006 Old Trapper and The Lost Fawn

This week’s Tale of the Old Trapper is titled "Old Trapper and The Lost Fawn" by Shawn Henninger.

About Tales of the Old Trapper:

When I was a young boy maybe 5 6 or 7 My Grandfather would sit me down and tell me Tales of The Old Trapper. The Old Trapper was a man who lived many years before my grandfather was even born. The Old Trapper lived on the Land my grandfather had owned that we called the Old Place.

But, Before it was the Old Place it was called Home by the Old Trapper. This land is where he went on many adventures. Working with the woods for all the things he needed to food, clothing and shelter. The Old Trapper was not one for lavish things as he only lived in a single room log cabin he built himself. Through his adventures he learned many values that he passed on to the community and anyone who crossed his path through his journeys.

So join me as I re-tell the Tales of the Old Trapper just as my Grandfather told them when I was just a child.

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This Weeks Tale:

The Old Trapper eagerly sat by his window looking out at the field behind his cabin. Behind his cabin was a field with a few trees that led towards the timber. These 10 trees would produce some of the most amazing acorns he’s ever seen. These must have been some of the most delicious acorns in the county because like clockwork every evening a group of deer would make their way from the Timber and snack on this delicious treat.

The Old Trapper loved wildlife so much that he could sit and watch Squirrels play, Racoons chasing each other around the yard, and even loved seeing the opossums hanging from trees. But his most favorite thing in nature to watch was the peaceful stroll of a Deer. Now where The Old Trapper was from he would see the White-Tail Deer variety. He’d seen some Mule Deer that could be found out west, but he would stand by his statement that the Deer here were the best.

This evening just like any other he first saw a couple smaller deer making their way through the timber. After every few steps they’d stop and sniff the air to check if anyone or anything threatening was around. They’d continue into the opening and before too long the field would have over a dozen deer snacking away on the Acorns.

This evening out of now where the group of deer took off back into the woods. Now what on Earth could have startled the herd? The Old Trapper didn’t see any coyotes or other predators. Looking off to his left he saw three more deer making their way to the field. And just behind them he saw what had startled the others. A big Buck, that the Old Trapper swore he’s seen before, was following the Doe and her two Fawns.

Now the Buck wasn’t doing anything particularly bad but the Big Doe was not entertained by His antics. The Buck would jump up in the air and scratch at the ground. If he was a person you’d say he was showing off a bit to impress the girl. The Doe not interested took off into the woods with the Buck following behind.

The Old Trapper knew this was all planned out by the group. Sometimes Bucks can be a bit overbearing so once he was gone the other deers returned to continue their evening meal. There was something beautiful about watching a group of grazing deer. They move with such ease and peace. It’s amazing that an animal that big could be so quiet. The Old Trapper looked at his watch as the sun was setting and bid the Deer a quiet goodbye.

The Old Trapper made himself some supper and laid in bed reading his newest book. As the candle burned down the Old Trapper curled up and was ready to call it an evening. Shortly before morning the Old Trapper heard what sounded like a cry. He jumped out of bed throwing on his boots and rushing outside. His heart was racing as he ran towards where the crying was coming from.

As he made his way to the back of his cabin he saw in one of the fences near the woods a poor fawn stuck in the fence. The Old Trapper rushed back to his Cabin and grabbed some tools to help the poor animal out of the fence. Looking around he saw some corn that he thought would help calm the poor deer down.

As The Old Trapper approached the Fawn never being this close to a person before began to thrash around engangling itself even more. The Old Trapper used a calming voice to talk to the Fawn as he held his hand out with the corn. The Fawn’s thrashing slowed as it reached out and took a bite from the Corn. Then she took another bite...and another...and another...Before the Fawn knew it the old trapper had the fence cut away and freed the fawn.

The Old Trapper handed the last of the Corn to the fawn and dusted his hands off. Pleased with a job well done he assumed the Fawn would run off into the woods and join ...