How to Make Bone Fishhooks

Our ancestors had no choice but to make fishhooks out of whatever they could find. Animal bones seemed to be their main option. For us, making fishhooks can be a fun and interesting hobby. Or, if you're out in the wilderness, bone fishhooks may be lifesaving.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make bone fishhooks by acquiring the toe bones of a deer. If you're not a hunter, ask a deer hunter to give you some toe bones. Some butchers who process venison may be able to get deer toe bones for you.

2. Use a sharp knife and cut the toe bone lengthwise. Split the toe bone until you have a piece that you can grind. Grind the outside surface of the bone until you have nothing left but the hook-shaped ridge of the inside part of the bone. This hook looks much like a fishhook you'd buy in a sporting goods store. You can make a notch or cut a hole in the end of the bone hook so you can tie your fishing line.

3. Get a bone from any animal. Even a large fish bone will do. Take a shaft of bone (doesn't have to be curved, straight will do) and create sharp points on either end. You can do this with a sharp pocket knife or grind the tips with a sharp-edged rock. Make a notch in the middle of your piece of bone. This notch serves to tie a piece of cord or fishing line on when you make bone fishhooks.

4. Fish with your bone fishhook by first using one pointed end to skewer your bait. If you've ground the tip ends sharp enough, you should have no problem getting your bait on. When you fish with your bone fishhook, a fish will swallow the bait and bone fishhook together.