gets the job done but you have to keep flipping the head around and it takes awhile.

[Stinky Buffalo]

See if you can get an old washtub - you may be able to find one at a farm auction or antique place.

[Don K]

I had a buddy weld me up a stainless vessel that looks like a stubby coffin. Works great for moose, elk and bison

[Sooner]

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Garbage can


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29 bucks at CT, just did my Suffield elk in it last Saturday. Cant get a pic to load for some reason. Worked fine, just took a bit longer to heat all that water. Once ready it simmered all afternoon with the head 99% covered.

[bullgetter]

Originally Posted by Sooner

29 bucks at CT, just did my Suffield elk in it last Saturday. Cant get a pic to load for some reason. Worked fine, just took a bit longer to heat all that water. Once ready it simmered all afternoon with the head 99% covered.

Elk are fine in a garbage can but on a moose the antlers come off the side of the head and hang up on the lip of the garbage can. You can never fully submerge the head unless the antlers are partially covered as well.

[double gun]

I use a garbage can for moose, but I cut two slots down for the antlers to rest in and I can get the lid on above the top of its head.

[harv3589]

I just had one made to boil moose skulls....should do the trick.






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[Amateur Hunter]

Originally Posted by harv3589

I just had one made to boil moose skulls....should do the trick.






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What size is it?

[Brian Bildson]

have you guys ever just made the euro cut on your skulls and then let them soak in water for a while, like a couple weeks? I find it leaves the skulls clean and white without boiling.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by st99

I had a stainless tub custom made years ago, if you're planning to boil elk and moose every year, it's worth it

I'm not sure which I'm more jealous of... The set-up for doing the mounts or that rack!

Approximately how much does it cost to get one of those made?

[roger]

Toss it in ant hill.come back in a year and get it then complain about a healthy ant population. Well that's what Id do.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by Brian Bildson

have you guys ever just made the euro cut on your skulls and then let them soak in water for a while, like a couple weeks? I find it leaves the skulls clean and white without boiling.

Do you mean like the boiling method without actually heating the water? I've never heard of that actually. Does the meat left on the head come off easily?

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[Brian Bildson]

Yes the meat basically rots off. I scrape out the brains and cut off as much tissue as possible, then immerse skull in water. Depending on water temperature it can be pretty fast process. I rinse the skull with garden hose when the meat and tissue has loosened up. Little elbow grease with scrub brush and it's ready to bleach. By the way don't do this in your garage, can get a little ripe.

[Mr. Dynamite]

Originally Posted by Brian Bildson

Yes the meat basically rots off. I scrape out the brains and cut off as much tissue as possible, then immerse skull in water. Depending on water temperature it can be pretty fast process. I rinse the skull with garden hose when the meat and tissue has loosened up. Little elbow grease with scrub brush and it's ready to bleach. By the way don't do this in your garage, can get a little ripe.

cold water maceration method. I did it with a whitetail years back that was already way gone, maggots and all. It got pretty bad, nearly gave it up and just loped off the rack. In the end it ended up pretty nice, no grease stains. Rack ended up somewhat bleached out tho, which was unfortunate.

[-JR-]

Oil pan from a diesel engine.
Its deep ,long and narrow.

[Elkster]

I used a 45 gallon drum cut in half. Then cut two slots on the sides for horns to rest in. Then put o few pairs of old coveralls on top to cover the top. Seem to work pretty good.


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[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by -JR-

Oil pan from a diesel engine.
Its deep ,long and narrow.

Now we're talking. Great idea!

[bark4]

The cold water trick worked great on my sons moose head but the wife made me throw the kiddee pool away after.

[bark4]

Got an old 10 gallon barrel and cut it legnth ways to boil the head in after. If you cut it right then you get perfect drain holes.

[220 Swift]

I used the cold water method on the bear skull this year. Yes it gets ripe but it worked well. If the smell bothers you put Vicks under your nose. I used the pressure washer and it pealed it off. The used the industrial strength hydrogen peroxide and dipped it in cold for a few days.
I then boiled it with industrial strength hydrogen peroxide (wear gloves and goggles)
Turned out nice.

[Red Bullets]

Peavey Mart has round ended galvanized stock tanks on sale for 120 bucks. 24"W x 24"H X 48" long. 100 gallon.

This explains a few processes for cleaning skulls. A person shouldn't actually boil more delicate skulls.

http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/e...ubs/az1144.pdf

[slopeshunter]

Here's a picture using a 45 gallon drum cut in half.

[Roughneck Country]

I macerate all the skulls I do, just put them in water and let them rot. 100% clean and they degrease well if you have the water warm enough and leave them long enough. Nasal bones come out perfect and never damaged like they often are with heating the water. For bears I put the skull in a 5 gallon pail fill it with water and paint the pail black then leave it in the sun. I usually change the water out every 2 weeks and will leave a bear skull submerged for 6 months. I have never had bone damage or grease stains come through after the fact. Only down side is you have to be patient

[Sooner]

Garbage can worked good, leaks around the base seams a tiny bit. Only draw back was it took a while to heat the whole pail to begin with.