Strip or Grind

[iowabow]

I got deer tendon this morning from neighbor. What do you folks do with it at this point...cut it open and dry it or.........

[Pat B]

It will dry as it is. Be sure all the meat and fat are off of them and just set them aside where they can dry. I put them on wax paper or foil and out of the way of critters.

[iowabow]

thank you for the reply

[Pat B]

You will know when they are dry when they are amber in color and hard as a rock! Once dry store them in a ziploc bag.

[iowabow]

thank you Pat after dry do I hit them with a hammer to seperate the fibers?

[Pat B]

If you are ready to use them now you can shread them while still "green". I would cut down the sheath that holds them together and soak them in warm water while pulling the bundle of fibers apart.
  If you dry them first you pound them until the fibers part then seperate with your hands. Using a rawhide or wooden mallet on a hardwood base will help protect the fibers but some folks use a ballpeen or other hammer on an anvil.

[iowabow]

I need to make 6 arrow heads and finish the spine work on the arrows before I can use them so maybe I shoudl dry them first. Can they be frozen then used later.

[Pat B]

They can be frozen but drying is just as easy.