European Mount from 2022 is On the Wall

I dug up the head from my 2022 buck over Memorial Day Weekend and I’ve been cleaning and bleaching it. I let it dry all last week and today I mounted it on the wall.

This all started back last November. As soon as I got home from deer camp, I dug a hole in the backyard on the other side of the fence so the dogs would not be able to get to it. The hole was just big enough to bury the head, leaving the antlers out. Next, I gently filled in the hole. Some people use sand, but I just used the existing clay topsoil. Once it was buried, I put a garbage bag over the antlers and then put an overturned garbage can over that. This is my second attempt and nothing except the worms have touched it. I leave the head buried from December to almost June and then dig it up. By this time, all that is left is bone, antlers, teeth, and a little hair that washes off with the mud. The lower jaw comes off in the hole.

My next step is to run the head through the dishwasher on a long hot cycle with normal dishwashing detergent. When it comes out, I mix a thick paste of baking soda and bleach and lay it on thickly with an old toothbrush. I replenish this a couple of times over a week or so and then let it sit for a whole week. Then I rinse the head to get rid of the bleach and then let the head dry.

In case you have forgotten, here’s what he looked like back in November