Can You Make Traps from Deer Legs and Sinew?

Preparing the Rawhide

To make a trap from a deer leg, you’ll first need to harvest the rawhide. Remove as much flesh and fat as possible from the leg, then stretch and dry the rawhide in the sun. When dry, cut the rawhide into thin strips, about 1/4 inch wide. You’ll need at least 2-3 strips for a basic snare.

Creating the Snare

Use your sinew cordage to create a snare by twisting two ends of a loop together, then attaching the rawhide strips to the loop. Make sure the loop is small enough to catch the target animal, but large enough to allow it to pass through without getting caught. For a more complex trap, you can add additional loops or triggers to make it more effective.

Securing the Trap

Once you’ve created your snare, you’ll need to secure it in place. Use your sinew cordage to tie the trap to a tree or other stable object, making sure it’s taut and won’t come loose. If you’re using a trigger, attach it to the rawhide using a small loop of sinew. Make sure the trigger is sensitive enough to set off the trap when an animal passes through, but not so sensitive that it triggers accidentally.