I have bought deer antlers online to give to the pups as bones to chew on and eat. IF i find a pair out in the woods, i have a few questions...
1. Can i keep it if not connected to a skull?
2. How do you tell if its okay to let the dogs eat them?
3. Whats the best way to cut/split them?

Just depends where you find them if you can keep them. I know state parks and wildlife refuge/preserve you can't keep them. Wildlife areas for hunting and private ground you can keep them. If not sure just ask where ever you find them and they should beable to tell you. If you plan on giving them to your dogs id try and find freshly dropped from this year. You could give them ones shed from years past but just keep an eye on them cause they tend to chip and splinter. I know the ones you buy are treated some how to kill bacteria but I haven't had any problems just giving my dog the ones I find. He's had way worse in his mouth!! I don't cut the ones I give to my dog but if I did id use my bone saw or a hack saw would work too. Id try and keep just the main beams though. My dog devours them things but he thinks all the antlers are his now. Good luck come February! !

I haven't had any problems with Willie and any of the found sheds either in fact he has two that he has gnawed down that stay in the car all the time to keep him occupied on long car trips LOL
and I have to agree..compared some of the stuff my dogs have had in their mouths.. I have no worries about the antlers LOL
As a matter of fact Willie just trashed a turtle shell ....