Round two gator head taxidermy

[whitelightnin22]

The wife is complaining again about the amount of critters taking up space in the freezer so its time to complete another taxidermy project. My last gator head turned out ok so we’ll see how this guy turns out. A lot of work to remove all of the meat and membrane in these heads. Used an oscillating tool to cut the upper palate out so I could remove the meat underneath. Will have to cut inside the jaw bones as well to remove the meat from inside them too.

 

[mfoster]

Know a couple folks that use pressure washer on deer sculls don’t know if same application could be used on gators

 

[whitelightnin22]

Know a couple folks that use pressure washer on deer sculls don’t know if same application could be used on gators

Im sure it could. Unfortunately my pressure washer needs a carb cleaning ha

 

[Timber Cruiser]

I had my trophy gators head freeze dried. It looks awesome but I’m told no one does that anymore. Now I hear people pickle them.

 

[whitelightnin22]

I had my trophy gators head freeze dried. It looks awesome but I’m told no one does that anymore. Now I hear people pickle them.

Joe “Kastaway” Kulis used to do freeze drying as a business. I believe he was the pioneer of the process but I believe he passed away and not sure if anyone else does it. I will pickle this one before I tan it. Right now it is in a pile of salt until I can get back to it after family lunch in town. Still have a ton of fleshing to do.

 

[whitelightnin22]

This was how my last one turned out. I think Im going to make an artificial cypress stump and possibly some spanish moss as a background for this one.

 

[Timber Cruiser]

Joe “Kastaway” Kulis used to do freeze drying as a business. I believe he was the pioneer of the process but I believe he passed away and not sure if anyone else does it. I will pickle this one before I tan it. Right now it is in a pile of salt until I can get back to it after family lunch in town. Still have a ton of fleshing to do.

Ravenel Freeze Drying in Covington did mine. He still does turkey heads but no more gators.

 

[24on48hunting]

A fella that used to be on here used dermestid beetles and did a darn fine job.
White Stag Skulls was the name of his business.
He did mine and then camo dipped it.

 

[whitelightnin22]

Great looking skull! I had originally planned to skull mount one and skin mount the other but figured I would try skin mounting the first to see how it turned out. I was surprised with the result so I decided to do both that way.

 

[BIKER13]

A fella that used to be on here used dermestid beetles and did a darn fine job.
White Stag Skulls was the name of his business.
He did mine and then camo dipped it. View attachment 8884465

He did all mine but he moved away Columbus area I think