Skinning moose hooves

[Redwolf]

I recently skinned out a set of moose hooves. I figured I would take pics as I went so I could share how I do it. As you will see the legs were VERY dirty, but I think you'll still get the idea lol

I start off with a "Y" cut. From the hooves, down the toes, and to the ankle and then up the inside of the leg.


Cut through the pad. You can see where I started my cut. Continue the cut all the way up the toes until you get to the ankle.


Skin it out down to the ankle. When you get to the dew claws you will have to do a little cutting to separate them, but they will be easy.


Skin out the top of the hoof until you get to the 2 toe bones. You'll know when you get there, but be careful not to go too far with your scalpel because you can cut through it very easily.

[Redwolf]

Slowly separate the skin from the toes with your scalpel as far as you can. Try to get all the way to the hoof. At the area where you started between the toes will be some tissue and you want to cut it (as pictured below).


Now flip the leg over and start peeling the skin back using your scalpel. Go all the way to the hoof pad.


Another view.


At this point you'll want to find where the knuckle joint is. When you find it use your scalpel to start cutting between the joints to separate them. You'll have to get it from all angles.


Here is where the cut up the actual hoof pad comes into play because you will be able to get your blade into the joint easier.

[Redwolf]

Here is the joint. As you can see it goes into the hoof and without the cut I made through the hood pad it would have been harder to get to.



And here it is all deboned.


Now you want to flesh it by what ever method you want. I use this beam I made for doing faces.




Now it can be salted, tossed in a pickle, or DP'ed.

I hope this all makes sense and helps someone.

[Redwolf]

BTW I know someone will say it so I'll explain lol I was wearing gloves but I had to take them off every time I wanted to get a pic (I didn't want to get my camera all dirty).
ALWAYS wear gloves

[nmn]

Redwolf dont you have to get the toe bones out like in deer or iis there no toe bones in moose?

[mk]

Redwolf dont you have to get the toe bones out like in deer or iis there no toe bones in moose?

those are the toe bones.

[Redwolf]

Redwolf dont you have to get the toe bones out like in deer or iis there no toe bones in moose?

This is an illustration Shelby posted a while back. You can see where the toe bones are (A). They can be either removed, or left in. Some take them out and some leave them in. It's all up to you.
I separated the A and B joints.

[jbnf - Josh F.]

So thats what a moose knuckle looks like.   

Great Tutorial.

[akmike]

good post but I have always taken out the toe all the way to the bottom of the hoove because the tanning may not penatrate all the way thru.

[Redwolf]

I can see why you might think that way akmike, but the hoof itself will not accept tan. The toe bones are inside the hoof.

[coonhollow]

I always have taken the toe bones out while attatched to leg bones. any reason why you left them in?

[Redwolf]

I don't take them out. I've never had a problem leaving them in.
All there is in there besides the bone is tendons, which dry out and don't cause any problems. If you would rather take the toe bone out all you have to do is cut to the tip of the hoof and work it out.

[akmike]

ya no problem redwolf I was told by a old timer it all has to come out so that is how i have always done them on all animals ,goat, sheep ,caribou .it wasn't so much as it taking the tan as was leaving in something to go bad.
mike