I will start off by saying that
the 2013 national event in
Hollister went about how I had
expected. With the last minute
change from CO to CA we lost a
few but gained some that were
not going to CO. and had last
minute cancellations. Yet we did
have some out of state folks
show up, Jay Web was the one
that came from the farthest as
he lives in Ohio.
I
must send out a thank you to
Becky Ford, Jack Swallow and
Buck Conner. Becky who at a
moments notice allowed us to
hold our encampment on her
ranch.
Jack was the one that dug
the hole for the hooter (in
ground that is hard as rock and
in 90% heat) cleared the area
for our group cook/camp fire and
pretty much got the area ready
and made it a fire safe area as
it was real dry there.
Buck sent me
several things from his
Accoutrement shop web link
http://accourtrements.tripod.com/index.html
Some
were to be sold and the money
donated to the NAF and the rest
were to be given out as shooting
and archery prizes. On behalf of
the North American Frontiersmen
we thank you three for your
generosity with your land, time,
labor and gift donations.
The
weather as it turned out was a
touch hotter then the weather
channel claimed. Instead of the
promise of the highs in the mid
70s
we
found that high 80s to the mid
90s was the case. Most of us hid
under a huge oak tree at the
hotter parts of the day where
Dan was making ram rods and
others were telling stories of
other encampments and talking of
future events. Right behind that
big tree was a sizable squirrel
town and since this is a working
cattle ranch we thought we would
help out Becky (the ranch owner)
by removing some of these little
pests. After a few shots they
learned to stay just out of
smooth bore range when shooting
shot. But I know that Jay and I
each removed a few, I know that
others also helped but do not
know if or how many they may
have gotten. We were also given
the go-a-head to harvest as many
wild pigs as we could while we
were there. I seen a few when I
got there on Tuesday but there
were way out my range 300 or so
yards away. I know that many of
us were talking about going on a
hunt for them but I feel the
heat may have changed our minds.
Although Ron and Leroy did take
off one morning for a while, I
can not remember whether they
went hunting or just having a
look around. Either way they did
not see any pigs.
I left real early Saturday
morning around 1 AM after my dog
Jane got sprayed by a
skunk.Since most everyone else
was leaving on Saturday, I did
not see the sense in fighting
with my smelly dog to stay off
my bed when I should have been
sleeping.
Dan brought some pre-1800's wood
working stuff, Dan wrote more
about what he had so I will let
him tell it.
I would also like to
congratulate a former Apprentice
of mine Dan Miller, who has just
finished all his requirements.
The Counsel of Elders has
approved his paperwork and was
given the degree of Woodsman and
membership number 130. And I
believe Jay Webb is hot on his
tail and should be turning in
his paperwork very soon as well.
Jay is going to bring in his son
as a Ranger and sponsor him once
he gets his Woodsman degree. The
photo is of my 2 Apprentices,
Dan, myself, and Jay who will be
the newest members of The North
American Frontiersmen.
I guess now that CO is having
more than its share of
wildfires. I think that we will
not try next year to have the
national event there. Susy
Epperson has found a possible
spot in UT and we shall see how
that works out. In the meantime
if anyone else knows of a place
please let me know, after what
happened this year I feel we
should have a plan B and even a
plan C if our first choice spot
gets canceled.
I am still working on a 3-5 day
ride as well as that buffalo
hunt I brought up last year. I
will keep you all up to date as
it gets worked out. Until the
next issue of the NAF messenger,
get on the ground as often as
you can and have fun.
Keep
your nose to the wind and your
eyes along the skyline.
