Zone 1 DIY 12 footer

• Oct 10, 2014

• #21

DSGB

Senior Member

Took the hide over to the regional game office in Ft. Valley and got the CITES tag, then dropped it off at American Tannery in Griffin. Also, went and got a 20 gal trash can and an aquarium heater to macerate the skull. It barely fit in there!

 

• Oct 21, 2014

• #22

DSGB

Senior Member

The skull is coming along. I took it out the other day and sprayed some of the loose meat off and pulled any loose teeth before filling it back up. Shouldn't be long and I can start to degrease.

 

• Oct 22, 2014

• #23

RUGERWARRIOR

Senior Member

Awesome

 

• Oct 22, 2014

• #24

J

John2

Senior Member

What are you doing to get the skin and flesh off the skull?

 

• Oct 22, 2014

• #25

DSGB

Senior Member

John2 said:

What are you doing to get the skin and flesh off the skull?

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It's called maceration. It's the same technique museums use, as well as some taxidermists. Plain ol' water and an aquarium heater. The natural bacteria breaks down the tissue. It had been in there about two weeks.

 

• Nov 13, 2014

• #26

DSGB

Senior Member

Bones are pretty clean. Some have separated, but that was expected. They're back in the water with some Dawn for degreasing.

 

• Nov 20, 2014

• #27

shakey gizzard

Senior Member

Looking good! You gunna put her all back together?

 

• Nov 21, 2014

• #28

DSGB

Senior Member

shakey gizzard said:

Looking good! You gunna put her all back together?

Click to expand...

Yes. I expected them to come apart. The teeth will be the hardest part. I tried keeping them separate in egg cartons, but a bunch of them fell out in the water.

 

• Nov 21, 2014

• #29

groundhawg

Senior Member

DSGB said:

Yes. I expected them to come apart. The teeth will be the hardest part. I tried keeping them separate in egg cartons, but a bunch of them fell out in the water.

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Yep, you gonna need lots of superglue.

 

• Sep 15, 2015

• #30

brownceluse

Senior Member

Bump for a beast!!!

 

• Sep 15, 2015

• #31

biker13

Senior Member

Great gator and wonderful story.Nothing like gator huntin.

 

• Dec 8, 2015

• #32

DSGB

Senior Member

Finally getting around to finishing up this skull. It's very clean and I didn't even have to use peroxide. Got the bones all glued back together, now gotta start on the teeth.

 

• Dec 10, 2015

• #33

W

westcobbdog

Senior Member

Great story to follow and congrats on the big Gator.