I like tusks, but don’t have the landscape to boil them, stake them out in the elements or cage them on a fire ant mound, so here’s my city slicker method.
I don’t get many big boys on my primary hunting grounds, but will go to the trouble of getting tusks when I think they’ll be worth it - either for myself, or as a gift or trade. I also like the worn down tusks of the old timers; they’ll look better after some work.
It’s not easy and takes some patience, but they turn out pretty well.
Usually I just take the lower jaw.
Prep is important; grab a slender sharp blade and start defleshing the lower jaw. (It’s easier when still attached for the countertraction). Hide, jowls, tongue...get all you can off.
Because the tasks extend way back into the jaw, it’s necessary to cut off the lower jaw MUCH farther back than you would expect. Saw on both sides until you’re into the teeth, then give it a couple solid knocks on both sides with something heavy.
This will get it almost completely loose; you’ll probably need to use the blade to cut the tissue to get the lower jaw free. Double bag it or throw it in a container you really don’t care about and get it home.
Hard part is done. Rest is just kinda slow and tedious.
Grab a container with a lid that will easily accommodate the jaw ; optimally, it would be airtight. Add a few drops of dish washing liquid into it – not the artsy fartsy kind – you want the kind that breaks up lipids.
If you’re one of the blessed few that have a septic tank, throw in a tiny pinch of bacteria powder or a quarter packet of Brewers yeast. You don’t need a lot.
Add hot water and stir until you got some good suds, then add the jaw. Make sure you’ve got plenty of fluid covering it.
Set the container in an area that critters and your wife won’t have access to.
In about a week, give it a few good shakes to dislodge tissue from the jaw. Pour out MOST of that sweet smellin’ jungle juice, add a couple more drops of dishwashing liquid and hot water, shake, cover and wait another week. (No need to add any bacteria or yeast - you’ve already got some badass starter in the jug).
Repeat.
Around 2 1/2 to 3 weeks, the smaller teeth will start coming loose and you’ll hear rattling when you shake the container. You’re gettin’ close; the tasks will probably be a little wobbly now. (Make sure you wear gloves when handling because even a tiny cut at this point can really jack you up).
When all the smaller teeth have fallen out of the jaw and the tusks wobble pretty easily, it’s time to pull them out. No need to use pliers, just gloves and a piece of cloth for a good grip.
You’ll notice that a good portion of the tusk is hollow; we’ll fix that later. There will also be some discoloration, both natural and from dirt and bacteria.
Time for some cleaning with a soap solution and a toothbrush. Be gentle with the hollow end; it can be surprisingly brittle. Don’t be surprised if there are actually holes near the tip of the tusks from natural wear when you get the all the crud off.
Gotta decootify them, so make a mild bleach / water combo and toss them in. Ten minutes will kill everything; leaving them longer will whiten the tusks but also weaken them, particularly at the back edges. Slosh it around to ensure that the bleach solution flushes the hollow portion
You can leave them as is, but be advised that they will deteriorate pretty rapidly and be prone to breakage when handling, especially if dropped. And people will want to handle them.
Filling them will do a much better job of preserving them. Plus it adds some weight, which brings them closer to their natural state.
You’ve had a couple weeks to stop by the hobby store for some quick setting epoxy resin. Before you even open those bottles, wrap the tusks completely with painters or masking tape. (If any epoxy gets on the tusk, it will need to be sanded off, altering the natural appearance).
I use cardboard and a BBQ skewer for stirring and dripping the epoxy into the tusks; a clamp helps for stability. Use gloves, go slow and use several doses to fill the tusk. It expands slightly- not like Gorilla glue, but a little. If you overfill, it can be sanded off.
Let them set, unravel the tape and admire your craftsmanship.
Lotta options... leave loose, or make a key fob, bolo tie, necklace... I traded a pair for a few pounds of caribou meat last year.
And I do keep a larger one in the truck for guests to handle on the way to the property - just a gentle reminder that we are going where the wild things are....