Raccoon baculum bone

[Onojutta]

I do some trapping over the winter and recently had an unusual request by a relation. He asked me if I could supply him with some "raccoon pecker bones". To avoid admonishment by the moderators, I will henceforth use the proper term "baculum bone". I asked him what in the world he wanted them for and one of the reasons he gave was for muzzleloading. Now I have been an avid blackpowder enthusiast myself for over 15 years, but this is the first I have ever heard of that. So, what exactly is a baculum bone used for in muzzleloading?

 

[bore_butter]

i knew a dentist that carried one of those bones sharpened down to make a tooth pick end. i guess it could clean out a touch hole.

 

[leadhoarder]

They use them making shine.

 

[Onojutta]

They use them making shine.

That was the other reason he gave, but I tried to stay on topic.

 

[tenngun]

Tooth picks, vent picks, hat pins, blanket pins, I’ve seen indian style hair pipe breast plates and chokers made from them
I don’t use them my self thank you very much.

 

[TarponStalker]

I do some trapping over the winter and recently had an unusual request by a relation. He asked me if I could supply him with some "raccoon pecker bones". To avoid admonishment by the moderators, I will henceforth use the proper term "baculum bone". I asked him what in the world he wanted them for and one of the reasons he gave was for muzzleloading. Now I have been an avid blackpowder enthusiast myself for over 15 years, but this is the first I have ever heard of that. So, what exactly is a baculum bone used for in muzzleloading?

My guess is a vent pick. When I was young we cleaned them up, sharpened them and put in our hat bands for toothpicks/decoration.

 

[FishDFly]

How are you going to make it small enough to work as a vent pick?

If you could, it would break in the first usage and be stuck in the vent.

 

[Willy]

A lot of my old folks used them for toothpicks and to clean out from under their fingernails.

 

[patriot]

You get some hog bristles or horse hair, tie to the end of the pecker bone using sinew or thread, trim the hair/bristles short enough to stiffen them, and you have a pan brush and a conversation piece.

Patriot

 

[tallpine]

I have about thirty of them, offered to make the ol'e lady a necklace, she said thanks but I'll pass.

I caught all of these coons in one year, out of 27 coons caught, 25 were males and 2 were females. Interested to know if anyone else has had the same experience

 

[Tom A Hawk]

There's been a few times when I wished I had one. Mostly after the age of 50....

 

[Old Hawkeye]

There's been a few times when I wished I had one. Mostly after the age of 50....

Have you checked on getting a transplant? Medicare should cover that.

 

[Flint.]

I hear it will bring good luck if you put one in your hatband so I did…I’m still waiting….

 

[Artificer]

I will NEVER forget my then new wife on her first trip to the Primitive Range at Friendship, IN in the mid 1970's asking me what a full wrap around choker necklace one Lady was wearing, had been made from. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing and suggested my wife ask her. When she did the Lady didn't hesitate a bit to reply, "Coon bones." My wife looked puzzled and asked what bones they were? The Lady whispered the answer in her ear and my wife turned as red as a stop light. When she then looked at me, I lost it. Took me a bit to be forgiven, though later on that day my wife chuckled about it as well.

Gus

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Your friend just wants a really cool Moonshiner's hat like the one he saw on TV so he wants to stick some pecket bones in his hatband.

 

[2 shots]

i can think of better things to put in my mouth. toothpick ? no thanks

 

[sheriff john]

Jr. High friend told kids they were "Indian Love Whistles". To make them work, you had to blow really hard on the crooked end. Chuckle. Chuckle. 8th grade was so much fun, some repeated it.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Was going to say whistles, now one from a black bear makes a nice coffee stirrer.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I hear it will bring good luck if you put one in your hatband so I did…I’m still waiting….

It didn't do the coon any good either...

 

[Whughett]

Well that adds a new dimension to the term “ boner”.