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How to Get the Meat Off of Deer Bones

Animal skeletons are often used as educational models and trophies and give us insight into the inner workings of the animal before their death. If you wish to display your deer bones or use them later, you will need to clean the meat off the bones. Cleaning deer bones is akin to removing a stock bone from a stock pot.

Things You'll Need

Butcher's knife
Large pot
Small knife/scalpel
Rubber gloves
Enzyme-bleach powder
Bucket
Stiff-bristled brush
Cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Cut as much meat away from the bone as possible without coming into contact with the bone. Cut with even strokes in one direction, using the shape of the bone as your guide.
- 2
  Place the bones in the pot and add water until the bones are completely submerged. Heat the water to a boil and let the bones boil for one to three hours, depending on the size of the bones.
- 3
  Remove the bones from the water until the meat falls off of the bone in chunks. Pull as much meat away from the bone as possible with your hands.
- 4
  Scrape the bone with a small knife or scalpel to remove any meat that could not be removed by hand. Be careful not to cut or scratch the bone.
- 5
  Mix a solution of the enzyme-bleach powder and water in a large container (about 3/4 cup per gallon of water). Place the bones in the solution and let them soak for two days.
- 6
  Remove the bones from the solution and go over them with a stiff-bristled brush to remove any remaining meat (use a small knife for extra stubborn pieces). Rinse the bone in water to remove any residue left by the bleach solution and dry the bones thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Animals & Science