American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 198 Ice Fishing Nets Are Intake! What is the Air Force?

On the morning of the twenty-eighth day, before dawn, Lin Yu'an was awakened by his precise biological clock and his intense anticipation.

The shelter was pitch black and completely silent, except for a few pieces of charcoal deep inside the fireplace that were not yet completely burned, still emitting a faint red glow and preserving the last bit of warmth in this cold darkness.

He didn't get up immediately, but lay quietly in his sleeping bag, feeling the warmth of the down sleeping bag, and listened to the outside world. The wind was much weaker than the howling roar of the night before, leaving only a low whistling sound, which was a very good omen.

He put the broth, which he had simmered overnight with shrimp shells, back on the fire. The cold broth had solidified into an amber-colored gelatinous substance, but as the temperature rose, it transformed back into a rich liquid with a faint, fresh aroma, and the unique fragrance once again filled the small shelter.

Nothing was added; I simply drank the bowl of pure hot soup in one gulp.

A powerful warm current started in my stomach and quickly spread throughout my body, dispelling the last trace of chill from the early morning!
Lin Yu'an quickly packed his gear for the upcoming expedition: several spare nylon ropes, a sharp logging axe, a wooden scaler specially crafted for processing fish, and most importantly, a handmade ice diamond that embodied a great deal of effort.

Then, he strode quickly toward the glacier, his feet sinking into the snow that resembled fine, dark blue sand before dawn.

The snow crunched and crunched underfoot, each step filled with an irrepressible excitement.

When we arrived at fishing spot number one, the sun had just torn a golden slit open from the distant horizon, dyeing the floating snow on the ice a pale gold.

That A-shaped ice fishing shed, woven from willow branches, resembled a silent outpost on the snowy plain.

After entering the ice fishing shed, he skillfully used kindling to ignite the dry firewood and charcoal in the tin bucket. Bright flames instantly rose, dispelling the stagnant cold air inside the shed and ensuring that he could return to a warm environment to warm up at any time.

Then, they took out the ice drill and began preparations for closing the net.

He muttered to himself, his breath steaming in the shed, "Before I can haul in the nets, I need a large enough trough."

Then he walked to one of the ice holes that was blocked by pine needles and cleared away the pine needles and snow used for insulation. A circular opening, fifteen centimeters in diameter with thin ice around the edges, was revealed again.

"This size is sufficient for setting the net, but if there are fish in the net, especially large fish, it will be very difficult to pull the fish and the entire net out of this small round hole together."

“The fishing net could easily get stuck at the edge of the narrow ice hole, which would not only cause the fish to fall off, but could also damage my precious fishing net. I can’t let all my efforts go to waste at the last step.”

Without offering any further explanation, he used the heel of his boot to precisely mark a clear straight line on the ice, following the direction of the main rope. This would serve as the baseline for the work to be carried out next.

He aimed the guide tip of the ice drill at a point about ten centimeters from the edge of the original ice hole in a straight line, and then lowered his body weight!

The guide tip immediately emitted a soft but firm "plop" sound, instantly "biting" into the solid ice. (乛乛)

Lin Yu'an stopped his slow, tentative spins. Instead, he spread his legs, planted firmly on the ice, instantly tensed his core muscles, and powered through his waist.

With an explosive posture that transmits the power of the whole body through the waist and abdomen to the arms, start to turn the handle forcefully!
"Snap—Snap—Snap—!"

The sound emitted by the ice drill was no longer a gentle "rustling" sound, but a dull and powerful cutting sound, like a beast gnawing on bones!
With each rotation, a large amount of dry, powdery ice shavings, like a fountain, were efficiently ejected upwards from the holes by the spiral blades, even splashing onto his trouser legs.

He no longer needed to deliberately slow down, because he could clearly sense the depth of the drill bit in the ice through the subtle vibrations and changes in resistance transmitted through the handle. Just as he was about to drill through, he instantly stopped the downward pressure!
"Pfft! Pfft!"

The ice cave was opened up, and a stream of icy river water mixed with white ice shards gushed out.

Without even looking, he immediately aligned with the baseline and began drilling the second hole.

Soon after, a straight line consisting of five perfectly aligned ice holes was connected to the original ice holes.

Then, he used the thick back of his axe to strike the thin ice walls that remained between the ice holes, which was an effective way to break the ice.

"Click, snap!"

The first ice wall cracked instantly.

"Click, snap!"

The second course... the third course...

Instead of scooping up the smaller ice shards, he used the back of his axe to push all the loosened ice blocks, like a skilled billiards player, into the other end of the ice trough, and then pushed them all under the ice layer.

Soon, a rectangular ice trough, about one meter long and fifteen centimeters wide, appeared clearly in front of him.

This huge opening was enough for him to easily lift the entire fishing net and all possible catches out of the water.

After doing all this, he walked to the ice anchor that secured the other end of the main rope and untied the twisted wooden stick that had been twisted into a spiral shape by the enormous tension, acting as a "Spanish winch".

As the wooden stick was released, the immense tension in the rope was instantly released, producing a dull yet powerful "thud"! The entire rope sprang violently across the ice.

Lin Yu'an returned to the rectangular ice trough he had enlarged, and his anticipation reached its peak at that moment!
He crouched down and began to pull the huge "closed-loop rope circle," his hands moving steadily, his eyes fixed on the deep ice trough where a few pieces of ice floated.

Beneath the ice, the "underwater wall" began to move slowly in the darkness.

He began to rhythmically reel in the rope, one hand after the other, the cold, wet nylon rope sliding smoothly across his gloved palms.

All that came back was the dull, lifeless weight of the water dragging the fifteen-meter-long fishing net.

The world beneath the ice seemed deathly silent, the feedback from the rope remained unchanged, and his heartbeat sank accordingly.

Was all that waiting and meticulous planning in vain?
Just as his patience was about to run out and he began to feel a little disappointed, a very slight, yet incredibly clear, tremor came from the rope!
That wasn't the pulsation of water, but a brief, living, bouncing movement that instantly disrupted the previous dull rhythm!
It was like a faint electric current, flowing precisely from the dark riverbed along the taut rope to Lin Yu'an's hands.

Lin Yu'an's pupils contracted instantly, and he immediately perked up—the goods had arrived!

He didn't exert sudden force, because that would disturb the catch and might even tear the net! He maintained a steady rhythm, only slightly increasing the frequency, allowing the fishing net to move smoothly and firmly towards the ice tank underwater.

Soon, in the deep, icy trough before him, in the almost pure black river water, a blurry silver-white flashed by!

As the fishing net drew closer, the silvery-white figure became increasingly clear, and finally, a lithe figure was dragged into the bright area of ​​the ice tank!
It was a lake whitefish that was nearly 40 centimeters long and had a plump body. It had obviously plunged headfirst into the net while swimming, and its head passed through smoothly.

But when it tried to back away or struggle, its open gills and thick body got stuck in the nylon netting. At that moment, it was futilely waving its tail, stirring up small ripples of water.

Then, in the middle to rear of the fishing net, a second, even more brightly colored figure appeared! It was an Arctic char.

It was slightly smaller in size, but the sunlight shone through the ice trough, illuminating its back, which was covered with beautiful spots, especially the distinctive orange-red color at the edge of its fins, which stood out brightly in the dark river water.

When the entire 15-meter-long fishing net was fully lifted out of the water and laid wet on the snow, the catch was immediately apparent: only these two fish, along with some weeds and dead branches that had gotten caught on it.

The fishing nets weren't as heavy and full of catch as expected, but the overnight wait was not in vain.

Lin Yu-an carefully freed the two fish from the net. Instead of pulling them out by force, he pinched their heads with his fingers and pushed their bodies back into the mesh. This was the least damaging way to remove the net and the best way to keep the catch intact.

"Two!" He exhaled a puff of white breath, his face showing not disappointment, but rather a sense of satisfaction that had been validated! "Not many, but at least they're no longer in the air force, which proves that this method is completely feasible."

In winter, when underwater life activity is extremely low, achieving such a catch with a homemade fishing net is an undeniable and enormous success.

Lin Yu'an placed the two fish on the clean snow, and after a couple of whacks, they quickly stopped struggling. Then he picked up one end of the fishing net, skillfully shook it, and cleared away the tangled seaweed and small debris.

Next, he pulled the rope loop again to reposition the cleaned "underwater wall" back under the ice and locked it again with a twisted wooden stick.

He believes that with this success, there will be even bigger surprises waiting for him next time!
Lin Yu'an carried the two fish back to the warm ice fishing shed. The wind and snow outside seemed to be shut out from another world; inside the shed, there was only the tranquility of burning charcoal and the gradually rising warmth.

He didn't rush back to the shelter. These two hard-won fresh catches would be the perfect breakfast for him today, and an immediate reward for his success.

Kneeling on the ground, I spread out a piece of birch bark as a cutting board. Using the tip of my hunting knife, I deftly sliced ​​open the thin belly of the Arctic char from the vent upwards, my movements precise and without damaging the internal organs.

Then, he carefully inserted his fingers and completely peeled out the entire set of internal organs, the slippery sensation clearly wafting through his fingers.

Then, carefully wipe the black peritoneum that gives the fishy smell, along with any remaining blood vessels, from the inside of the fish's belly with a handful of clean, fluffy snow that was grabbed from outside the shed.

The coldness and friction of snow are the best cleaning agents. In an instant, the fish's belly becomes clean, leaving only the snow-white and tender fish meat.

He examined the two fish. The larger one, a whitefish, had firm flesh, but its large and numerous scales would make it difficult to handle. He decided to take it back to the sanctuary as a strategic reserve.

The brightly colored Arctic red-spotted salmon in front of us is rich in oil, and it doesn't affect the taste even if you don't scrape off the scales; it's the perfect delicacy to enjoy right away.

From the pile of processed entrails, he used the tip of his knife to pick out the bright orange fish roe and a small piece of thick fish liver, which are precious sources of vitamins and fats in extremely cold regions.

He didn't hesitate to throw the remaining fish intestines, gills, and other parts back into the rectangular ice tank.

“Not a single bit will be wasted, because these entrails will become the most powerful bait, laying the foundation for the next roundup.” He muttered to himself, watching the entrails slowly swirl and sink in the river.

Only after he had done all that did he begin to prepare his breakfast.

First, find a spruce stick about the thickness of a thumb, sharpen one end with a knife, then insert it into the mouth of the Arctic char, along the spine, through the entire body of the fish, until it comes out from the tail, making a perfect grilled fish skewer.

Instead of placing the fish directly on the fire, he positioned the skewer at an angle and steadily inserted it into a tripod next to the charcoal fire in the tin bucket, allowing the side of the fish to receive the intense heat emanating from the charcoal evenly.

Lin Yu'an patiently and slowly turned the wooden stick. Soon, the fish skin began to shrink and tighten under the high temperature, with tiny bubbles rising and making a slight "crackling" sound.

The color of the fish meat gradually changed from translucent pink to opaque milky white. Drops of golden, clear fish oil began to seep from the plump belly of the fish, sliding down the body and finally dripping onto the charcoal below.

With a "sizzle," a small cluster of bright flames ignited, releasing a fragrant aroma that blended the freshness of fish with the scent of charcoal!

The outside world is a cold, desolate, pure white wilderness, but in this small shack, he has a warm stove and a sizzling grilled fish that is giving him all its essence.

This stark contrast brings an almost luxurious sense of happiness.

Breakfast is ready when the fish skin is roasted to a golden brown and slightly charred state, and the aroma of the fish meat is so rich that it becomes unbearable.

Lin Yu'an removed the piping hot grilled fish from the wooden stick and placed it on another clean piece of birch bark. He didn't even wait to use a knife, but directly tore off a piece of the back meat with its crispy skin and put it in his mouth.

First, the fish skin brings a crispy, charred aroma mixed with the scent of charcoal, which your teeth can easily penetrate. Next, you taste the tender, plump fish meat that almost melts in your mouth.

The unique sweetness and umami flavor of Arctic char, somewhere between salmon and trout, along with its rich oiliness, exploded on his taste buds instantly. The pure, natural deliciousness made him squint his eyes in satisfaction.

After finishing this hearty breakfast of protein and high-quality fats, Lin Yu'an let out a satisfied sigh. Every cell in her body seemed to be cheering, and energy was rapidly flowing back.

He sat on a small stool, savoring the lingering deliciousness in his mouth, while gazing at the boundless white world outside the shed, bathed in the morning sun.

A long-lost, deeper longing began to grow uncontrollably in his heart.

He rubbed his stomach. "Fish and seafood are good, but I've been eating them for too long."

Although fish meat is of high quality, it ultimately lacks the rich flavor and firm texture of myoglobin found in land mammals, which provides a more impactful taste experience.

Lin Yu'an had plenty of energy at the moment, but his taste buds and his genes had begun to crave something completely different—red meat.

"It's time to go on a hunt and bring about a complete change to my diet and my nutrition." Once this thought took hold, it quickly took root, and I wanted to act on it immediately.

He got up and went outside the shed. He looked at the sky and saw that the sky was high and cloudless, and the wind was much calmer than it had been a few days ago.

"Perfect weather, a great day to go into the woods."

And so, a brand new plan quickly took shape in his mind.

First, I assigned a task to my fishing rod, checked that the small fish bait on the hook was still intact, and then set up the tripod rod firmly next to the ice cave, so that it could continue to passively fish for me while I was away.

Lin Yu-an then returned to the shelter without lingering for a moment.

He first put the lake whitefish, which was already frozen stiff, into the "snow well refrigerator" and then covered it with snow again.

Then, he took out the beautifully shaped recurve bow and the quiver filled with fine arrows from the corner of the wall. He carefully examined the bow for any tiny cracks and felt the tension of the bowstring with his fingertips.

(P.S.: A bow from a fellow member of the book club.)
After confirming that everything was correct, he gently plucked the bowstring. In the dry air, the bowstring emitted a dull but powerful "thud! thud!" sound, full of murderous intent.

He then inspected each arrow, confirming that the arrowheads were sharp and the fletchings were secure.

Then, he rummaged through the pile of tools and found several rolls of thin annealed steel wire tripwire and some wooden parts that had been previously shaped, with grooves and holes, which were the triggering devices for a simple trap.

"When you go into the forest, you can't rely on luck alone. Besides actively hunting, traps are a more reliable guarantee."

Lin Yu'an put the recurve bow and the materials for making traps into his backpack, closed the door of the shelter, and turned to walk towards the northern forest, which was completely opposite to the river.

Fishing on the ice is full of uncertainties, but hunting in the forest is the ultimate test of patience and luck.

Today, he intends to place his bet on the latter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Good morning, guys! Have a great day!)

(End of this chapter)