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How to Dry Out Deer Hoofs

There are a couple of reasons why a person may want to dry out the hooves of a deer. There may be the desire to showcase a particular kill that a hunter is proud of by using the hooves as a trophy, or there may be a desire to use them solely as decor. Deer hooves make natural decorations for log cabins and other western-themed or wilderness-themed interior design projects. Freeze-drying is one method of preserving deer hooves.

Things You'll Need

Freeze-drying unit or frost-free home freezer
Rags
Hacksaw
Drill
1/4-inch drill bit
Pipe cleaners
Lacquer thinner or acetone
Popsicle sticks

Instructions

- 1
  Decide on the amount of leg bone that you need for your project. Saw the leg bone squarely using a hacksaw. Note that most projects require 2 to 3 inches from the bend of the leg. Projects such as lamps may require a longer amount of leg bone. Follow the instructions for your project for the appropriate dimensions.
- 2
  Remove as much bone marrow as possible from the bone with a drill. Remove excess marrow using a lacquer-soaked pipe cleaner. Use acetone in place of lacquer, if that is what you have available.
- 3
  Freeze-dry based on the directions included with your freeze-drying unit to remove all the moisture in your hooves. Note that frost-free home freezers will take longer to remove the moisture from hooves and bone. Do not worry about drying too much. It is better to dry hooves too long as opposed to not long enough.
- 4
  Create a base to hold a screw in place inside of the leg by breaking popsicle sticks into pieces lengthwise. Position as much stick into the hole left by the marrow removal as possible.

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