Keep skull platefrom smelling

[schunter]

I shot a small buck this afternoon and it is my first buck with a typical antlers. I wanted to do an antler plate mount.. So I was wondering what is the best way to remove all the hair and keep it from smelling weeks later..

I was told by someone to put salt on it and throw it in the yard for a few weeks.. I done that before and it smells awful... Pleaseeeeeee Help

[DocHolladay]

Cut the skull plate off, get the hide off(the sooner, the easier), cover the skull in a mix of 50% salt/50% borax. If you cant find borax, just use 100% salt. This will dry it out and keep it from stinking. You will need to change the salt/borax out every few days, as it absorbs any and all liquids in the skull plate.

[schunter]

How do you get the hide off? I am stuck at the base of the antlers.. that as far as I can get without sawing the antlers off...

[DocHolladay]

I use a flat head screw driver to loosen it then cut it free.

[cjg]

You should be able to cut up to the antler and use a screw driver to pry the hide off the skull around the antler burr. Trim/scrape off any meat or fat and peel off the membrane on the inside of the skull. I use straight powdered borax on the skull and let it set. If you set it outdide you have to be carefull something doesn't lug it off. Some people boil them after hair/skin removal before scraping.