Updated March 2023
A European mount is a unique and inexpensive way to display a trophy buck compared to a traditional shoulder mount. Maybe the buck you shot this year isn’t your biggest or has a point or two broken off, but it is still worthy of adding to your trophy collection. A European mount looks great next to other shoulder mounts and is an excellent addition to any trophy room.
The process of creating a European mount includes removing all of the hide and external tissue, boiling the remaining tissue and whitening the bone. This article will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a European mount yourself from start to finish.
Materials and Tools
- Large pot
- Knife
- Needle nose pliers
- Long screwdriver
- Dish soap
- Oxy Clean (optional)
- 40 volume developer
- Whitening powder
- Brush
- Clear matte or satin acrylic spray (I prefer matte as it provides a more natural appearance)
Process
Step 1 – Remove the head from the deer just beneath the skull plate (where the spinal cord and skull meet). This is most easily done with a saw and is even easier with a bone saw. If you don’t have a saw handy, this can also be done with a knife by cutting around the base of the skull and neck muscles.
Step 2 – Skin the skull by removing all fur and tissue with a knife. Removing as much tissue as you can in this step makes the boiling process quicker and easier. Remove the eyeballs by cutting the tissue around them and remove the lower jaw by cutting the muscles that hold it in place and pulling apart.
Step 3 – Fill a large pot with enough water to completely submerge the skull. Add a few squeezes of dish soap and a small scoop of oxy clean (optional) to help break down fat and grime on the skull. Wrap electrical or duct tape around the bases of the antlers up to where they meet the skull. This helps prevent and discoloration of antlers that touch the water. Place skull in the pot and simmer for 2-3 hours (Doing this outside is much more pleasant than on the stovetop in your kitchen).
Step 4 – When most of the tissue has come off, remove the skull and pick off any remining loose tissue that you can. If available, a pressure washer helps to speed this process up. It is important to remove all of the tissue you can because any remaining tissue can cause the skull to stink and can turn the bone yellow over time.
Step 5 – With the help of a screwdriver, needle nose pliers and a coat hanger, remove the remaining brain tissue from small opening in the back of the skull. Then use needle nose pliers to remove all of the nasal tissue and cartilage. Continue to use a knife or screwdriver to get into hard to reach places.
Step 6 – Change out the water in your pot and add dish soap and oxy clean again. Boil the skull for another 2-3 hours to remove all remaining tissue. Once complete, remove the skull and clean off any remaining flesh.
Step 7– Once all remaining flesh has been removed, let the skull dry completely.
Step 8 – The next step is to whiten the skull. To do so, mix 40 volume crème developer and lightening powder into a paste consistency. With a small brush, coat the entire skull, making sure to get into all visible areas. When applying the whitening paste, make sure not to get any on the antlers, as this will lighten them. Let the paste dry for a few hours. Rinse off dried paste and repeat another coat if needed, or if you desire a whiter appearance. There are also skull bleaching products available such as the Skull Bleaching Kit from Cabela’s that can be used as an alternative.
Step 9 – After the skull has been whitened to your liking and is dry, you are now ready to apply the protectant coat. Spray the skull with a clear matte or satin acrylic finish. Coating the skull in a finish helps to prevent the skull from yellowing over time and seals it to provide a protective coat.
Step 10 – Now you are ready to hang the skull. The Skull Hooker is a great mounting option that creates a minimalistic appearance on your wall. Alternatively, many European mounts also look nice mounted on a wooden skull plaque.
Conclusion
After completing the above steps, you should have a clean, white skull ready for display. Your new European mount will be a great addition to your trophy room. For related articles, check out other posts from Bowhunting Depot!