Tanning Deer Hide and Crafting Tools

• The author spends free time preparing deer hide for tanning, aware that tannic acid is necessary for the process
• It takes the author weeks to successfully extract tannic acid from oak trees
• Tannic acid comes from oak chips steeped in water
• The main challenge was finding a vessel large enough to hold the deer hide for steeping

The Solution

• An oak stump is used to steep deer hide in tannic acid
• The author fells an oak tree near the gorge and burns a hole in the stump to create a vessel
• The deerskin steeps for about five days
• After drying, the hide is stiff and requires chewing, rubbing, jumping, and twisting to soften it
• The softened deerskin serves as a door hung on pegs at the entrance
• Extra pieces of deerskin are cut and used to fashion jesses, or leg straps, for Frightful
• All well-trained falcons wear jesses and leashes for tethering
• Smoked meat is stored, and no part of the animal goes to waste
• A deer bone is crafted into a two-pointed spearhead, making it easier to catch frogs after struggling.
• Favorite meals include frog soup: clean skin, boil until tender, add wild onions, water lily bulbs, wild carrots, thicken with acorn flour, and serve in a turtle shell
• The author dreams of a deerskin suit to replace threadbare pants and frayed sweaters.

The Deer Suit

• Creating a trap for deer under the log
• The author initially uses elderberries as bait, but they don't work
• Hickory salt mixed with turtle fat is used as bait
• Frightful and The Baron Weasel accompany the author to observe the trap near the aspen grove
• One night, three deer approach the log, drawn by the smell of salt
• The Baron bites the author's ankle, causing the deer to flee
• The Baron's behavior is puzzling because he never eats the turtle or venison left out
• The author considers that The Baron might be a lonely animal seeking companionship
• Regardless, the author appreciates The Baron's presence

The Baron

• Every day the author works to train Frightful
• Frightful is placed on her stump with a long leash
• The author steps back with meat and whistles, associating the whistle with food
• After several attempts, Frightful eventually flies to the author's hand
• The author pets and feeds her, ensuring she only eats after flying to the fist

Frightful's Training

• One morning, Frightful flies to the author upon hearing the whistle, even without food or hunger
• The author is thrilled and realizes Frightful has learned that the whistle means "Come"
• A gentle recognition is seen in her steely eyes, and she puffs up her feathers, indicating contentment
• The author gradually increases the distance Frightful must fly
• One day, Frightful flies fifty feet

Summer

• Celebrates with seeds, bark and tubers
• Uses an old sweater for gathering, mentally designing better pockets for the future deer-hide suit
• Summer provides an abundance of food
• Food is gathered in the morning and stored in the afternoon
• Notches will not be big enough for the amount of food needed for winter, so another tree begins burning out
• A bin will be needed for hickory nuts, walnuts, and acorns
• With the easy living of the summer also comes a threat
• Hikers and vacationers in the woods cause concern

The author prepares deer hide for tanning using tannic acid extracted from oak trees. An oak stump is repurposed as a vessel to steep the hide. The softened deerskin is used as a door and to craft jesses for Frightful, along with a spearhead from deer bone.