Tuukka heads over to the rapids down river, scouting for trapping or a cabin. There is a natural jetty for beaching at on the south side. The north side reveals reindeer tracks.
At the “Hanging rapids” the river flows eastward. Tuukka decides to pit trap on the north side while making a shelter on the south side. He does wonder if he may have issues during the thin ice months. A camp on the same side but a little ways along might be useful. He can probably manage that at a ford site. For now separating them is to hide the smells of his human touch, the camp fire smoke and cooking fish from the traps and the trees nearby. One is clear, the wood shovel is very slow to use, taking time across a second day to get deep enough. Its the punt that makes it simple to move supplies from one side to another.
After his third night there Tuukka on the south bank loads the punt with stakes, twigs and slenders for fencing and another pit or two. Crossing over he hears a rustling then thrashing. Disembarking he finds the one pit trap placed, where the tracks were dense and the trees a natural fence, has made a capture!
Its a small doe. The way it moves its clearly in pain. Tukka will end it quickly. This rapids must be a good draw point! Heavy back swings of a two handed woods axe bash in unconscious then knife cuts on the neck bleed it out. The trap is near the shore making it easy to get it onto the punt then across to the south side for processing. The first cut of meat he gives to the spirits, a thank for their great generosity.
Over eighty pounds of meat remain, more than he can eat himself before it spoils. After skinning, butchering and cleaning the hide Tuukka decides to head back to Badger Landing. There he roasts half the meat and puts the other half in the cellar. He uses some meat to change over the bait on the bear log trap.
Day 7 of the 5th week before midsummer
A ten pound reindeer fur is in hand, without major flaws. Tuukka ponders making new footwear and cloths or a cloak. Really though he is warm enough right now. With near eighty pounds of meat in stores what matters now is what crops might be managed. Quick growing turnips certainly. With weeks of food already he can manage broad beans and maybe even peas, though he has none of the latter to plant. Then he can return to pit traps and the selection of the winter shelter. The hills a short walk up from Badger Landing will do nicely.
Day 3 of the 4th week before midsummer
The first section of ash turned earth has cooled enough for broad beans to be started. Its a challenge if they will grow in this four by four array. Tukka won’t plant all he brought north. The idea of just turnips for winter vegetables is rather dreadful. After a second plot is planted and third turned Tuukka heads back to Hanging rapids. While installing a second pit trap on the north elk, that is moose, tracks are found on the south bank quite close to the shelter! So it seems he will pit trap the south side as well.
The elk is there running on the shore! Tukkaa is punting to the south bank when he sees it! Chasing is only briefly attempted. It will be too alert and with only four arrows from a moderate archer isn’t likely to catch it. Perhaps I winter but this is high summer. A pit trap though where it was seen.
“Let the existing animal tracks tell you where to trap,” recalls Tuukka.
The first south pit trap is put in and a second started. The chores must be split though. Heading back to Badger Landing then to the “Hand cliff” hills Tuukka seeds a third plot of broad beans. He may try for a fourth or fifth of broad bean though it will cross the half way in his seed beans. Hand Cliff has a simple shelter with a spruce mat, fire ring, cooking stone and a tub of water nestled next to a boulder at a dip in the hill. This work camp will give him some shelter from rain and cold though it is lacking in defenses.
Sadly the half of reindeer he put in the cellar has spoiled. Well, it does make a wonderful lump of bear bait. A section of the waste he burns at Badger Landing, hopefully received as an offering admitting his error. Though there is not much he can do about bringing down a truly large animal so far. He would need to travel to trade or invest in a smoking building.
Work continues focusing on the agriculture. Tuukka thinks into the first week of Hay month the broad beans might, that is might, make it up. The turnip patches will be started soon. A few days at the Hand Cliff fields is followed by a trip to Badger Landing and Hanging Rapids pit traps. Fishing is again needed to sustain himself. As a fisherman boatbuilder this is relaxing enjoying memories of his youth.
Day 1 of the 2nd week before midsummer
Six plots of four by four of broad beans have been planted all but exhausting his supply.
Tuukka if enjoying a roast trout at the Hanging Rapids pit trap camp when a bawl of pain sounds off. Something went into a pit! Its the small elk he saw and didn’t try chasing. It has gone in at a trap placed on its original tracks. Sure enough animals do tend to go to the same places.
Tukka moves the 375 pound elk by punt to Badger Landing for processing. He has already gotten an idea of the limits of food he can store. Much of the meat will traded to communities south.
Processing the elk Tuukka remembers to pull out the back strap. This hide will be soaked to dehair. This will supply the leather for many tools to be made over the winter. With a reindeer fur and the battered fur he wears he is warm enough for months to come.
<Tuukka to trade elk1>>>