Odor from Skulls and Horns

[AustinL]

Having received our crate from Africa I have all of the hides at the taxidermist for prep and tanning. I am working on reprocessing all of the skulls and horns for display as European mounts until the taxidermist is ready for them. I noticed both the horns and skulls have some odor to them not unbearable but nothing that would get past my wife.

The degreasing process and peroxide whitening is taking care of the odor on the skull but I am not sure what to use on the horn sheath to remove the odor. So far I have sprayed them down with a natural disinfectant spray inside and out it has helped some but I figure there must be a tried and true method.

I would love to hear any recommendations

 

[CAustin]

Having only done this once myself I’m not sure what i am about to say is by any means the gold standard. I did a deer skull myself once and the big win was leaving it out side for a considerable length of time. In fact I left it in the sun for six months after I had cleaned it. Later I whitened it as you are doing. I shot the buck in November then boiled and cleaned the skull the week I got it home! Then It stayed outside in the sun all through the winter and spring. I did the whitening process in June I think and by then there was no smell at all.