Crocodile Rug

Huntforever · Monday at 9:38 PM

I have a crocodile rug that is rotten and smells like death! I figure my only option is to throw it out.

Is there a way I can save the skull? I assume the original skull is in the rug?

Sarg · Monday at 9:48 PM

That’s terrible, where was it mounted, in the US or Africa ?

Can you show a photo ?

Most of the time on Crocs the original skull is used, as it’s very tricky to get the skin off the skull, but in these times I bet a good modern Taxidermist cut cut off the head/skull & use a repo from a taxidermy supply house ?

Now sometimes if the original skull is used the taxidermist might chop off the back end to tie it into the form but as I’m thinking bad taxidermist here & most likely lazy you might be lucky & find a nice skull in there.

Most likely will have to soak in a tub for some days or weeks to get skin off, maybe a job for your local taxidermist ?

Huntforever · Monday at 11:35 PM

Africa a number of years back

No way to save the rug?

Yeah I could take it to a local guy.

Wyfox · Tuesday at 3:38 AM

I'd remove the head from the rug as that is probably the culprit for the pungent smell, and macerate the skull. Keep the rest of the rug as is with no head.

https://skullsite.com/skull-cleaning-tutorial/

Huntforever · Tuesday at 10:33 PM

Thanks for the link!!

I was wondering is it still possible to take the rest of the hide to get tanned?

Sabre · Tuesday at 10:47 PM

Huntforever said:
Thanks for the link!!

I was wondering is it still possible to take the rest of the hide to get tanned?

I think it might help to know more detailed info about what is going on.

Was it not tanned in Africa?

Does the hide/rug itself smell, or just the head area?

If the hide is rotting as well, just cutting off the head isn't going to help.

On a crocodile and alligator, they have "scutes". Those are the bony plates on their back. Those are actually bones inside there between layers of flesh. Sometimes, those can be tricky to tan correctly. because it's a lot of sections of flesh that aren't really being opened up. So I wonder if that is also adding to the rotting issue.

Typically the skulls are preserved with the hide on, so there should be a head in there you could try and save. I don't know how hard it is to get the flesh off once it's been preserved. I'd love to know how it turns out though for future reference.

Huntforever · 2026-09-09T17:38:31-0500

I was tanned in Africa but a small taxidermy shop that the outfitter owed. It was a horrible decision. I also have a nayala cape that was ruined as well.

I will look more into the smell and post my findings

Hedge774 · 2026-09-09T18:07:17-0500

Sarg said:
That’s terrible, where was it mounted, in the US or Africa ?

Can you show a photo ?

Most of the time on Crocs the original skull is used, as it’s very tricky to get the skin off the skull, but in these times I bet a good modern Taxidermist cut cut off the head/skull & use a repo from a taxidermy supply house ?

Now sometimes if the original skull is used the taxidermist might chop off the back end to tie it into the form but as I’m thinking bad taxidermist here & most likely lazy you might be lucky & find a nice skull in there.

Most likely will have to soak in a tub for some days or weeks to get skin off, maybe a job for your local taxidermist ?

Baaaaarrrrrrfffff!
That's "Low Tide" smell, wherever you soak it! GL and keep our morbid curiosity up to speed, Brother!

Spearhead · 2026-09-09T18:35:31-0500

Huntforever said:
I have a crocodile rug that is rotten and smells like death! I figure my only option is to throw it out.

Is there a way I can save the skull? I assume the original skull is in the rug?

I really don’t like seeing these posts. I feel for you. So many variables and another example why I did photos only. Not going to get bent over with shipping, storage fees and import money. I miss the hell out of having horns here, but the lack of headache and money spent quickly makes up for it.
To each their own of course.

Crocodile Rug

Huntforever

Sarg

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