The FUMLA Turkey Shoot this year went a bit differently. I was actually there! This is going to be a brief write-up compared to my previous journal entries. The reader should note that this post contains pictures of a skinned beaver.
I had my bedroll all set and the guys suggested I just stay in the cabin this year. I wasn’t going too, until they pointed out it was now raining...so I quickly ran outside, rolled up my bedroll and brought it inside. It was a nice change to be inside the warm cabin on a cooler day. I was glad to have my sky blue wool melton light capot with me. I’d finished making it right before I’d gone to Bent’s Fort with Rod for the Fur Trade Symposium. I was glad I had it along this camp.
I had my bedroll all set and the guys suggested I just stay in the cabin this year. I wasn’t going too, until they pointed out it was now raining...so I quickly ran outside, rolled up my bedroll and brought it inside. It was a nice change to be inside the warm cabin on a cooler day. I was glad to have my sky blue wool melton light capot with me. I’d finished making it right before I’d gone to Bent’s Fort with Rod for the Fur Trade Symposium. I was glad I had it along this camp.
One of the plans, aside from the Turkey Shoot, was to set some traps for some beaver that had been causing problems for Rod. I brought along some red wool flannel that I had purchased for another project to rip a section from to use as a breech clout when wading in the Charbonneau Creek tomorrow afternoon. I thought I had only purchased two yards. I opened it up larger and larger. I had four yards! Looks like I’ll finally be hand sewing a wool shirt. I measured the width I figured I’d need, made a small slit with my knife and ripped it on down.
The time came for the shoot on Saturday afternoon. My new English Pattern J. Henry, made by Mark Morain, performed flawlessly. I, however, did not. I only hit two of the targets. A fun time was had by all.
Later that afternoon I switched into the breech clout, a new experience for me. I’m glad my blue checked shirt is as long as it is. I wore my wool leggings until it was time to get into the water. We used
The time came for the shoot on Saturday afternoon. My new English Pattern J. Henry, made by Mark Morain, performed flawlessly. I, however, did not. I only hit two of the targets. A fun time was had by all.
Later that afternoon I switched into the breech clout, a new experience for me. I’m glad my blue checked shirt is as long as it is. I wore my wool leggings until it was time to get into the water. We used
Early Sunday morning I ran back home because I had to do music for church and and then came back with Kim. I checked the traps with Rod. Kim just shook her head when she saw me in shirt and breech clout. I’m pretty sure I scared Lisa Sanden who was out as well that afternoon. My trap yielded no beaver. As we continued up stream Rod and I noticed a familiar piece of wood floating in the water. It was part of the trap stake for the other trap! When we got to where I had placed Rod’s trap we saw that during the night a beaver had gnawed his way around the exposed part of the trap stake right at water level. I noticed that all the sticks I had place in the water that were meant to direct a beaver to the trap were all gone. I pulled on the chain and felt some hefty resistance. The joke was on the beaver. He may have chewed off the top of the trap stake, but he was at the end of that trap chain, firmly caught in that trap.
This is the largest beaver I’ve ever caught. I skinned him out. The pelt, tail and castors/glands are in my freezer waiting to be pulled out for our trapper camp demo during Kids day at the 2016 Fort Union Rendezvous.
The included pictures were all taken by Rod Lassey.
-- Leifer
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