How to Make a Turkey Spur Keychain

1 | Remove the skin down to bare bone.

Start by drying the leg. I usually put it in the freezer for a day or two. It just seems to make for cleaner cuts. After the leg is dry, use the Dremel tool with a cutoff blade, an oscillating blade saw, or a hacksaw to cut through the leg bone just above and below where the spur meets the leg. I like to leave the bone just a hair longer than I want for the finished product so I can sand it smooth, down to the desired size. Use a sharp knife to carefully remove the skin and tendons from the leg section, leaving only the white bone.

2 | Whiten the bone with peroxide.

Now it’s time to whiten the bone. You can pour a bit of liquid peroxide, the highest percentage you can find at the store, in a shallow bowl. Prop the spur up so that only the bone is submerged in the liquid. The peroxide will discolor any portion of the spur it touches, so just cover the bone. Allow the spur to set in the peroxide for 24 hours.

3 | Or use paste whitener from the beauty supply store.

An alternative to the liquid peroxide is the 40 Volume Creme Developer used by hairstylists. It’s usually less than $10 for a large bottle, and as mentioned, it does a dandy job on deer skulls as well. Pour out a bit of the Creme Developer and use a small paintbrush to coat the bone of the spur. Again, avoid getting any on the spur itself. Allow to dry for 24 hours, then rinse away any leftover Creme Developer. Pat the spur dry.

4 | Insert a metal tube for added durability.

Use a wooden skewer or a Q-Tip to push out any bone marrow from the center of the leg bone. You want a clean, hollow tube. You can thread the bone onto a key ring at this point, but I like to take the extra step of adding a hollow metal tube, a ⅛-inch or slightly larger tension pin from the hardware store, to the center of the bone for extra strength and durability. 

5 | Cut the pin to length before inserting.

Cut the pin to match the length of the leg bone. Slide the hollow metal tube into the bone. Use a screwdriver to expand the slot down the side of the pin, if needed, to increase the diameter and make a tight fit. Sand the edges of the bone down to the desired length. Secure it with a drop or two of superglue on each end. Allow the glue to dry.

6 | Polyurethane the spur.

To finish, slide fishing line through the spur and dip the entire thing into high-gloss polyurethane, then hang to dry for a shiny finish. Finally, slide the spur onto the keychain.

7 | Shop for your turkey hunting gear at the Realtree Store.