-
Recent Posts
Categories
Archives
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
Blogroll
Forums
General Living History
Historical Sites
Organizations
Artists
Category Archives: Wilderness Classroom
Oh, What Fun!
Two red-winged blackbirds chortled. One perched on a flimsy red willow in the swamp, and the other sang from the hillside, not that far ahead. A distant “honk, honk, honk…” emanated from the east, and a series of “ke-honks” came … Continue reading
Posted in Muzzleloaders, Research, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, Mountain Man, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
6 Comments
A Smoothbore Shooter’s Cobb Salad
Goose wings swished in the darkness. Moccasins crept along the earthen byway. At the oaks, the rolling hill took a sharp drop, falling to the edge of the swamp grasses with a steep slope. Moccasins slipped and scooted. Halfway down … Continue reading
Posted in Deer Hunts, Research, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, Mountain Man, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
Leave a comment
Time to Move On…
Trail-worn moccasins whispered in soggy snow. Up on the rise, a blue jay sang a contented morning song: “Swip-it! Swip-it! Swip-it! ” Sunlight streamed through the hardwoods. The aroma of warm bark perfumed the fresh, cool air. Three steps and … Continue reading
Posted in Hunting Camps, Persona, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, Mountain Man, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional camping, Traditional Woodsman
1 Comment
Not Worth the Risk
Thursday, 3 November 1763 Quick glances proved fruitless. Somewhere overhead little claws scratched bark. A different fox squirrel chattered in a distant slender oak. A yellow poplar leaf whip-sawed earthward. Gnats flitted about. The air smelled warm, damp and fall-like. … Continue reading
Posted in Research, Safety, Wilderness Classroom, Worth thinking about...
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, French Fusil de Chasse, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
Leave a comment
The Wisdom of Long Ago
One-by-one, five blue jays hollered. A chipping sparrow bobbed up-and-down on an autumn olive sprig. Its beak opened, but the blue-jay ruckus overpowered this tiny, forest tenant’s “chip, chip, chip, chip, chip…” The constant “JAY! JAY! JAY! JAY! JAY!” intensified … Continue reading
Posted in Skills, Squirrel Hunts, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
Leave a comment
Drafting a new meaning
Canada geese ceased honking at the first shot. A few minutes later a second shot, which sounded like it came from the far hillside, echoed up and down the River Raisin. An anxious thumb rubbed the Northwest gun’s jaw screw. … Continue reading
Posted in Persona, Skills, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional camping, Traditional Woodsman
2 Comments
A Rendezvous with an Old Hen…
Two wild turkeys squabbled. The rampage continued longer than most; the altercation sounded unresolved. An hour after first light the two began dithering at each other, on the ground, to the south. Blue jays screamed, adding a sense of intensity … Continue reading
Posted in Research, Turkey Hunts, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, Mountain Man, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
Leave a comment
Temptation Teased…
Temptation teased. Three broad green blades of prairie grass rolled between sweaty palms. A greasy, blackened thumb pressed the tangled ball into the Northwest gun’s muzzle. The young turkey’s gray pate again popped up in the deep grass and yellowing … Continue reading
Posted in Research, Skills, Wilderness Classroom
Tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, historical trekking, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Native captive, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman
Leave a comment
