MOUNTING FEET AND HOOFS.
Many sportsmen now preserve the feet of their large game to have them
made up in various articles of use and ornament which they can
distribute among their friends or use in their own homes. Some of these
articles are gun and rod racks, furniture legs and feet, ink wells,
match, cigar and ash holders, thermometers, paper weights, umbrella and
cane handles.
[Illustration: WOODEN CROOK FOR DEER FOOT.]
It goes without saying that for such things as racks, furniture legs,
handles and thermometer mounts the leg skin attached to the hoof should
be left six or more inches in length while for ink wells, etc., it may
be shorter.
[Illustration: SKINNED DEER FOOT.]
[Illustration: DEER FOOT INK WELL.]
In fairly cool weather the feet and lower legs of deer will keep for
some days without skinning as they contain but a small amount of flesh.
Still it is safest and but the work of a few minutes to split them up
the backs, skin down to the toe joints and cut them off there. Dry them
with or without salting and they are easily packed up to carry home or
send to the taxidermist. If one foot and shank is received in the flesh
it will aid in mounting them up as racks, furniture legs, etc., as for
such purposes the skin is mounted over a piece of wood of the size and
shape of the skinned leg. For preparing feet for racks and handles it is
well to supply yourself with a number of natural crooks of about the
size of a deer's leg and nearly of a right angle. Sassafras, gum or some
soft wood work up easiest. When skinned place in pickle or give foot
coating of arsenic and alum--pickle is best. Be sure and leave enough
skin attached to hoof; a little experience will teach you this. Now
remove foot from bath, rinse well and sew up same as far as the claws;
next bore a hole through the claws from inside of claws, where it will
not show. Get two wire nails and nail these claws to a board, as shown
in A. Now arrange the hoofs as shown in illustration and put a screw
into each from underneath, to hold them down (B), or you can nail a
cleat across them by nailing to the block on each side of hoof; the idea
is to get these parts firmly placed in position. Now finish sewing up
the skin and stuff it full of chopped excelsior, shaping the foot as you
proceed. Now drive a long nail against back side of foot to keep it from
sagging (C). Allow the foot to thoroughly dry.
[Illustration: DEER FOOT THERMOMETER.]
When dry remove excelsior and cut off surplus skin around top and the
foot is ready for an ink well, match safe, ash tray or paper weight, as
they all go on the same way. Mix up some plaster of paris in water and
run the foot full and place the ink well or other fitting in place and
allow the plaster to "set" and the foot is finished. If you wish a pen
rest you can now place it in position. In setting up thermometers remove
bone to hoof and whittle out a stick shape of bones removed. Coat inside
of skin with arsenic and alum and place stick in position and sew up
skin. Put on metal cap at top and tack on thermometer. For hooks on
racks, work up a stick with crook into the approximate size and shape of
the deer's leg with the foot bent at right angles. It had best be a
little small so it can have a coating of clay or other modelling
material to make the skin fit it perfectly. Sew up as for thermometer.
When dry fasten to the rack by inserting in a square or oval hole and
wedging at the back.
For furniture legs the feet are turned out in natural position on wooden
legs, and fastened by bolting or screwing to small tables, stools, or
screens. As handles for canes and umbrellas, treat the same as for hooks
and leave the wood long to form a dowel which is glued or inserted in
cane or umbrella, a metal band covering the end of the skin. I have
referred in this chapter to deer feet, but those of elk, caribou and
moose are also used and suitable fittings in nickel and silver plate are
supplied in various sizes by dealers.
[Illustration: DEER FOOT HAT RACK.]
If you wish the hoofs mottled (they look best that way) file same until
you get to the "quick," which is light in color and gives the foot a
very attractive appearance. Smooth down with sandpaper or edge of glass.
Oil a rag and dip it in powdered pumice stone and rub hoof vigorously a
few moments, and you will have a beautiful polish.
The smaller articles are complete as they are or may be mounted, ink
wells, etc., on round, and thermometers on long panels of variously
finished woods. Many nice articles may thus be made from what is usually
considered worthless offal.
[Illustration: MOOSE FOOT JEWEL CASE.]