quote:

Originally posted by Three Hawks:
In Regardere: Mink oil.

Some years ago I was given a pair of very nice hand beaded buckskin Lakota pattern moccasins with buffalo rawhide soles just in time for the Washington early muzzle loader deer season. They had been put away wet and were very like trying to put run over teapots on one's feet. Being grateful for the gift I was not going to toss them out and the only leather dressing I had was Mink oil. I warmed everything up, soaked the moccasins with the oil and put them in the now cooling oven to dry somewhat. A few days later the deer season began, so I dressed in my best period gear with that stinking oil all over my feet. The moccasins, although vile of stench, were quite comfortable.

Apparently yellow jackets have an overweening dislike of mink for whatever reasons. Because I soon noticed that my feet and legs were decorated with a furry black and yellow coating of little stinging
warriors. By the time I could get my mocs and leggings off both legs and feet were covered in painful lumps. my hunting partner was doubled over in cacophonous mirth. It was days until I could sleep well and I missed a week of work. My feet and legs were sore for two weeks. My primary care doctor says it would be worth the expense and the space in my hunting, camping and fishing gear to carry a first aid kit containing anti-yellow jacket stuff and a couple of 2 ml insulin syringes and some medical alcohol, although any fluid containing at least 75 % proof of ethanol would work and taken internally would ease the discomfort until it wore off. He recommended Meyers's Navy or Cruzan Clipper 150 proof Rums so long as I kept well back from the fire.

I will testify that at least in my experience five or six ounces of fairly good skull varnish does indeed ease the pain and induces sleep

OH, God bless Craigslist 'cause that's how I rid myself of those beaded, mink oiled horrors. Got $75.00 for 'em, I did.