Sinew question...

[TurtleCreek]

  I read the recent article in PA mag about extracting deer sinew and it said to cut the leg off a few inches above the knee joint so you get the most out of the usable tendon/sinew.  I contacted my local meat processor and was told that they have a ton of deer legs both front and rear, and that I could take as many as I wanted for free.  However, he also said that they cut the rear leg off right at the knee joint but the front legs are cut off a few inches above the knee joint.  So my question is, on the rear legs being cut off at the knee joint instead of a few inches above, how long of a tendon can I expect to get out of the rear legs?

[MWirwicki]

The length is still worth it's while.  You can expect a 10-inch or more piece, still.  And hey, their free!

[TurtleCreek]

  I am pretty excited,  he said he has at least a barrel full, can't wait to get em'!  I should be set for quite awhile as far as sinew goes, it will certainly keep me busy over the next day or so.

[james parker]

you should certainly get all you can, free is a big deal, sinew is costly, as far as length , it all depense where their cut and how big the deer is, all size sinew can be used, shorter strands in non bending areas and longer ones for the more stresses ,bendinf areas

[JW_Halverson]

And if you feel they are too short, take 'em anyway.  Sinew will make fine grade hide glue, too. 

[osage outlaw]

Go get them.  I have a hook up with a local processor.  I'm going tomorrow to get a truck load of legs.  He cuts them just above the knee so I lucked out there.  I got well over 200 legs last year.

[TurtleCreek]

He took my name and number, said if he gets any more than what I pick up later this morning that he would give me a call.  They do a ton of deer each year, with the majority of deer coming in during gun season which is opening really soon here.  I will have to post some pics.

[bubby]

the last time i got legs for sinew the butcher gave me some hides to, Bub

[Eric Garza]

You should ask him if he cuts off the back tendons. A lot of butchers cut the back tendons off the backstraps because people don't like gristle on their meat. If he'll save those for you, I think your effort is better invested cleaning up back tendons than legs. You'll get more sinew per unit effort, and you'll get longer fibers. All of the sinew I sent you was from back tendons salvaged from my local game processor.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I would grab it all up, but agree with Eric and J-dub. Short leg pieces are a pure pain to process and apply to a back, but they work if you take the time! Six back pieces will give you a decent amount for backing an average bow.

[TurtleCreek]

  I don't mind the work with short leg pieces.  I got pretty good at that after processing 120 elk leg tendons over the last week or so.  I was down in the basement shop one day hammering away and decided to take a break and go upstairs.  I have two of the best dogs in the world so I thought I would pick out two of the tendons and toss em' to the dogs as treats.  They had those gone in a fraction of the time it takes me to process a single tendon, they love em'.  The only problem is, every time I come upstairs from the shop, they are all over me and won't leave me alone now!    Good thing I have dog biscuits, the sinew is for me now.  Off to the processor!

[PEARL DRUMS]

My "good" pooch ate two perfectly good back sinews that where 2-3 days from being ready for arrows. Little stinker anyway. If your so good at processing them Ryan why did you send them to me whole !?!?!?!?!?!

[TurtleCreek]

  LOL....  At the time I sent those to you, I had actually never processed sinew before.  Since then I have gotten pretty good at it in my opinion, I have done a bunch.  Any further trades will be processed before shipping sir:) 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Cool! You know I will make it worth your time and effort.

[TurtleCreek]

  Now I just have to wait for the current batch of tendons to dry.  I should have a truck load more here real soon from the same guy- gun season starts this weekend.  On the way back from getting the first batch, I found another processor just down the road from my house that I never knew about who said he butchers over 300 deer each year. He also said he would save all the legs for me for free.  It can be a ton of work, but I sure as heck don't care- all that sinew will be worth it!