An 8 point & Dermestid Media Beetles.....Yee Yee Yee.....Live Action!

POSTON WIDEHEAD · November 04, 2012, 07:13:52 PM

The Panther's finally won, so I slipped off to the Deer stand on the power line. I have a food plot out front.
About 5 o'clock, Does were coming in from everywhere.

Here is a pic of 3 Does that absolutely came running in.

Within 3 seconds a 178 pound 8 point came in behind them and he was on a mission. I set the camera down and punched a hole in him with the 30.06.

Took him to my buddies (Ken) house for processing.

Ken, has these Dermestid Media Beetles that eat flesh off the skulls. These beetles only eat dead flesh and the beetles multiply fast.

In 3 days the skull is cleaned and polished.
Here is a Boars head the Beetles worked on.

I'm gonna do a skull mount on my 8 point with the help of these Beetles.

samandothers · November 04, 2012, 07:52:23 PM

You had a great day!

Nice looking buck it'll make a neat mount. Interesting cleaning method.

Magicman · November 04, 2012, 08:16:16 PM

Congrats on the 8 point David.

We still have until the 17th before our season opens.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · November 04, 2012, 08:24:41 PM

Quote from: Magicman on November 04, 2012, 08:16:16 PM
Congrats on the 8 point David. We still have until the 17th before our season opens.

I've got plenty of stands...... ;D

WmFritz · November 04, 2012, 09:28:09 PM

Nice Buck

clww · November 04, 2012, 09:40:52 PM

Glad my Skins could end your guys 5 game losing streak so you could hit the deer stand. >:( No, really! >:(

Seriously, that's a nice, fat deer. Should look good on the wall and taste good on the table, too. Nice job, David!

sandhills · November 04, 2012, 10:26:25 PM

Nice buck Poston, my wife and I saw one about that exact size this afternoon moving cattle, just under two weeks to our season.

Delawhere Jack · November 06, 2012, 09:02:24 AM

Nice buck!! We hang our deer by the front legs to clean them. Don't the guts tend to fall into the chest if you hang them head down?

18 days til rifle season in MD... I hope the bow and muzzleloader guys left something for me. :-\

POSTON WIDEHEAD · November 06, 2012, 05:14:55 PM

Quote from: Delawhere Jack on November 06, 2012, 09:02:24 AM
Nice buck!! We hang our deer by the front legs to clean them. Don't the guts tend to fall into the chest if you hang them head down?

18 days til rifle season in MD... I hope the bow and muzzleloader guys left something for me. :-\

Your right Jack. Ken hangs them upside down first, skins and takes out all the plumbing and then hangs the Deer the other way. Seems to work pretty good.

Jeff · November 06, 2012, 05:43:38 PM

I hang ours by the neck. Slit high around the neck and wipe away loose hair, slit down from the neck to where it was field dressed, again wiping away loose hair, cut around the front and back legs at the knees, then snap them off at the joints, then work the hide down, pulling it off the front legs like turning socks inside out, then pulling on down until you can cut the tail bone, then pull on off the back legs. Best way to do it with minimal cuts and very little hair to clean off.

Dissect the front shoulders and process them. GO back out and get the back hams and then process them. have someone hold the head, while you twisdt the body, and the rest of the carcass will separate from the head at the base of the skull. Head tips upside down hanging from the rope no fuss no muss.

David, what does it cost to have a deer skull processed with beetles that way?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · November 06, 2012, 06:00:35 PM

Quote from: Jeff on November 06, 2012, 05:43:38 PM

David, what does it cost to have a deer skull processed with beetles that way?

Jeff, to be honest with you, I'll have to ask him.....and I will.
Ken lives on one acre and processes deer out back at his shop. I dig a pit every year on our farm ( Ken lives 3 miles away ) and I let him dump all the left overs in the pit. His neighbors stay happy and Ken processes my Deer for free. I also mill boards for him when he wants a piece of Walnut etc. for a mounting board.

I'll call him tonight. Check back later.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · November 06, 2012, 07:11:48 PM

Jeff, Just talked to Ken.

He takes the head with the antlers on it.
Takes the hide off and the eyes out.
Lets the Beetles clean it.
Then, if you like, he will mount it on a piece of wood, all for $100.00.