AFTER THE KILL
Your animal is down, you've made it back to camp, the meat is on ice, and you've decided you want to have the skull crafted into a European mount. The first step to a quality European mount starts in the field. Below is a guide to help you make sure your trophy's skull is in good condition when it is dropped off.
Start by removing the hide and as much flesh and tissue as possible from the skull, just be careful not to damage the nasal bones or other delicate structures.
Put the skull in a breathable game bag (this prevents flies and other insects from laying eggs on the skull) and place it on ice. If you're still in the field, keep the skull cool by putting it in the shade and out of direct sunlight until you can get it on ice.
If there will be a delay in dropping the skull off, put the skull and game bag in a plastic bag and put it in a freezer. If a freezer isn't available, try to keep the skull on ice until you're ready to bring it in.
*Avoid putting the skull in just a plastic bag for extended periods of time before it is cooled down properly or frozen, as this can trap moisture and cause odor and bacteria buildup.