Dude did a great job. Wasn't quite sure what to expect but I couldn't be more pleased.

Nice!

that looks good!

Did they put a final clear coat on it? If not, it wouldn't hurt to spray a good clear coat on it or it will turn yellow in time. Looks good.

Thx for the info Will. I'm guessing that it doesn't.

Looks good. Mine doesn't have the teeth bleached on it which kinda throws a cool loop into it.

He used paint. It has a smell that I'm going to have to find a remedy for. I don't notice it but the wife does. Probably has to do with being in the beetles for the last 4 months.

At this point, the best and safest thing I can think of, next to just giving it time to air out, is put it in a box with an open box of baking soda. It shouldn't have a smell though if the beetles got everything. Gators are tough for beetles though. They do great for other skulls but the gators hide it hard for them to get all of it. Might be a little left up inside some hard to reach cavities.

May try that. Going to give the guy that did it a call. I've looked it over good with a light and everything I can see looks clean. Don't think since the skull is so porous that it could just be holding the smell of the beetles from being in the box with em?

Maybe so...

Whatever you do dont put bleach or any type of paint on it. Those are two cardinal rules for any type of bone taxidermy. If it stinks some or yellows best thing to do is grab some 3% hydrogen peroxide (higher potency's can be used but 3 is safest) put in squirt bottle, spray skull and leave in sun for a few day. Repeat spraying as necessary.

I dont believe you will have any fat leaching (yellowing) issues though, after the beetles do their job its pretty safe to say that its been degreased in a dip tank. The lower jaw especially holds tons of grease which would be nearly impossible to get that white without degreasing. Having some faint smell is pretty common, without chiseling the roof of the mouth or inside jaw they have some encapsulated pockets of tendons and marrow that will give off some smell for a while.

I say it looks to be an a+ mount even with smell and especially if he had a fairly quick turnaround. I have some buddies that let their skulls soak for 8+ months without maceration or beetle time included.

I spoke with him and said to give it a couple weeks and it should be much better

Just find a fire ant nest... That is how I unstink my pig skulls. You can bet those sum bitches will not leave any damn thing on it.