The Hair On Summer ( how deer hides can be used in summer to keep warm at night, instead of a sleep bag)
As mentioned in the hair on winter article, you will use a deer winter coat, in summer, tied in the “ reverse cape” to keep you warm. On temps where it may snow, with sufficient sweaters on, a couple pant layers, food in your stomach, a bed of spruce needles, you will be warm with just the fur on deer hide worn as described.
Find a dry space, under a tree, or make one by gatherering the dry spruce needles and making a bed; over this, throw down a towel to keep clean. Tie both hind legs together so it looks like cape. This can be done using the border holes that the hide was framed with. Put your head through the hole and pull down so the hide huggs your upper chest and shoulders tightly and is covering your front. Lay down on the bed of needles after a sufficient pillow is made and you have put together a solution to keep your feet warm - no rubber boots. Sweater wapps on bare feet work great.
The sides of the hide can then be snatched by your hands and tucked under your body for a tight snug, warm sleep situation. Make sure your head is warm too.
If you don’t tie the hind legs together as described, your shoulders and chest will get cold and you will be uncomfortable later in the night.
Transportation of a deer hide can be done by rolling the hide and securing with two thongs. Use the holes in the side of your hide with a third thong, the one used to tie the rear legs together as described above, to wrap the rolled hide around your waste and lace the two ends together in the front of your abdomen.
Turn the fur in. The fur in will prevent air from escaping better, but the insulation is reduced. If the leather has been soften well the fur out will reduce abrasion, wear, and slippage to the hair and won’t really sacrifice warmth.
You can cover over with an additional loose hide if you like, in the early morning hours to keep warm.
I find in summer a hide on my back, a reverse cape on the front, a spare loose hide in the later hours, a tuke or hood for my head, and some deer fur boots is a safe overnight summer set up with summer appropriate clothing; all these things (like fur on leather) are heavy so carrying it all is another issue, though the single fur on hide is quite light.
The reverse cape is not a comfortable sleep system if you are a restless, turning sleeper. I also don't seem to sleep well if I'm pointed up a slope so take time to find a flat, or otherwise comfortable sleep position.
Pull our balls out of your thighs so they breath over night. They should stay cool.
The most comfortable way to use hides, I've found so far, is deer on your back, fur on moose hide loose on the front, tucked over your bare feet, and a loose bead spread for mosquitoes, over the face. Warm, comfortable, near bug free, you can roll around; however, its not practical for a long, on foot, hike as the moose hide is too heavy.
