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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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