Boiling stags heads, why do some come out yellow and some white?

So over the years I've boiled out a few stags heads. Sometimes they will come out of the pot bone white and other times yellow like they are full of grease.

I do the same thing everytime, in the pot with a bit of dishwash liquid and boil for about 1 1/2 hours.. then out and waterblast. The only thing I could think of was that I left the red for about a week before boiling vs the sika doing 3 days later.

Here's a couple of examples
Redstag from the roar came out nice and white:
Attachment 221705

Couple of sika from the weekend yellow
Attachment 221706

Any suggestions?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick.m

So over the years I've boiled out a few stags heads. Sometimes they will come out of the pot bone white and other times yellow like they are full of grease.

I do the same thing everytime, in the pot with a bit of dishwash liquid and boil for about 1 1/2 hours.. then out and waterblast. The only thing I could think of was that I left the red for about a week before boiling vs the sika doing 3 days later.

Here's a couple of examples
Redstag from the roar came out nice and white:
Attachment 221705

Couple of sika from the weekend yellow
Attachment 221706

Any suggestions?

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some really good recipes for boiling out heads on you tube most use peroxide to bleach white ( used on blondes at hair dressers easy to get ) some recipes add lime to last stage of boiling out

Thanks. I do normally whiten them up a bit with peroxide aswell however it just amazes me how different they can be when they come out of the pot.. not sure why or how. The ones that come white initially seem to always be whiter then those that come out yellow.

Try adding a bit of laundry powder in. It'll more effectively remove the fat and will whiten it up. Does increase the chance of damaging the bone though as it's quite a bit more aggressive than dish washing liquid.

I found it also makes quite an unpleasant smell that turns my otherwise quite strong stomach for some reason. The next one I get I'm just hanging in a tree, no rush...

I use vanish laundry powder, first boil about an hour, waterblast then short bursts in the boil up with more water blasting in between. Then 35% Peroxide

Yellow will mean that there is still some oil/fat in the bone

I use dishwashing fluid and napi-san. Always white.

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

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try your asian shops - they do large pots cheap - big enough for job

Whitebone Creations on YT do the best tutorials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lknMPC0FQ04&t=231s

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Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Chuck them up on the shed roof and let them get a bit of sun and they should whiten up a bit.

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You could just about see his shed from your place.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

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I've used a 20ltr steel paint bucket before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

try your asian shops - they do large pots cheap - big enough for job

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if you go down this route Chur Bay watch your heat yes asian supply shops have cheap big soup pots will do the job but they tend to have fairly thin bottoms I use my two burner camp stove really low

Attachment 221850

I have a big stainless steel pot I bought on trademe.
Can't remember the size but it's been good. Just need to refine my own technique.

I have worked out over the years that if the head is clean/fresh and only couple of days old it will always come out nice and white after boiling out. If the head is a week old and smelly or been wrapped and left in plastic bags they can quite often come out looking a bit yellow.
I always boil them out the same way each time. Remove all skin, brain & eyeballs, boil for 2 hours with half cup of washing powder then immediately dunk into bucket of cold water for 5 mins, lastly clean up with knife, screwdriver & water blaster.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Huntn

I have worked out over the years that if the head is clean/fresh and only couple of days old it will always come out nice and white after boiling out. If the head is a week old and smelly or been wrapped and left in plastic bags they can quite often come out looking a bit yellow.
I always boil them out the same way each time. Remove all skin, brain & eyeballs, boil for 2 hours with half cup of washing powder then immediately dunk into bucket of cold water for 5 mins, lastly clean up with knife, screwdriver & water blaster.

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What he said, fresh is best.

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Originally Posted by Nick.m

Attachment 221850

I have a big stainless steel pot I bought on trademe.
Can't remember the size but it's been good. Just need to refine my own technique.

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Just remember not to have the Pedicle covered in boiling water. It won’t do the antlers any good, they can separate from the skull.
I hook mine up with some wire to keep them out of the water.
Also you can do yourself a favour and run a wood saw through the skull BEFORE BOILING after skinning, just under the eye socket. Takes the teeth off and gives you access to the brain which you can then scoop out before the boil. Cuts boiling time down. They can then be laid flat on a shield if you want to mount them that way.

Like your set up though.

A taxidermist told me not to boil them for too long. Did a skullcap off a red the other day, 15 mins or even less was all it took. Used to do quite a few whole skulls for about 45 min max. The bone comes out better and doesn't go brittle over time.

Yep you only need to bring them to the boil for 15 mins or so before water blasting. Spray with peroxide or weak bleach solution afterwards


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Here’s a pic of after the cut with a wood saw between the upper teeth and the eyeball socket.
Attachment 222705
Brain cavity uncovered for easy removal.
Attachment 222706
Waterline up to pedicels but not covering them.
Attachment 222707

Once cooked and water blasted.
Attachment 222708
Attachment 222709
Now just have it soaking overnight in a solution of napisan to whiten the skull.
Then hang to dry.

I've had mine in for a short boil again with a good scoop of washing powder and alot more fat came out of the bone. Came out pretty good once fully dry and bleached. Will add a pic when I get the chance

Attachment 223047
Attachment 223048

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

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@Chur Bay go into your local Warehouse, they have massive cooking pots for bugger all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Bit of a thread hijack but what do you guys use to boil your heads up in? Is there a cheap DIY option?

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Steel drinks bin, Briscoes do/did have for less than $20 (wait for the never to be repeated sale) stag skull fits in nicely, used it twice hasn’t leaked…yet

Attachment 223634

I've only done a few heads, but an old head (+1 week old) then boiled leaves the skull yellow. A fresh head boiled come out whiter and cleaner.

My thoughts are the fats/oils penetrate into the skull the longer you leave it unattended.

That’s about it @Rusky the longer you leave them the worse they will get. Oh and don’t bury them in the garden:sick:
I added two table spoons of nappie san and soaked the last one over night after I had boiled and water blasted him.
Came up a treat. I’d had him in the freezer for a week so as you can see was a little yellow.

Another option for red heads and the cut line. Attachment 224347