I Try The Maceration Method Euro Mount

[cville_bowhunter]

I’m trying the maceration method I read about and watched a couple videos on here:

Euro mount maceration thread

I did quite a bit of internet reading on DIY euro mounts, and I decided that the maceration method was the best for my situation: relatively low-maintenance, keeps the skull completely intact (nasal bones), and I had almost all of the gear to do it (save the aquarium tank heater). So, now I have...

saddlehunter.com

I just wanted to give it a go and share my thoughts on the experience. I killed this deer 01/02/22 Monday and cleaned up the skull and sank it in a bucket of water this morning 01/04/22 Wednesday. It’s a small deer but my first traditional kill so I thought it would be cool to have. I’ll pick up an aquarium heater for it after work and go from there.
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Good luck! I hope it goes much faster for you than it did for me

 

[gcr0003]

Good luck! I hope it goes much faster for you than it did for me

What size aquarium heater did you have and how often did you change the water?

 

[cville_bowhunter]

What size aquarium heater did you have and how often did you change the water?

This is the heater that I began with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MFX85R6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1


I got a different one from the local pet store as the second one.

I think where I screwed up was changing it with cold water. I didn't really have an efficient way to get warm water outside to the bucket without bringing it in, and I was not about to bring that nastiness in my house! I should have picked up a second bucket to transport water too

 

[gcr0003]

This is the heater that I began with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MFX85R6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1


I got a different one from the local pet store as the second one.

I think where I screwed up was changing it with cold water. I didn't really have an efficient way to get warm water outside to the bucket without bringing it in, and I was not about to bring that nastiness in my house! I should have picked up a second bucket to transport water too

It really depends the size and watt you got I think. There were 5 different kinds there. Did you get the bottom 25w for 5-15 gallon tank or did you get the 100 or 200 watt. That’s rated for a larger tank? If it’s cold outside temp I’m sure that affects it as well.

 

[cville_bowhunter]

It really depends the size and watt you got I think. There were 5 different kinds there. Did you get the bottom 25w for 5-15 gallon tank or did you get the 100 or 200 watt. That’s rated for a larger tank? If it’s cold outside temp I’m sure that affects it as well.

I have the 100 watt. The second one I have is more than that, but I can't remember the exact power. Both are in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[gcr0003]

I have the 100 watt. The second one I have is more than that, but I can't remember the exact power. Both are in a 5 gallon bucket.

Dang! So it does need the extra power for the 5 gallon bucket In the winter. Where abouts do you live and what have the temps been like?

 

[krub6b]

It really depends the size and watt you got I think. There were 5 different kinds there. Did you get the bottom 25w for 5-15 gallon tank or did you get the 100 or 200 watt. That’s rated for a larger tank? If it’s cold outside temp I’m sure that affects it as well.

Based on those prices I'd but the 300w option, it's the same physical size as the 200 and should have plenty of ummph to keep the bucket at temp and get it up to temp quicker after water changes.

 

[cville_bowhunter]

Dang! So it does need the extra power for the 5 gallon bucket In the winter. Where abouts do you live and what have the temps been like?

I'm in Virginia. Temps have been everywhere from 4 to 64 over the past few weeks

 

[gcr0003]

I'm in Virginia. Temps have been everywhere from 4 to 64 over the past few weeks

Yea same here. Wish it would get cool again.

 

[BTaylor]

I'm in Virginia. Temps have been everywhere from 4 to 64 over the past few weeks

40 minutes NW of me hit -25 wind chill in that cold snap and 6 days later it was 75. 100 degree felt temp change in a week. This week has been hot, lots of rain and a couple tornado's in state. This morning back to mid 30's. Golf shirt to down jacket in 3 days.

 

[gcr0003]

Yea same here. Wish it would get cool again.

It’s cool again lol

 

[gcr0003]

2 weeks out in the cold to warm weather. I got an aquarium heater for it now so we will see if it can keep up the heat. Checked it this morning and it is good and warm. I stuck it in the garage and that was not a good idea. I got an ear full from the Mrs this morning lol

 

[gcr0003]

It does smell but not very bad at all

 

[7mmremmag]

I tried this as well this year. I like it. It does take longer but its less messy and less finicky than boiling. Anything left really just rinsed off without a pressure washer. I did a quick 30 minute boil in borax and dawn to degrease and kill some smell at the end.

I used a cheap aquarium heater from amazon (appx $10). I'm just going to consider them single use and buy another next year at that price.

 

[gcr0003]

2 or 3 days with the heater and I had a fair amount of meat just fall out. Looks like the tongue is ready to go too

 

[gcr0003]

Day 6 or 7 with heater and 2nd water change. Nose cartilage looks to be almost gone and the tongue and eye, brain, neck matter are almost ready to fall off by themselves. Smell has dropped down a lot. I have the bag and cable covered so it doesn’t get wet. Here’s my current set up. I have it out back now.

 

[arrow30]

i like that you left eyes and tounge in for the process, just watching

 

[gcr0003]

Change #3 day 9 or 10

 

[FrankNess14]

Oops, think it’s been a week or two since I change the water in mine…..

 

[gcr0003]

Change #4 let’s call it day 12? With a little poke and pulling the eyes, brain, neck, and tongue came out. I thought it smelled awfully bad today but I realized I had just stepped in dog poop. The head barely smells now. Here we go.