This is probably the dumbest question I've ever asked, but I've searched the archives and can't seem to find the answer.
I was going to make a gun rack out of some deer feet, but where do I make the incision on the feet? It seems like if I made a cut all the way down the unside of the foot that it would be really difficult to conceal the stiches (the hair is so short), but I can't see any other way to do it. I just wanted to make sure!
Thanks,
Amy
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Right up the inside of the wrist... so the backside of the foot if its standing... Picture the feet curving upwards to cradle the gun.. yer gonna want the gun to sit on the seam so the part facing the room has no seam... Yup the hair is short and its gonna be tricky to hide the seam.. but thats where the gun comes in - when its in place yer not gonna see it anyway =)
Amy even - not Amie... Someone else I know spells it Amie. My bad =(
there are tendons that wrap the ball/socket you must severe to free them off their hooves. If you should have trouble email me and I'll walk you through it,I know taxidermists of 15 yrs that can't do it and bring them here. Good luck, it would serve you well to look at an anatomical picture of where the tendons and ligaments are, before getting frustrated.
in issue 37 ,summer of 94 theres an article on how to do it.just looked at it for some reason. maybe you can order a back issue.
Hi, Kris, I also would like learn how to skin deer foot too, if you come across send the details out to Amy, could you email me a copy? Or could you walk me through of this ?
Thanks. Ken
I'm interested in doing a foot lamp and was wondering the same thing, so Kris, if your sending out instructions, count me in.
Thanks a bunch,
Chrissy
another way to make a gun rack is to soak the hooves in a 20 Mule Team Borax/Water solution. Prepare the solution by adding borax to the warm water until it is saturated with Borax. Prepare the hooves by taking a nail and digging out as much bone marrow that you can reach so the solution can penetrate completely. Add the hooves, and leave soak for a week or two. When you take them out, it will be covered with borax crystals. Rinse in fresh waterand rub the crystals off, and set to dry in the position that you want. I've taken a board with a couple of nails sticking through to put the hooves on. Put the nail in the marrow hole of the bone also put a piece of cardboard between the hooves to keep them in position (otherwise they will overlap each other) Leave them to dry. Once they are dry, they will keep for years without any decay. I still have my first pair that I made 13 years ago. any questions, email me. I am not a taxidermist, just a hunter that had an idea. It worked for me. It's cheap, and simple. Good Luck!
will soaking feet in salt dry them enough to use..