Homegrown Moose Paddles

[SingleShot]

Need a little advice please;

I kept the two shoulder blades from last years bison and would like to dry and clean them. They will make great moose paddles for thrashing the brush and better yet, decoying a big bull to come in close. They have been frozen all winter and have just minimal remnants of tissue and sinew on them.

I'm not sure if I should be boiling them and scraping clean? It would be nice if I could get them looking nice and clean and attach a lanyard between the two for hanging in the man cave.

Can anyone explain how to do this. Thanks.

[redthorn]

Don't boil them if not needed. The bone loses density. The way we clean our deer scull out is just to soak them in water and let the flesh rot off. Pour in one sacrificial beer and a couple spoons of sugar and the bacteria and yeasts will go nuts and degrade and clean off all the flesh for you. At that point just lightly pressure wash and let dry.

[sobirch]

Pressure washer should do it

[Kermodie]

Best to scrape them by hand. Be careful in the center area, it's thin and you can scrape through. Leave 1/2" of the cartilage across the top to prevent cracking.

[SingleShot]

Thanks for the info, not sure a pressure wash would work. The remnants are on like glue and Kermodie is correct in saying they are thin in the center. Upper1 1/2" around the top is like gristle and probable needs to be trimmed off.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/logonphoto/IMG_2409.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/logonphoto/media/IMG_2409.jpg.html)
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/logonphoto/IMG_2409.jpg (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/logonphoto/media/IMG_2409.jpg.html)

[Sitkaspruce]

I put them in my compost for the spring/summer, took them out in Aug, washed them off and let them dry, been using the same blade for 2 years with no problems.

Tools of the trade

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/Hunt%20and%20fish%202013/IMGP0607_zps41fb92ed.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/Hunt%20and%20fish%202013/IMGP0607_zps41fb92ed.jpg.html)

What ever you, do not boil them.

Cheers

SS

[SingleShot]

Thanks SS. It's great you are so willing to share your experience freely. My first thought was boil them and then the little voice said "better to ask." Chances of me getting another bison draw are slim so I'd like to make these nice as a keepsake and tool.

[markomoose]

Holy cow SS is that an old Savage?

[Sitkaspruce]

Holy cow SS is that an old Savage?

Yup, 1951 99 in 300 savage. It awesome for where we hunt moose, long shots are 50 yards.

Cheers

SS

[Ambush]

Scrape them the best you can with a fillet knife and let them dry.

The little bit of reddish colour that remains makes them look more like antlers that have recently shed their velvet.