I picked up some deer legs today and thought I would post some pictures about collecting longer length pieces from deer legs. There have been some questions about collecting sinew lately. I'm not sure if this info has been posted before.
I use a hook blade utility knife to unzip the back of the leg. I start with the outer tendon and follow it up to the point of the knee/hock/or whatever you want to call it. It will flare out at the point and continue up for a few inches. Just cut it off where it transitions into muscle.
I move it out of the way and cut the sheath around the rest of the tendons up as far as I can into the joint.
Above the joint I find the large bundle of sinew and cut it as it turns into the muscle. Make sure and completely separate it from the muscle fibers.
Flip the leg over and cut the small tendon next to the bone loose from the muscle.
If you have them separated from the muscle they will easily pull out from below the joint. If they don'e come loose they are probably still attached to the muscle somewhere.
Down at the other end cut the skin down to each hoof pad.
You can follow the sinew to where it goes into the hoof. Cut it off there and cut the sheath loose.
What you are left with is a long piece leg of sinew. The front legs are similar except the sinew runs up the inside of the joint and they are shorter but easier to remove.
