Indiana Campus Photo Blog: Deer Hunting

[Dan Haas]

Graphic content.Viewer discretion advised.

My second year at the campus, I got to go out and do some deer hunting on public lands. I didn't get any time for scouting, as I recall.... maybe one afternoon, I'm not sure. But I got to go, and that was a blessing for me.....

I got up and was dressed and downstairs by 4 AM, and went down to the main kitchen. I forget who was down there, but I remember praying with her before I went out. My heart was truly thankful for the time afield, which I had missed in residence, and my prayer overflowed with thanksgiving. When she prayed, she “amened” my thanksgiving, and added, “And Father, may he nail one today!”

With one day to hunt and needing to be at work in the afternoon, I'd needed to put one down by 10 AM at the latest. OK, 10:15, I decided. When I dropped my deer, I looked at my watch, and it was 10:15 exactly.

I worked one block in the meat processing department under the able tutelage of Greg White. We quickly turned my prize into steaks, chops, and roasts.

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John Niesz lends a hand.

Greg White, above.I also made my jerky that year in the warming ovens of the main kitchen. Three different kinds, and plenty for sharing.

[Kevin Nye]

And just who shot that second deer? Niesz?

[Kevin Nye]

Nice photos Dan, and way to go! And by the way, did you ever get lost down around LA when deer hunting in the mountains somewhere with a guy by the name of Ron Anderson and it became a survival situation? Or maybe it was Ron who was lost and you who found him?

I know Ron got lost down there, and maybe it was someone besides you who was with him. But for some reason I am thinking you might have been the guy....

Kevin

[Dan Haas]

It's very supple, chrome tanned, I think, top grain and thin, as all deerskins are. Actually, I've done some leatherwork in the distant past..... I wonder where those tools are! This would not be good tooling leather, though. I do still have book repair tools, and was thinking actually of making an actual cased cover for a Bible, not one of those slip-on things. I'll check out your sample pictures.... might contact you if I need some tooling done in the future! It's a cool hobby / craft!

[Dan Haas]

I actually had the hide tanned professionally into leather, and have it in a drawer at home. I've always wanted to do something special with it (top idea is to make a bible cover). I also have the antlers somewhere, though I'm not sure where. Interestingly, that year, Tony Kleiwer demonstrated native American tanning techniques to tan a couple of the others guys' deerskins. Incredibly labor intensive! What a treasure he and his wife were to us as staff while we were in residence.

He also was a hunter, but of the most primal kind. Made his own bow of Osage Orange wood, and would lay down alongside a deer trail, covering himself with leaves. At the right moment, he would in one motion rise slightly, draw and release when the deer was only paces away. I don't think he got one that year.