Skull Cleaning


European Mounts, Freedom Mounts, Skull Cleaning, Skull Taxidermy
Located just minutes from Denver, I-70 and E-470 in SE Aurora, Colorado.
We provide and respect quality conservation of wildlife skulls.
Professional Skull Mounting and Custom Designs available. We specialize in Skulls, Antlers and Repairs. In business since 2007, we have professionally cleaned, mounted and customized thousands of skulls for Artists, Collectors, Sportsmen, Veterinarians and Taxidermists.
We preserve and restore wildlife skulls, bones, antlers, horns and utilize methods that produce cleaner skulls with superior results.
We use Dermestid Beetles to naturally clean fresh harvest specimens, such as Bear, Lion, Coyote etc., including Pronghorn and select size Deer.
All large antlered skulls or horned skulls that do not fit our tanks or meet our beetle cleaning criteria are cleaned, degreased and sanitized, utilizing our hot maceration method, performed under controlled conditions.
At Classic Antler Mounts LLC, your project will be processed and finished by a licensed professional taxidermist that specializes in the quality conservation of wildlife skulls.
Skull Taxidermy includes: Cleaning, Degreasing, Sanitizing, H202 whitening, optional Skull Sealant, Antler/Horn conditioner, B&C Measurement/Score. Custom Skull Mounting options also available.
We Safely Clean Big-Game Predator Skulls for potential Pope&Young, Boone&Crockett, SCI record measurements.
We will “Professionally & Safely Preserve” your potential trophy skull through our all natural cleaning process. Our beetle method minimizes skull shrinkage during the “Green Stage” (natural dry time of 60 days prior to measuring). We highly recommend adequate filed care, taxidermy preparation and cold storage during transportation of wildlife.
We have various skulls on display for comparison between, beetle cleaning and hot maceration cleaning methods. We clean all large antlered skulls through our hot maceration process, proven to achieve quality results compatible to beetle cleaning. All predators, bears, lions, fur-bearers and select size skulls are preserved through our beetle cleaning method.
Skull Field Care
The quality of taxidermy begins with adequate field care. Basic skull preparation and/or cold storage are important steps. Ideally, you will skin the animal and prepare it for processing and taxidermy services. We do not require you to completely skin or taxidermy prepare the skull. At a bare minimum, always remove the tongue, neck and keep it cold until drop off. During warm weather seasons, basic field care is essential. Skulls should be taxidermy prepared, salted and sealed in a game-bag to deter flies and bacteria. After skinning, we recommend detaching the neck atlas/vertebrae from the skull. Using only a knife to cut flesh and separate the atlas bone at the spine of the skull. In the filed, a sharp knife is the best tool to surgically separate the neck atlas.
Skull taxidermy preparation and field care tips:
In the field, I use a Havalon Piranta knife for skinning, caping and preparing the skull. Remove the tongue, eyes, neck atlas, mandible, and excess flesh. Use a fork or spoon to scrape out the brain and then salt the skull completely.
In warm weather, fly eggs/larvae will hatch within 12-24 hours. Coating the flesh skull with a layer of regular table salt will discourage flies and help prevent bacteria. Lastly, wrap the skull in a game-bag to allow air circulation.
The results of proper field care will add to the ultimate quality of skull taxidermy.
Contact us if you have any questions about field care or skull preparation.
Taxidermy Work Order Form required for shipping wildlife/taxidermy items to our location.