How to save the hooves?

[Classicvette63]

I got a nice buck this year and would like to save the hooves for a walking stick for my niece and as hat hangers. What do I have to do to the bone and the skin/hide? Should i do anything to the hooves themselves?

I also would like to save the tail. How should I go about doing that? Thanks, Classic

[grayghost]

Years ago, we used to inject the feet with Formaldehyde, but this is a very dangerous chemical and should not be attempted. It can blind you and be absorbed into the skin. The best solution is to purchase a Deer foot mounting kit and preserve the skin/hooves, and mount them over a foot form. Try looking on www.taxidermy.net/ WASCO supply may carry the kits. Congrats on getting a nice buck! grayghost

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Van Dykes carries foot mounting kits (for gun racks) also.....I've done the foot mounting thing, and it's not that difficult to do. I have found that only the forefeet work well for gun racks, hat racks, ect......had trouble with the hind feet, for some reason. Found the procedure in an old taxidermy book.....basically skin the foot to the hooves, cut off, and then soak in an alum/salt solution for a while, sew on to form, then let dry. Good luck

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Classic...The tail is pretty easy, skin out the bone leaving no fat on skin, cover in Borax laundry soap, (get at local supermarket) till time to work on. Then mix 1/2 bucket water, 4c canning salt 1/2 small bottle alum (sets the hair) and 4c borax to make pickle bath.....soak mixing few times a day for a few days.....rinse and wash in cold soapy water then dry.... To soften, I use linseed oil and work it till soft or can get one of those tanning kits at the sport store and do their directions.... works for me and has for years... have none hides this way too but lots and lots of work (guess is the old school way) now get a tanning kit.....

As for the hooves, I skin the legs from inside so hides the stitches when bent ,cut the bone leaving @ 3" above the joint. I then cut a length of round stock to butt to this. This round stock ( I use old broom handle) is then used to insert in hole in mounting board. Easy to drill correct size hole this way or I guess can be the end of walking stick. Remove all the flesh and ligament from inside bone,sprinkle with Borax then lay strong pc wire along bone bent to form mount, wrap it and bone tight with thread and cotton to original size of skinned bone. Make sure to leave enough leg bone to work with. Sew skin back around mold and brad the end of skin to roundstock. If mounting on board, I flat bottom the hole without drilling all the way through. Insert glued end of roundstock and screw from backside to hold in place.
I would post pictures of some of my work but I still can't figure out how to post a picture on here....It only comes up with the red x....I have some ice fishing poles I wanted to post too but no luck getting the pictures to show....good luck....good winter past time project... We replaced the calorax (poison) with Borax.. Oh, sure to remove the scent gland between toes....whew!!!..
.
This is all the old school way and I'm sure the kits spoken of earlier would be nice but I like things made from scratch..


BORN TO BE OUTDOORS......THANKS DAD

[hobbles]

I Made this teething ring for our 4 month grand daughter out of a deer toe,,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../ana-teeth.jpg

((AS A JOKE,, NOT TO BE TRIED AT HOME,, NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION,, USE AT OWN RISK,, NOT FOR INTERNAL USE,, KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN,, MAKER NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE,,,