Buffalo have stinky feet...

[WhistlingBadger]

I scored four bison feet from the local bison ranch yesterday.  I wanted to try using the hooves for overlays, but was pleased to find that I could also get a usable piece of hide and some nice sinew bundles from each one!  Stay tuned for questions about all of the above.


feet by Whistling Badger, on Flickr

Skinning.  Each foot gives me about a 1' x 8" piece of hide to play with.  Might be finally time to learn to bark tan.
skinning by Whistling Badger, on Flickr

After skinning, I tried boiling one foot for about 20 minutes.  (Pro tip:  If you like your marriage, do this in the garage, not the kitchen)  Did a little prying and prodding with a flathead screwdriver and the two hooves popped right off.  So that part's easy.

Look at all this sinew!  This is just from one foot.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with it.
sinew by Whistling Badger, on Flickr

[BowEd]

There's a lot on these animals if a person just takes the time to get them.Good score.I make bags out of leg skins [front of bag] from deer and elk with other added leather.Split them from the front side so dew claws are at center of bag.I usually just salt and aluminum sulfate tan those legs.

[White Falcon]

I use deer hoves and dew claws on projects.

[BowEd]

I've made wind chimes from them before.

[WhistlingBadger]

So, sinew question:  I get the idea that you pretty much just pull the tendons out and let them dry before further processing.  I'm having a devil of a time getting all the membranes and little blobs of fat off when they're wet.  Is it OK to dry them with some gunk still attached?

[BowEd]

I'd get the fat off for sure.The rest like membrane will seperate and come off after pounding it.