Iceland review - 2019, Síða 100

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Iceland Review
ing them which way to turn. Men hunt more
for the sport these days.” Luckily, this is
not Þorsteinn’s and Miroslav’s first rodeo.
The day goes on. As minutes turn into
hours, the reindeer are proving elusive.
The sun is threatening to go into hiding
behind the mountains. After a long trek,
the trio find an ambush spot – a narrow
corridor between rocky hills and Route 85,
the road to Vopnafjörður.
Boom. The herd scutters away, moving
surprisingly slow at first. One of the rein-
deer falls behind. The Czech has struck
it. Þorsteinn has another in his sights.
But we’re right next to the road and a car
appears, matching the speed of the herd,
the driver watching the fleeing herd in
astonishment. The hunter doesn’t take
the risk. We observe the herd dart away,
leaving the wounded bull behind.
It’s a strange sight, seeing such a
mighty animal go down. Weirdly, I feel no
guilt. The hunt somehow felt like a natural
process. I zone out, lost in my thoughts.
Siggi calls us. We move on for another
shot. The herd is now moving towards the
hills, a lone sheep joining them. Þorsteinn
and Siggi settle into the moss. The herd
doesn’t see them, edging closer and closer.
It is absurdly near, 47 metres (155 feet)
away. Boom.
Siggi Aðalsteins with two hunting bulls.
Felled in Kinnaland. – August 27, 2019.
Environment Agency of Iceland.
Working over spilt milk
Away from the natural emptiness of the
wilderness, it’s comforting to know that
even though the reindeer are hunted for
sport, they are put to use. Every last inch
of the animals which we brought back will
be processed. Aside from the sea fleas
doing their part to clean the antlers, a
master butcher will section each part of
the carcass into edible cuts. Then, a crafts-
woman will get her hands on the pelt and
hide, which is salted before being handled.
You name it, they make it. “Last year, I
received a skin which had been in storage
for some years," says Ólafía Sigmarsdóttir
who has a workshop in Skjöldólfsstaðir.
"The owner wanted a hat. I made one,
and then I made a bag and a purse. He
was overjoyed and couldn’t believe how
much could be made from one skin. We
put everything to use. The parts which I