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FRONTIERSMEN CAMPING FELLOWSHIP OFFICER PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

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4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.1 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Revision Date: March 2013 of 1

Requirements for

FCF MEMBERSHIP

Both Boys and Leaders

• Earn the following Merit Awards:

• Explain the plan of Salvation

• Explain the meaning of the Four Red, Four Gold and Eight Blue points of the Royal Rangers Emblem.

Boys Only

• Be at least 11 years old and at least an Adventure Ranger

• Be recommended by the Outpost Commander.

Leaders Only

• Complete the Ready Leader award of the Ranger Ministry Academy

• Complete requirement #2 of the Safety Leader Ticket

• Be a RR leader in good standing with his church

Both Leaders and Boys

• After earning all eight required merits you are now eligible for the “Frontier Adventure.” After successful completion, you will receive your Frontiersmen Pin and patch.

• FCF members are required to pay annual dues (set by the Chapter) and attend at least one (1) FCF Chapter event per year to remain an active member.

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4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.2 THE CALL OUT

Revision Date: March 2010 Page 1 of 3

THE “CALL OUT” At the District annual Camp, the FCF membership is responsible for the hosting an FCF Village, the “Call Out” and other special events and activities. Special events which are traditional to FCF are held in the FCF Village. These events are usually approved by the Royal Rangers Executive Committee and may include such activities as: Knife and Hawk throw, Flint and Steel, etc. Other activities in the Village must be approved by the Royal Rangers Executive Committee before the District Camp. The FCF Village is the responsibility of the District FCF President and is planned and assisted by the membership. The FCF committee should contact FCF members who have primitive shelters, frontier clothing and equipment which can be used in the FCF Village to enhance and provide a frontier atmosphere. The “Call Out” will occur on the first evening of District Camp prior to the evening Council Fire. “Call Out” should use these guidelines: After the District Camp attendees have gathered at the evening council fire or “Call Out” site, the Assistant Scout assumes his responsibility to make sure the Council Fire is appropriately lit as the signal to begin the “Call Out”. After the Council Fire is burning there should be a brief Frontier skit involving the Scout and other “Young Bucks”. “Volunteers” are called for. These “Volunteers” are those persons who have completed the Trail of the Grizzly requirements and are ready to attend a Frontier Adventure. After the “Call Out” of all the names on the list of “Volunteers”, the FCF President will officially call them “Greenhorns”. They will remain “Greenhorns” until they have successfully completed the Frontier Adventure.

The FCF President will briefly address the District Camp assembly and explain the purpose of FCF and its importance in the Royal Rangers ministry. The FCF President will dismiss the Greenhorns and allow them to return to their seats. The FCF President will encourage the District Camp attendees to join him in honoring the achievements of these new “Greenhorns” with a call to applause. The following Call Out ceremony is adapted from the 1971 edition of the FCF handbook: This should take place during the District Pow Wow Council fire service. The Royal Rangers are called to the council fire by the sound of the hunter’s horn. Several men dressed in full FCF outfits will be standing before the fire (These men are officers in FCF) The leader of the group will give an explanation of the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship. He will explain the five things which characterize the fellowship: Courage, Achievement, Friendship, Leadership, and Woodsmanship. One at a time, the FCF members will then step forward and state:

• The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship symbolizes Courage. The frontiersmen of early America were known for their courage. To become a member of this fellowship, it is necessary to display the same type of courage by performing the tasks necessary to complete the adventure which is required for membership.

• The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship symbolizes Achievement. A Ranger demonstrates this by the achievements necessary to meet the basic requirements for membership. He demonstrates this further by meeting all requirements of the Frontier Adventure. To meet these


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requirements, he must be a top notch Royal Ranger.

• The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship symbolizes Friendship. A strong bond of friendship is cultivated by members of the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship.

• The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship symbolizes Leadership. Each member should endeavor to demonstrate leadership by being an example of Christian living, Christian service, and assuming responsibilities.

• The Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship symbolizes Woodsmanship. FCF candidates must be experienced campers. As new members, they will continue to develop outdoor skills and apply them to camping situations.

The leader will then explain that new members will be called out in a few moments, and that they are waiting for a special messenger who will be carrying those names in a special dispatch case. Suddenly in the background, a sound of commotion and war whoops. Then the messenger carrying a torch and the dispatch case stumbles into camp. He gasps: “Through many dangers and perils I have come to deliver this important message.” (The arrival of the messenger may be changed or adapted to the local setting.) The leader takes the list of names from the messenger. The names of the individuals who are candidates will then be called. When all candidates have been called, the leader will read the following pledge: “Greenhorns, you have been selected as candidates7 for the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship. This is a great honor. However, before you are fully accepted into this brotherhood, you must engage in a

strenuous adventure to prove your worthiness of membership. This adventure will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your courage and skills in the out of doors. Will you accept this challenge and do your very best to complete this Frontier Adventure?” (Candidate7s should answer “I Will”) “Then on the appointed day, we will see you again to begin your Frontier Adventure!” A round of applause should be offered for these candidates, and then invited to sit in a special area designated for the greenhorns, if they are able.


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THE CALL OUT STAFF ASSIGNMENTS

A. Assembly Site 1. Location ___________________________________

2. Person in Charge ____________________________ B. Council Fire 1. Fire Builder _____________________ (Scout/Asst. Scout) 2. Fire Starter _____________________ (Scout/Asst. Scout) C. Pre-Callout FCF Skit

Player’s ____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

___________________________________

Equipment _________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

D. Candidates names called out ____________________________ (Scribe) E. FCF President address to assembly ______________________ (President)


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4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.3 FRONTIER ADVENTURE PROCEDURES


PURPOSE These procedures have been prepared to ensure that the Frontier Adventure is conducted in a uniform manner throughout our fellowship. The procedures provide FCF Chapters with direction on how to conduct a positive and memorable experience for new FCF members. FRONTIER ADVENTURE – Procedures

(See page nine of this document for duties checklist.) FRIDAY – (First Day) ARRIVAL AT CAMP

Each Chapter will determine the specific time of arrival so that the format of the “Frontier Adventure” will be carried out. Upon arrival to the camp, there will be personnel to direct parking and unloading of gear and campers. All new FCF candidates (refer to them as candidates at this time) will remain in a designated area. Only FCF members will be allowed to proceed into the “FCF Village”. Candidates will need to unload their gear, as required in their letters, that will remain with them at the “Royal Rangers Campsite”. A sample letter is found on page 7. Candidates are not required to be in a uniform at this time. The commander who recommended him for membership should have inspected his uniform prior to this event. Every portion of this event is designed to make a lasting positive impression on the candidates. We must do our very best to maintain the integrity of the “Frontier Adventure” so that all boys and men will have the same opportunity to enjoy their first experience with the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship and go away with a positive attitude. ROYAL RANGERS CAMPSITE

An FCF member shall act as the candidates “Campsite Commander”. He shall be in charge of parking and all activities at this site. He may have an Expedition Ranger or an Adventure Ranger (also FCF members) assisting him with his duties. Have enough staff to fulfill your duties, but don’t over do it. He must be in place early so as to provide instruction necessary for the candidates as they arrive.

The Campsite will be a waiting area until the “FCF Village” is ready for the candidates. The “Royal Rangers Campsite” should include: a dome tent, Coleman stove, awning, table, cold drinks, hot coffee, hot water for cocoa, some light snacks, etc. This should be a small “Royal Rangers Campsite” with the staff wearing Royal Rangers Utility uniforms. NOTE: There should be NO FCF gear or period items visible from this campsite, only modern “Saint Louie” style camping. There shall be no mental, physical, or verbal harassment of any kind to take place during this event. No touching of candidates unless he is in a dangerous situation. The staff is there to encourage and make them feel comfortable during their wait. They are not to be placed on silence at this time. REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES The Commander shall establish an area for checking gear of the candidates. Their gear should include only the items specified on their letter received from the Scribe(see page 7 of this packet). He will verify that each Candidate has every item on the list, making note to the Scribe of the things that are missing. He will also collect their permission slip, Knife and Black Powder Form, and all monies. He is responsible to get all this information to the Scribe at his earliest convenience. He should also instruct the candidates that they will not need items such as tents, stoves, lanterns, flashlights, cots, food (other than what is on their list)


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or other personal gear. They are told at this time that meals, shelter, and sleeping arrangements will be provided at the “FCF Village”. The Campsite staff will not offer any other information regarding the “Frontier Adventure”. The Friday night meal is not provided; candidates must eat before they come or bring a sack lunch with them that they may eat in the “Royal Rangers Campsite”. The staff is not there to cook a meal. “FCF VILLAGE” CAMP SETUP FCF’ers will be allowed to drive into camp and set up their shelters, lodges, teepees, etc. They will be asked to help set up the village to provide the necessary appearance for the “Frontier Adventure”. Members should unload their gear, remove their vehicles then set up camp. No vehicles should be in camp by the time the “Frontier Adventure” begins. As members set up camp, the Bourgeois will greet them and explain the sleeping arrangements for the brigade that will be arriving. In the village the candidates will be called “Greenhorns”. They will be the brigade that is arriving and will need accommodations. The Bourgeois will secure enough sleeping quarters for each “Greenhorn”. He will also notify them that there is a pre-Frontier Adventure meeting at a designated time before the “Greenhorns” arrive. All members must participate in the “Frontier Adventure”. No other activities should be scheduled during this special event for our newest members. All members must attend the meeting so that they will know and understand that there is to be no mental, physical, or verbal harassment of any kind tolerated. There will be no touching of “greenhorns” unless there is a dangerous situation where he may need assistance. If any member refuses to follow proper rules and procedures, they will not be allowed to continue to participate. BACK IN TIME - THE “FRONTIER ADVENTURE” BEGINS The “Royal Rangers Campsite” Commander will have the candidates assembled with all their gear ready to go at the prescribed time. At dusk, while visibility is still good, he will lead them down a short path to a designated point and will tell them, “Gentlemen, this is as far as I can lead you. If you follow this path you will find your guide who will lead you back into time. Remember to listen carefully to him and to follow his instructions exactly. God be with you”. The commander will then return to the “Royal Rangers Campsite” and dismantle the campsite with the help of his assistants. Once that is accomplished he and his staff will go to the village and prepare themselves to be part of the “Frontier Adventure”. Note: There is absolutely no harassment of any kind to take place during this event. The staff is there to encourage them, make them feel comfortable and prepare them for this event. The trail that you take them down must be very clear and distinguishable. At no time may there be any opportunity for confusion to the candidates. THE BOURGEOIS (pronounced boosh-wah) When the candidates come around the corner and see the Bourgeois, he will be with another FCF’er and they will be sitting around a very small campfire with a pot of water cooking, perhaps sipping on a cup of tea. They will greet the candidates, quiet them down and have them sit around the fire as well.

He will then tell them, “Hello Greenhorns! I heard you coming and see you have left the future and have decided to join us on this Adventure back in time somewhere in these early 1800’s. In my day it was common for men to leave civilization and set out into the wilderness. Often, instead of going off on their own they would join a Company and that is what you’ll be doing tonight. You will be my brigade. I am your Bourgeois _____________(FCF name) and this is _________ (FCF name) my partner. I am your guide and I will lead you from here on the rest of your journey. Welcome to your “Frontier Adventure”. Because we will be traveling through unknown territory there are specific things you must do to be able to accomplish the task at hand. You must do exactly as I say to prevent any harm from coming to you”.


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You tell them to stay close together, watch out for the one in front of them and that your partner will be bringing up the rear of the column.

Hand each Greenhorn a stick on a leather thong to put on like a necklace. Tell them, “The purpose of this “Silence Stick” is to help you to remember when it is okay to talk and when it is not”. He then says, “When the “Silence Stick” is hanging in front of you, you are “on silence” which means no talking. When it is behind you, this means you are “off silence” and it is okay to speak. If you have a question when you are on silence, raise your hand and I will give you permission to speak. There will be other officers of our Company who can also give you permission to speak and I will point them out to you as needed. For example, my partner here has that authority”. Put the greenhorns on silence at this point.

“We are now a trapping party commonly called a brigade and we will lead you to camp to sign on with the ___________________________Company” (name of your Chapter). You may choose to say “Trading Company” or “Fur Trading Company”. Any are correct. You will lead them on a short “trek” through the wilderness towards the “FCF Village” so that you arrive at just about dark. THE TREK On the trek all is quiet. No one speaks. As they walk quietly along the trail, the Bourgeois keeps a watchful eye for danger. He is the scout, his rifle at the ready; he guards, and guides his brigade of trappers. In the middle of the trek they meet a small band of local Indians or other trappers who have had a bad season with little food. A trade must be made to continue on through their land. The Bourgeois will negotiate safe passage with the leader and the greenhorns will give up their food, a can of beans each. This will not be enough so the greenhorns will also give up each of their candy bars. Satisfied, the others allow the trapping party to travel on. Again, no form of harassment is allowed. As the brigade comes around another bend they will follow the path of 8 lanterns shining on the symbols of the FCF fire: 5 logs and 3 flames leading them into the village that awaits them. At the end of their journey they will have reached the security of the Company. The Sentry calls out from the entrance “Friend or Foe?” The Bourgeois responds “friend”. The Sentry then recognizes his old friends and warmly greets the Bourgeois and his partner by name and welcomes them back from a long journey. The brigade will hear and see a group of old trappers fellowshipping around the fire (singing and music-praising our great God!) The camp is alive and the village is a welcome sight. Several of the FCF’ers will line up to shake hands and greet the new comers. The Bourgeois will take them off silence as they walk in so they can say hello and join in on the fellowship service. All their gear is set aside while a short worship service is conducted. THE COMPANY After they have enjoyed a time of worship, the Bourgeois will explain to them that they have arrived at the _______________Company. They will now need to sign on with the Company Scribe and will need to borrow some trade beads to purchase some items that they will need for the rest of their adventure. He also reminds them this is only a loan and they will be required to pay off their loan before this is all over. He may at this time need to split them up into multiple brigades to be manageable. This will depend on how many candidates are going through the “Frontier Adventure”. There may need to be more Bourgeois’ available from this point on. COMPANY SCRIBE He then introduces them to the Company Scribe and explains it is the scribe and his clerk that keeps the books and records for the Company.


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The Scribe verifies the greenhorn has provided all information required and directs them to sign the parchment. They are then given a stake of five (5) trade beads representing money, which will be used to purchase their supplies. They are then led to the company store. COMPANY STORE At this time the Bourgeois puts them on silence before taking them to the company clerk (or company designees) to make their purchases of the following items: a choker kit, a piece of flint, a black powder round ball, and their class booklet, leaving them with one trade bead left. The store workers should only talk to the Bourgeois since they are on silence. The Bourgeois then leads them to the shelter where they will leave their gear. He then takes them aside to another area for further instructions. Note: The purchases of these items are not optional. GUARD DUTY The Bourgeois will then tell them that as new trappers they are on night guard duty. It is their responsibility to watch out for all the camp tonight. He tells them they should use their candles to study their FCF handbooks and handouts and to take notes with their pen and notebook of the sounds of the night for a “couple of hours”. Explain to them where the restroom is and that they are not to go off with out a buddy. Let them know where your shelter is located should they need to find you during the night. Finally tell them, “Now you fellers keep a watchful eye out fer them critters, and if ya get attacked by a grizzly be sure to put up a good fight so ya wake up the rest of us before he eats ya!” He then leads them to the prearranged shelters they will guard; not letting them know this is where they will be sleeping the second night. Be sure to tell them, “Good night boys, say yer prayers.” SATURDAY – (Second Day) 7:00 AM- RISE AND SHINE

All brigades will put away their gear, and then go to the bathhouse with their Bourgeois as a brigade to clean up and be ready for breakfast at 7:30 am. He will lead them in reading a scripture so that they may use their Bible they brought. This is not the time for you to practice your preaching skills- read with them Matthew 6:25-34.

7:30 AM- BREAKFAST

This meal will cost one bead (their last) and is again not an option. The Bourgeois will serve his brigade breakfast. Remember they are on rations, like a fast since there has been poor hunting in this area. It should consist of water, hardtack and a piece of jerky. Keep in mind that any medical conditions (i.e. diabetes) must be considered and should be accommodated! AM- FRONTIER CLASSES

At this time before going to the classes the Bourgeois will explain to them that they must finish with 3 beads in order to become a true frontiersman and to be a member of the FCF. He should explain to them that they must listen carefully in each class to receive the proper training to have the opportunity to earn beads during the Trail Walk to repay the company store. The Bourgeois will go with his brigade to each class. Classes will rotate as needed based on the number of brigades.


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8:15 am Outfits Class 9:00 am Primitive Shelters Class 9:45 am Flint and Steel Class 10:30 am Trapping Class 11:15 am Hawk Class 12:00 NOON Lunch Break for lunchtime. Since there are no beads left to purchase a meal, the rations are even less. Since this is all the Bourgeois could scratch up, this meal is “poor bull” consisting of water and jerky only. PM- FRONTIER CLASSES- continued

1:00 pm Knife Class 1:45 pm Practice time 3:00 pm Trail Walk The Trail Walk is their opportunity to show that they have learned well and performed well to earn a stake of beads to pay off their loan. Trail Walk description is on page 8. Note: The beads the Greenhorns will earn must total at least three (3). These beads will be returned to the Company Scribe to pay off their loan and earn them recognition as a Frontiersman.

5:00 PM- DINNER Dinner is served and this is a feast! The hunt has been successful and we eat “fat cow” tonight. FCF members will cook this meal for the greenhorns. The beans they brought will be part of this meal and the candy bars will be for dessert. The rest of the meal will be provided by donation or purchased by the Chapter. Brigades go through with their Bourgeois first and then the rest of the FCF membership follows through. This is a banquet fit for a “free trapper”. COUNCIL FIRE SERVICE Council fire should start promptly at 7:30. First order of business will be lighting the fire by the Chapter Scout. Prayer is next. Make any 6

th bead presentations and then let the greenhorns show the Scribe

their bead “stake”. Note that it is possible that one who only had 2 beads may qualify at this time if he earned the 6

th bead.

Then welcome the greenhorns into membership. Present them their FCF pins, certificates, membership cards and greet them with a handshake. If your chapter does Love Blankets, now is the time to take advantage of the daylight.

A worship service is in order with a devotion and ending with communion. Dismiss and let anyone who must leave to be home for Church services know it is ok to leave now. Those who have permission by their church to stay on till Sunday are encouraged to enjoy the fellowship and get a good nights rest. The owners of the lodges that the new Frontiersmen had guarded the night before will invite them to make their beds in these lodges. Always ensure that Young Bucks stay with other Young Bucks as a safety precaution. At least two Old Timers must be present whenever any Young Bucks are sharing their lodge.


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IN REVIEW: DO’S * The Frontier Adventure should be a positive experience for both candidates and members. * The philosophy of the “Frontier Adventure” is that FCF is a trail of adventure that provides learning, development, and experiences in living history. This is continued in the FCF advancement trail from Frontiersmen to Buckskin, and then to Wilderness by developing friendships, outdoor skills, personal achievement, leadership and Godly character. Each Trace, Rendezvous, Trek, Day Event and Annual Business Meeting is designed to be filled with “color”, challenges, development of new skills, teaching history and applying the “WORD” of God. As an FCF member, you are always teaching through your Christian witness. This really says it all. DON’TS * Don’t add any of the old phase II activities and /or testing into the Frontier Adventure i.e.; conducting the Adventure at night; putting candidates on a rope in formation; or adding other activities not listed in the Frontier Adventure Procedures.


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Congratulations! Your application for membership in the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship has been reviewed and accepted. The following list gives the dates and locations in your area for the FRONTIER ADVENTURE. IMPORTANT! You must confirm with the Scribe or Company Clerk that you will be attending the FRONTIER ADVENTURE. The FRONTIER ADVENTURE is a two day event and you will be required to be at camp from the evening of the first day through the evening of the second day. Meals for the second day are provided. You should plan on eating dinner before arriving the first day. LOCATION DATE TIME ______________________________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ The following items MUST be with you at the FRONTIER ADVENTURE:

• Old Clothes

• Sleeping Bag • Pencil or Pen

• Notebook

• Sharp Pocket Knife • FCF Handbook

• New Testament

• Candle - 6” long

• Matches • 2 Candy bars

• Can of beans For additional information please call the following person: Scribe/Company Clerk: _____________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________ Email: ________________________


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TRAIL WALK: The Greenhorns are informed that they have been properly trained by the old timers and that it is time for them to prove their worth as company trappers. This is their opportunity to show the Bourgeois that they have prepared themselves to become true Frontiersmen. The Bourgeois places the Greenhorns at each station. They are instructed to move to the next station number as soon as they complete that station. If the Greenhorn successfully completes the required skill at his station he is given a bead. No bead will be given unless the skill is finished within the time limits.

• Station 1: Flint and Steel - Bring to flame within 2 minutes

• Station 2: Steel Trap - Set a trap within 1 minute • Station 3: Hawk Throw - Stick within 1 minute

• Station 4: Knife Throw - Stick knife within 1 minute

• Station 5: Jim Bridger Sight Test- view for 45 seconds. 15 seconds to name 7 of 10 items. FOR BOURGEOIS ONLY Suggested stories at each station of the TRAIL WALK:

• STATION 1: FLINT AND STEEL: One of their members has fallen into a frozen lake. He was pulled out and is soaking wet. In the sub-zero weather he will die if a fire is not started in 2 minutes. (Earn one bead.)

• STATION 2: STEEL TRAP: You have shot and wounded a grizzly. You have no more powder so your rifle is useless. The only hope you have is to set a trap. You have one minute to set the trap. (Earn one bead)

• STATION 3: HAWK THROW: You are in avalanche country. The danger is very high so you are unable to use the rifle. All you can use is the hawk. You are being attacked by a grizzly. You have one minute to stick the hawk. (Earn one bead.)

• STATION 4: KNIFE THROW: While skinning an elk you are surprised by a hungry wolf. There is no time to load your rifle or find your hawk. You must throw your knife. You have one minute to stick the knife. (Earn one bead.)

• STATION 5: JIM BRIDGER SIGHT TEST: Jim Bridger was famous for his photographic mind. He could draw a map of a place he had been 10 years before. The map would contain numerous details of everything he had seen. You have 45 seconds to view the items on the blanket. You then have 15 seconds to name 7 of the 10 items. (Earn one bead.)

NOTE: A Bourgeois assigned to a Greenhorn may present a special bead if he feels the Greenhorn has demonstrated the true FCF spirit by having a good attitude, trying his very best, showing team spirit and has set a good Christian example. The Greenhorn should not be told about this special bead until the end of the Trail Walk. This bead will be known and the “Bead of Merit”. (One per person.)


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FRONTIER ADVENTURE STAFF ASSIGNMENTS

A. Frontier Classes Instructor for Class Class Name 1. _____________________________ Frontier Cooking

2. _____________________________ Outfits

3. _____________________________ Shelters

4. _____________________________ Flint and Steel

5. _____________________________ Trapping

6. _____________________________ Hawk and Knife

B. Booshwah Name Activity 1. _____________________________ Flint & Steel

2. _____________________________ Steel Trap

3. _____________________________ Hawk Throw

4. _____________________________ Knife Throw

5. _____________________________ Sight Test

6. _____________________________ Signs

Note: Booshwah’s are responsible for setting up Trail walk.

C. Meals

Cook 1. _____________________________

2. ____________________________

3. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

E. Council Fire Fire Builders 1. _____________________________

2. __________________________

Worship Leader

1. _____________________________

Music

1. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

Speaker

1. _____________________________

Campsite Commander

1. _______________________________


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4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.4 FRONTIER ADVENTURE CLASS OUTLINES


CLOTHING

Materials needed

Examples of the different clothing,

accoutrements and handouts.

Introduction

Who am I?

What class is it?

What type of clothing do you have planned

to wear?

Objectives

One of the first things a Frontiersmen

needs to do after joining FCF is to get an

outfit. The first thing you need to do is to

sit down and do some planning because

there are many options to choose from.

First, and maybe the most important will be

how much you can spend on your outfit.

You must remember that when you see

other members in their outfits, they also

had to start somewhere. Most of them

have been in FCF for years and have slowly

built up their outfits. Very few, if any,

have gone out and put together a leather

outfit with all the trimmings all at once.

Simple planning and a little leg- work can

do wonders.

Second, you must pick the era and location

you want to represent. The era can be any

time period between 1740 and 1840.

Other Territories represent clothing of the

eastern Longhunter, a French Voyager or

central and western Plainsmen.

The western Territories represent the

traditional clothing and gear of the working

Trapper or Mountainman. The typical outfit

for those areas would be leather pants, coat

and moccasins.

A complete outfit made of leather can cost

several hundred dollars. So, instead of starting

with leather, you can start with cloth. The

mountain men wore cloth clothing when it was

available and nearly always when they first

began their journey into the mountains. Once

their clothing wore out they had to come up

with something new. Since there were no

stores, they turned to the only source they

could for clothing. This source was the

materials that the Indians used, primarily

leather. The mountain man would trade with

the Indians or take a wife that would make him

outfits of leather to replace his worn out cloth

clothing. Often he was required to make what

he could himself.

Fabric clothing is acceptable to wear and for

starters, all you need is a pair of cotton duck

pants and a calico shirt. You can make these

yourself or you can purchase them from one of

the many catalogs that cater to Buckskinners

and re-enactors including the Ranger Supply

Store. Patterns are also available in these

catalogs. If a friend, wife or mother can sew,

you can make this a family project. For less

than fifty dollars you can make a basic outfit to

wear.

Next, you’ll need some authentic footwear.

Moccasins were and are the most popular

footwear. The cost can range from a few

dollars for a Tandy Leather Crafts kit to more


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than one hundred dollars for a fine pair of

Dyer moccasins. The Dyers moccasins

might seem a bit expensive but they are

very well made and their ¼” thick soles

will not only last a long time but will be

very comfortable to wear. The double

soles allow you to walk over sharp rocks in

complete comfort. There are also many

patterns available if you want to make your

own.

You will also need something to keep you

warm at night. Most FCFers’ own and

wear a Capote. Putting together a Capote

can be a lot of fun. You can travel to the

thrift stores and look for old wool

blankets. These will usually cost less than

five dollars. Some folks have even found

Whitney blankets and paid only three

dollars (a new one can cost over a hundred

dollars). All you need to do is pick the

pattern and in a couple of evenings you can

have a capote to wear.

The last item you need to complete a basic

outfit is a hat. There are many different

types of hats to choose from. In camp,

you will see fur hats, felt hats, straw hats

and wool knitted caps. The fur hat seems

to be the most popular headgear among

buckskinners. Some researchers say that

the mountain man preferred a felt hat and a

fur hat was seldom worn. Both are

acceptable and the choice is up to you.

From the perspective of comfort, fur hats

can be expensive and wearing one on a hot

day can be mighty uncomfortable. For

most occasions a wide brimmed felt hat is

the most sensible choice. It is the most

common material for all Territories for the

period and gives you portable shade in the

summer. At night when it is cooler and you

want to keep your head warm, you can wear a

voyager or liberty cap.

You now have a basic outfit to wear at FCF

events that you can be proud of. All you have

to do is add some accessories such as belts,

bags, and beads and that will make you look

like an old timer. Ask other FCF members

how they made or acquired their FCF gear.

They are all glad to help you get a great start

on your outfit. They are a great resource for

teaching you how to make your own gear.

Keep in mind that you get more points for

items that you have made. In no time at all

you’ll be competing in the outfit judging at a

Trace or Rendezvous.

Clothing has such a wide scope and range that

we have limited the era to a select time period

of 1740-1840. Territories in the east have

clothing styles that differ greatly from western

mountain men. The influence

of the Indian tribes, Spanish explorers,

European colonialists, and the French create a

diverse clothing opportunity for FCF outfits.

Outfit Types

Hats

By far the most common hat was the round

low crown, broad-brimmed, wool felt hat.

Often a silk head band was sewn into the

interior of the hat. Trappers would make

“peculia carps” to replace the lost or worn out

hat they had. They also made fur caps much


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like the ball caps of today. Usually made

of some cheap fur like wolf, fox, raccoon,

skunk; but never, beaver or otter. There

were many variations of the fur hat. Cold

weather fur hats were bigger and longer,

more like a hood. Sometimes the face and

the ears of an animal fur were used to

decorate a fur hat and added additional

insulation and covering.

Less common was the full length head to

tail furs with paws on although it is very

impressive.

A standard headgear item worn by the

frontiersman under a hat or fur cap was the

silk handkerchief; tied in back fully

covering the head.

A hat of French origin was worn but less

common was the Toque - a knitted cap

with a tassel at the tip of the hat. No

matter which hat was worn, each was

made unique in the type of the hat bands,

decorations, feathers, snake skins, fur tails

and a wide assortment of beads.

Shirts

Calico shirts, called a trapper’s shirt with

drop sleeves was a comfortable and usually

colorful shirt that had a large variety of

prints to choose from. The next, most

common shirt worn by all Frontiersmen

was the basic muslin cotton drop sleeve

shirt. The western mountain man most

commonly wore a crude, manufactured

buckskin shirt in a style much like that of

the Indian tribes in the area. The Indian

style shirt was not common because that

limited him to a certain area with that

Indian tribe. Wearing a buckskin shirt from

one tribal area could result in hostile attacks by

other Indians tribes and even death. It usually

resulted in a trade for his life in exchange for

his possessions. Unless his shirts and pants

were made by skilled Indian tribes, his clothing

would be very crude and lacking any fit or

quality. It was a usual practice to buy or trade

for clothing.

Jacket or Coat

Jackets and coats were almost always made

from Elk skin or Buckskin, fringed with a

button-up front. Sometimes you would see a

Frock (of French origin) usually worn by a

French voyager. Another coat that was

common was the Capote of French and Indian

style. It was made from a wool blanket and

cut to make a hooded coat that had a length

equal to or below the knees.

Belts

Leather belts of all sizes were used to hold up

clothing, tools, weapons and pouches. The

average width was approximately 2 to 3

inches. A woven sash could be used as a belt.

Matching woven sock garters were used to tie

around the legs at the knee to prevent cold air

from passing up the legs. These items were

usually worn by the French Voyagers.

Breeches, Pantaloons, Trousers, & Drawers

Most straight legged, drop front pants were

made from linen or cotton. Breeches were

knee-length men’s garments that fit snugly at

the lower edges and had a button or

straightened closure just below the knee. This

style of breeches fit somewhat tight in the legs,

was baggy or loose-fitting in the seat and was


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tightened about the waist by means of a

drawstring gusset at the rear of the

waistband.

Pantaloons were close fitting leg coverings

shaped to the contour of the legs coming

down to the ankles and usually held taunt

by straps that passed under the foot.

Drawers and under drawers were knee

length garments worn under the breeches.

Their length could be knee length or longer

if used under pantaloons and trousers. The

fabric of choice appears to have been wool

flannel having a button-over flap front

closure.

Moccasins

During the fur trade area there were two

basic styles of moccasins; the pucker-toe

and the one piece or side seam moccasin.

The side seam or one piece moccasins are

formed with a single seam on the outer

edge of the foot and is open at the instep to

admit the foot and is sewn behind the heel.

The pucker-toe moccasin was the most

common for most of the western

frontiersmen. The pucker-toe moccasin

was made by placing the foot on leather

and adding about 3” on each side of foot.

It was then sewn together about half way

up the arch of the foot and a tongue was

added.

Restate Objectives

Go out and research your clothing and

make and enjoy


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FIRE MAKING

Materials needed

Fire ring, Flint and Steel, 3 Tins (Start, in

the fire, Finish), Handouts, water, shovel.

Introduction

Who am I?

What class is it?

"What was the most common cause of

death for the Trapper? Hypothermia.

"In the writing of Rudolph Frederich Kurtz

we have indisputable proof that a Fire Steel

was one of the Mountain Man's most

valued possessions. Kurtz was a Swiss

artist who went into the American west to

paint Indians, a subject which at that time

had captured the imagination of the

civilized world. On January 20, 1852,

Kurz made the following entry in his

journal: "Smith wants my fire steel for his

benefit early in the morning: He is going

on a hunt. Throughout the entire fort not a

fire steel, a utensil of such importance…

Hunters find their flint and steel

indispensable. So Smith is at a loss unless

he can use mine. I was perfectly aware of

the fact that in this place a man never

knows where he will sleep the next night or

whether he may not be sent unexpectedly

into the open where a fire steel is just a

necessary as a knife and

gun."(Buckskinning I, Rebel Publishing

1981, P.145)

Objectives

How to select good tinder.

How to properly lay a fire.

How to use flint and steel to start a fire.

How to make charred cloth or tow.

Basics of Good Fire Making

Selecting Good Tinder

Inner bark of most dead trees (i.e. cedar, birch,

pine, cotton wood, etc.) Fine wood shavings,

Grasses, Weeds, Reeds, (i.e. cattail heads,

nettle, milkweed, etc.) Pine needles.

Properly laying a fire

Make an "A" frame fire with lots of tinder,

small kindling and a small teepee on top. Use

some sapwood if available to ensure a quick

start. Make a bird’s nest from shredded bark,

pine needles, dry grasses or other appropriate

tinder. Place a few pieces of char cloth into the

birds nest.

How To Use Flint And Steel

Hold the steel properly so that your knuckles

are not injured during striking.

Strike steel properly in a downward action,

striking into the flint.

One method of striking flint is to hold it about

2" above charred material and strike

downward. Another method is placing the char

directly on the flint and striking the flint

downward. Both methods work well.

How To Make Charred Cloth

Cut 100% cotton material to desired size. (1

½” to 2” squares are a good size)


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Pack into a tin can or metal box with a

tight fitting lid.

Punch a 1/16 or 1/8" diameter hole in the

center of the lid.

Place the container on a moderate fire in a

ventilated area for approx. 5-10 minutes.

Remove the container from the fire when it

no longer emits smoke through the hole in

the lid.

Turn the container upside down to cover

the hole in the lid and let it cool for 15

minutes.

DO NOT OPEN THE CAN WHILE IT IS

HOT! The char will ignite and burn in the

can.

Remove char cloth from container and

place in a moisture resistant container.

Restate Objectives

Practice Time


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SHELTERS

Materials Needed

Handouts

Several shelters set up for demonstration

Introduction

Who am I?

What class is this?

Objectives

To learn about the different types of

primitive shelters

Shelter Types

We need to consider what tents were most

common to the time period in which we

are portraying.

Diamond Shelter

The diamond shelter is about 8 feet square

and erected from a sapling or a hewn pole.

A very practical tent because it could be

carried by most any trapper, since it

weights only about 10 lb. Setup is staking

down the corners and tying off the top

corner to a sapling or a pole. A fire could

be built in the front of the shelter to keep

warm and if used in combination could be

put together to form a four pointed star,

thus making a great warm shelter. Why

the diamond shelter? For the common

Buckskinner, the diamond shelter worked

great in the field, but what would be used

at the Rendezvous? The Rendezvous tents

were provided by easterners. It is very evident

that these tents were most likely to be

common tents of the east coast.

Wedge

By far, the wedge tent was one of the most

popular tents of the fur trade around the time

of the Rendezvous. The wedge came in a

variety of sizes, from 7' by 7' by 6 1/2' to 14'

by 12' by 9' high. The tent requires two

upright poles and a ridge pole. If desired, a

rope could be strung between two trees and

the tent could be set over that. It was then

staked down along the edges. Set up time is

about 15 minutes. It was heavier (weighing

about 15 lbs. not including the poles) than the

diamond, thus it required a horse or wagon for

transport.

It is a good versatile tent but space requires

that you sleep on the ground due to angled

sides. It also could not have a fire and is

difficult to have a stove inside.

Wall tent

The wall tent was used more at Rendezvous

and military camps because of size and weight.

It was used for stores, kitchens, barracks,

hospitals, and housing for officers. It was used

extensively by the Hudson Bay Company in

their expeditions and Rendezvous’. The most

common size was 10' by 7', and the walls were

3' high and the peak 8' high. The inside center

of the tent has two uprights and a ridge pole.

The outside has four uprights and two side

ridge poles. Both ends can be opened up to


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allow air to circulate and when desired a

stove can be used inside for heating and

cooking. The wall tent is the easiest tent

to heat.

Marquee

This is a good tent that comes in varying

size from small to circus size, but requires

an abundance of poles. The set up time is

about one hour. It was mainly used as a

hospital, store, or an officers’ tent. The

average size was about 10' by 14' by 5' at

the walls and 8' at the peak. It is versatile

enough to have a stove. It was not a

common shelter at the Rendezvous

because of its weight and the number of

poles that must be used.

Pyramid

The Pyramid is a nice tent arriving on the

scene in the late 1820's. Its name describes

what it looked like. Its size range was from

about 7' square by 7' tall, to about 15’

square by 9 ½’ tall. The tent was setup

staked down on its square base with a pole

in the middle or a rope from a tree branch

to the top of the tent, requiring about 5

minutes to setup. It was a good tent

however, due to limited space, required

sleeping on the ground. It was difficult to

have a stove in, but was easy to transport

and easy to setup.

Tipi

It is a great place to live but a difficult

home to have to move. The size probably

didn't exceed 10 to 14 feet in diameter and

weighing about 60 lbs. it required horse or

wagon transportation. Most of the tents at the

Rendezvous were provided from the Trapping

Company back east. The only tipi shelters at a

Rendezvous belonged to the Indians that

attended. Most mountain men never spent any

time in a tipi except when trading, or talking

with some leader. Due to the many poles, the

tear down and move and then setup was a

major process. The setup time is about one

hour. There were advantages to the tipi. You

can have an open fire or a stove inside.

Cooking could be easily done inside the tipi.

The only disadvantage was that space was

small and the angled walls required that you

sleep on the floor.

Painting

The main reason for painting the shelters was

to denote ownership. The second reason for

painting was to help water proof the shelter.


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TRAPPING

Materials

Several different sizes, and types of traps.

Introduction

Who am I?

What class this is?

What was the reason the Mountain man

went west? Trapping.

Objectives

How to select the site for the trap.

How to tie down the trap.

How to bait the beaver into the trap.

How to properly set the trap.

The Steel Trap

The universal mode of taking the beaver

was with the steel trap, in which the

trapper became very skilled. The trap

weighed about five pounds and was valued

at about sixteen dollars during the fur trade

time period. The chain attached to the trap

was about five feet long and had a swivel

near the end to keep it from kinking. In

setting the trap, the trapper wades into the

stream so that his tracks may not be

apparent. The trapper plants his trap in

three or four inches of water, a short

distance from the bank, and fastens the

chain to a strong stick, which he drives into

the bed of the stream at the full length of

the chain from the trap. Immediately over

the trap a little twig is set so that one end

should be about four inches above the surface

of the water. On this twig is put bait called

castorum or castor, the odor of which is a

great attraction for the beaver. To reach the

bate he raises his mouth toward it and in this

act brings his feet directly under it. The beaver

treads upon the trap, springs it and is caught.

In fright, the beaver seeks cover in his usual

way by diving into deep water. The beaver is

held by the chain which it cannot gnaw

through, and after a struggle, it sinks to the

bottom and is drowned. The traps were

checked at least once a day because if an

animal were to come along and find the

trapped beaver, the animal would then usually

kill and eat a portion of the beaver, thus

ruining the hide for sale at the rendezvous.

Setting the trap

Restate objectives

Practice time for setting the trap

4.5 Frontier Adventure Handout Page 1 of 25

Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship

The

Frontier Adventure

Handout

Prepared by the National FCF Action Team

Revised March 2010


Table of Contents

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Primitive Shelters ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Wall Tents .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Wedge Tents .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Military Wedge Tent or Bell Back Tent ................................................................................................................................ 5

Diamond Shelters ................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Marquee Tents ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6

No-Pole Hunters Tent or Pyramid Tent ................................................................................................................................. 6

British Bell Tent ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Baker Style Lean-to ............................................................................................................................................................... 7

Whelan Style Lean-to ............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Tipis ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Primitive Shelter Gear .......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Outfits ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Cloth Outfits ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Shirts .................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Coats .................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Belts ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Pants ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Footwear ............................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Hats ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Outfit Styles ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Outfit Judging Competition ................................................................................................................................................. 15

Choker Instructions .............................................................................................................................................................. 18

Fire Making ................................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................. 19

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Basics Good Fire Making .................................................................................................................................................... 19

Trapping ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................. 21

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Steel Traps ........................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Setting Traps ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Possession of Wildlife Animals, Birds of Prey or Their Parts ............................................................................................ 21

Hawk and Knife Throwing ............................................................................................................................................................ 23

Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................. 23

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23

How to throw a hawk ........................................................................................................................................................... 24

How to throw a knife............................................................................................................................................................ 24

Frontier Trade Goods Suppliers ................................................................................................................................................... 25


Primitive Shelters

Objectives Differences in primitive shelters.

Setup of primitive shelters.

Shelter accoutrements.

Introduction There are many good choices for an FCF shelter. The

handout attempts to give you a simple overview of some

characteristics of each of them.

Wall Tents

The wall tent has left a long trail through history. It has

been used for centuries and it came in all sorts of sizes. It

gives more headroom than most tents, and the traditional

inside pole design makes is easier to setup.

The "eastern style" or inside pole wall tent is the oldest

and most authentic wall tent design. It derives its name

from the fact that it can be set up with a minimum of

three poles: two uprights and a ridge pole on the inside of the tent. The tent pictured above is an eastern style with

outside wall poles. This setup works the best, although it is possible to tie the walls off at a wide angle, eliminating

the need for the outside poles.

The other type of setup is the outside pole or "western style". This style came later. It uses more poles, longer poles,

and therefore it is a bit more difficult to set up. The reason that this style became popular is that poles were plentiful

in the west. When an encampment was pitched, the poles were cut from the area. When the encampment was over

the poles were simply left behind. New ones were cut at the next site. Since they didn't have to haul the poles, it didn't

matter how long or bulky they were.

Wedge Tents

This is one of history's most popular tents. Not only

was it used by the Continental Army and during the

Civil War, it was also one of the most popular tents of

the fur trade era. There are numerous accounts of

wedge tents being used by traders and trappers alike at

the old rendezvous. Between about 1755 and 1860 it

was the single most popular tent in America. Probably

the main reason for the wedge tent's popularity is its

very basic and functional design. Simple to erect, it

goes up in minutes with only three poles.


Summer Heat: During the hot summer months, you can open both ends to get a cooling breeze through the tent.

Winter cold: Because each end has two 4 inch overlapping facings with inside and outside ties, they can be closed up

snugly for winter camping. This gives you all the

benefits of a solid end without any of the drawbacks.

Open Face set up: Since both ends are split up the

center, one side can be raised out for a canopy effect.

Military Wedge Tent or Bell Back

Tent

During the French and Indian War, American Revolution and American Civil wars there was a military version of the

wedge tent. The doors on this tent have no overlapping doors. They are closed at one end. The 1741 French military

wedge tent had a 48" bell at the end. It is 6' wide, 6'3" tall, 6'9" long,

plus the bell back.

Diamond Shelters

Most people like diamonds for packing in because of their relatively lightweight and small size. They can be thrown

into your pack or rolled up tightly and tied on below the pack.

The Diamond shelter is a simple design. It may be set up in any of the configurations shown above. It is a square

piece of canvas measuring anywhere from 10'x10' up to 16'x16'. 18" long ties are sewn around the edge every 24".


Marquee Tents

The high peak and walls make for the best headroom and useable space of any shelter, and because it was used as

early as the Renaissance Period, this tent is one of the most authentic at any rendezvous.

One nice feature of the Marquee is the extra flexibility built in to the curtain design. On warm days a curtain may be

drawn back or removed for open ventilation. On colder days the curtains can be tied tightly to prevent cold airflow.

Partitioning of the Marquee into rooms also makes for a civilized living environment.

However, one must be aware that these tents are cumbersome to setup and require a considerable amount of poles.

The good news is that poles for this type of tent are easy to obtain. A trip to the lumberyard will take care of the pole

problem. For the ridgepole, use a 2X4. Two 10 foot long 3X3's can be used for the uprights after shaving off the

corners, and the twelve to twenty perimeter poles (depending on Marquee size) should be 6 foot high 2X2's. The two

uprights and the perimeter poles need pins. A good method is to drive a 16-penny nail into the end and cut off the

head.

No-Pole Hunters Tent or Pyramid Tent

The Pyramid tents were used during and after the fur trade.

Rufus Sage used one in 1841 when he was traveling along

the Laramie on his way to Fort Platte. Francis Parkman's

party used one in 1846, and other references support

evidence that the pyramid tent was in use as early as 1820.

Sizes ranged from 7'x7'x7'to 15'x15'x9'6". The pyramid style

tent has popularity because of its space efficiency, ease of

set up, and low requirements for poles. This style of tent

was on occasion referred to later as a miner tent.

The Hunter's tent gives the flexibility of three different set

up possibilities. For a one-pole set up simply place the pole

inside the tent, propping up the middle. It causes a loss of


over space in the center and is the least recommended. In the two-pole method, just tie the peak of the tent to the

point where the two poles cross. By lifting the poles and propping their butts against the ground, no ropes are needed

for set up. For the no pole method, tie a rope to the loop at the peak and throw the rope over a tree limb and tie it

off.

It is hard to find a tent that goes up quicker or easier that this type. Just peg out the base and raise the peak and setup

is complete. Setup takes only 5 to 10 minutes and that leaves more time to enjoy the outdoors.

British Bell Tent

Used during the Napoleonic Period and Crimean War, this tent is

erected using only one pole 9'10" long. It measures 12'6" in

diameter and has a 17" high wall. The doorway is in two sections

where the top and bottom are separately functional. The peak has a

thirteen ounce brown canvas cone with grommet. Small ventilators

in the peak help keep the air circulating. Although there are

references to these bell tents in letters dating to 1794, widespread

use by the British Army did not begin until about 1810.

Baker Style Lean-to

Although it is not historically authentic to the fur trade era, the

baker lean-to is one of the more popular tents at the

rendezvous. It is actually a canvas version of the open-front

Adirondack lean-to, sometimes seen on canoe trails. In a

nutshell, it is a wall tent cut in half long ways with a flap added

on to the front. The flap may be closed in bad weather or

raised to form a fly for shade. It is cumbersome to setup and


requires 12 to 15 poles of various lengths. The square design is very practical for storing gear and placement of beds

for sleeping.

Whelan Style Lean-to

Named after its inventor, the Whelan is another shelter that, while not being documented as authentic for the period,

is a very popular home at the rendezvous. Its wide acceptance and popularity can be attributed to two things. First of

all it is a lightweight, practical design that one person can fit easily in with his gear. Secondly because of its low front,

the Whelan has virtually unlimited flexibility of set up. In a pinch, it can be set up with no poles by using a rope

between two trees to support the ridge.

Tipis

The Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez De Coranado during his 1540-42 expedition told of seeing native hunting

parties living in skin tents. We also see many artist’s

rendering of the rendezvous of 1837 showing tipis in

the artwork of A.J. Miller, a noted sketch artist of the

time.

Most of the tipis of that time were made of animal

hides. These were very heavy and therefore kept sizes

to a minimum. Large 20 to 30 foot tipis were not

around until 1804 when the army began providing

Russian made sail canvas to the Indians.

There is nothing quite like spending the night in a tipi.

Its unique design is remarkable, and the history behind

it is endless. But the tipi is far more than just a romantic

oddity. It is one of the soundest designs in the history

of man-made shelters. The very shape of the tipi makes

it one of the soundest designs against the wind and the

rain. It is very roomy, yet one person can pitch it if

necessary. The liner makes for good ventilation in hot summer weather while providing the draft for a fire during the

winter months. The smoke flaps at the top of the tipi can be adjusted to draw the smoke off the interior fire, keeping

the tipi virtually smoke free. They can also be closed off to shut out inclement weather.


The two basic cuts of tipis are the Sioux and the Cheyenne. The

Sioux has an ellipsoid floor area with a tilted cone. This design

creates more usable floor space with increased headroom at the rear

of the lodge. The Cheyenne design offers better protection in

inclement weather because of the perfect circle cut.

The liner is what gives the tipi its flexibility. In the summer it

provides the upward flow of air for ventilation. In the winter it

provides and insulation barrier against the cold, and all year round it

is the means by which the smoke from the fire gets carried out the

top of the tipi, and water from the poles is carried outside.

Without the liner, a tipi is simply not the same wonderful shelter, because the ability to have a fire and to be

comfortable in extreme weather conditions is lost. It is important that the liner be water repellent like the outside

canvas. An optimum size for the liner is 5' to 7' on most size tipis. If the liner is larger than 7'-8' the fire will not draft

as well, leaving a smoky interior.

An Ozan is a half circle piece of canvas tied above the

sleeping area inside the tipi just below the liner. It

serves to retain heat and prevent cold air above the liner

from blowing down in the night. It also protects

bedding from water droplets during a severe rainstorm.

Although it is certainly not a necessity, an Ozan is a nice

addition to the lodge.

The authentic tipi may be painted with designs. For this

purpose it is recommended that a latex exterior house

paint be used. The paint should be cut with about 30 to

50% water to increase longevity of the design.

Tipi poles are taken from "lodge pole

pines". These trees are selected

because of their small trunk size and

straight growing pattern. Generally

these trees are in dense forests that do

not permit them to grow outward and

only upward. Oregon and Montana

are both large suppliers of tipi poles in

the west. Most 16' or larger tipis

require at least 17 poles 25' foot or

longer. Poles themselves are not very

expensive. But the freight on a

complete set is as much if not equal to

the cost of the poles.


If you plan to purchase a tipi, you must purchase the book "The Indian Tipi" by Reginald and Gladys Laubin. It is the

most comprehensive book on tipis, including set up instruction, history, decoration, tribal designs, and much more. It

is the tipi owner’s bible.

Primitive Shelter Gear

Canvas Bed Rolls

A canvas bag is generally a 6' wide piece of canvas

folded in half equal to the length of your body that ties

up on side. Its construction is like that of a flour sack.

A 6" wide gusset may be sewn in around the sides to

give the bag thickness. Put blankets inside for warm,

dry sleeping. If the bedroll is rolled for transporting,

there are ties for closing it. It can then be tied to the

bottom of a canvas or basket pack. A bedroll can be

used alone on a primitive trek or if one finds their self

without a lodge.

Lighting

There are many authentic methods of bringing light into the primitive

shelter.

Candle Stick- probably the simplest method of holding a candle. There

are many designs of candlestick holders. They do not generally offer any

wind protection and are limited to use within a lodge.

Betty Lamp- Wick type of lamp with grease reservoir.

Wooden Lantern- this seems to be a very popular method of lighting at most

FCF events. It is a simple frame of wood with glass panes on three or four

sides, a metal covering over the top, a handle of some sort and a candle in

the center on a secure holder. The glass panes protect the flame from wind

and rain and can be used almost any time.

Brass or Tin Lanterns- Similar in construction to the wood lantern.

Pierced Tin/Copper Lantern- This lantern can be square or round with designs pierced into

the sides to emit light.

Candelabra- Usually holds 4 to 6 candles on holders securely attached to ornate metal arms.

The additional number of candles greatly increases the amount of light within the lodge.


Outfits

Objectives Provide information about clothing styles and resources for materials.

Introduction One of the first things a new member should do after joining FCF is to get started making an outfit. Sit down and

do some planning because there are many styles to choose from. Maybe the most important decision is how

much can you afford to spend on an outfit. You must remember that when you see other members in their

outfits, they also had to start somewhere. Don’t try to just throw something together. Make a plan and follow it

until you have the outfit that you envisioned. Most of them have been members for a while and have slowly built

up their outfits. Very few, if any, have gone out and put together a buckskin outfit with all the trimmings all at

once. Simple planning and a little leg work in some thrift shops and garage sales can do wonders.

The time period for the frontiersman began when the first Europeans set foot in the new world and continued into the

late 1800's. The time period for the purpose of the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship is from the mid 1700's through

approximately 1840, just after the last great Rendezvous.

A typical western mountainman outfit would usually consist of buckskin pants, shirt and moccasins. This is

definitely an expensive way to go for a first outfit and should be considered something to build up to. A

complete outfit made of buckskin can cost several hundred dollars.

Cloth Outfits

Outfits made from cloth are a much more cost-effective way to start. The mountain men wore clothing made

from cloth when they began their journey into the mountains. As their clothing began to show signs of wear,

they were forced to improvise with the materials that were available to them in replacing their clothing. With no

manufactured clothing available and no stores to buy them from, they turned to the only source they could for

clothing, Indian trading. The clothing they made was from animal hides such as deer, elk and buffalo. Indian

women would make a new outfit of leather to replace his worn out cloth clothing in trade for something of equal

value. Occasionally the mountainman would take an Indian woman for a bride to meet his needs for a companion

and homemaker. Others would make what they could by themselves and trade for the rest.

Suffice it to say that fabric clothing is acceptable to wear. For starters, all you need is a pair of cotton canvas

pants and a calico shirt. You can make these yourself or you can purchase them from many different supplier

catalogs, the Ranger Supply Store or other stores that cater to buckskinners. Patterns are also available from

these suppliers so a wife or mother, who sews, can make an outfit from them. This could become a whole family

project that would get everyone ready for the FCF Sponsored Family Camp. For fewer than fifty dollars you can

make a basic outfit to wear.


Shirts

Shirts were usually made from calico and called a trapper’s shirt, which was a drop sleeve style, usually colorful

with large wide spread printed designs. The next most common shirt was a crude, manufactured buckskin shirt in

a style much like that of the Indian. The Indian style shirt was not common because that limited him to a certain

area with that Indian tribe. When traveling outside of the area and captured by Indians wearing that shirt meant

death. When he was wearing some other shirt he could have traded his life for much of his possessions. Unless

his wife was a squaw, his clothing was crude or bought or traded for.

Coats

In cold weather, warm clothing is needed. Every mountain man will want to own a capote.

Capotes are nothing more than a thick wool blanket that has been made into a long overcoat. Whitney and

Hudson Bay blankets made the most authentic capotes. These blankets can be rather expensive but some FCFers

have been known to pay as little as three dollars for one of these blankets. Getting a capote can be a lot of fun.

One can travel to the thrift stores and look for old wool blankets. These will cost usually fewer than five dollars.

Just pick an authentic pattern and in a couple of evenings of cutting and sewing one can have a capote of their

own. Blanket capotes were cut French or Indian style. They commonly had a hood and the coat covered the

person to the knees.

Other jackets or coats were almost always elk or deer buckskin with fringe and buttoned up the front. Sometimes

a frock (of French origin) was worn by some of the French voyagers.

Belts

Belts were usually a made from thick leather and were about 2 to 3 inches wide. They were strong enough to

hold up the tools that the mountain man carried with him like his knife and hawk. Woven sashes and matching

woven sock garters were less common and usually worn by the French voyager mountain man.

Pants

Breeches, Pantaloons, Trousers, and Drawers Trousers were generally straight legged with drop fronts and

usually made from linen material. Breeches were knee-length men’s garments that fit snugly at the lower edges

and had a button or straightened closure just below the knee. These styles of breeches fit somewhat tight in the

legs were baggy or loose fitting in the seat and were tightened about the waist by means of a drawstring gusset at

the back.

Pantaloons were close-fitting tights shaped to the legs coming to the ankles, usually held taunt in the legs by

straps that passed under the foot.

Drawers and under drawers were made knee length if worn under the breeches and longer if used under the

pantaloons or trousers. The fabric of choice appears to have been wool flannel having a button-over flap front

closure.


Footwear

Some type of authentic footwear will be needed. Moccasins were and are the most popular footwear. The cost

can range from a few dollars for a Tandy kit to over a hundred dollars for a fine pair of Dyer moccasins. The

Dyer moccasins may seem a bit expensive but they are very well made, will last a long time and be very

comfortable to wear. They have thick double soles so walking in them is not as hard as with thin sole moccasins.

There are also many patterns available if you want to make your own. Moccasins of the fur trade era seem to be

in two styles. The pucker-toe and the one piece or side seam moccasin seem to be the most predominant styles.

The side seam or one-piece moccasin is formed with one seam on the outer edge of the foot and is open at the

instep to admit the foot and is sewed up behind. Second, the pucker-toe was the most common for most of the

mountain men. The pucker-toe moccasin was made by placing the foot on leather and adding about 3” on each

side of foot. It was then sewn together about half way up the arch of the foot and a tongue was added.

Hats

Another important item needed to complete the basic mountainman outfit is a hat. Here you have some choices

also. In camp, you will see members wearing fur hats, brim hats and knitted hats (toques). Some researchers say

that the mountain men did not where fur hats and only wore felt hats. The choice is yours. Starting with a fur

hat can be expensive and wearing one on a hot day can be mighty uncomfortable. For most occasions a wide

brimmed felt hat is the most sensible choice. It is not only practical as portable shade in the summer, it is correct

for the period. At night when it is cooler and you want to keep your head warm, you can wear a voyager or

liberty cap (toque) or put on the fur hat on really cold nights.

The most common hat was the round low crown broad-brimmed, wool felt hat. Often they would even have a

silk headband sewn into the interior. They also had fur caps much like the ball caps of today. They were usually

made of some cheap fur like wolf, fox, raccoon, skunk; but never, beaver or otter. A variation of this hat was

bigger and longer, more like a hood. Sometimes the face and the ears of the chosen animal was used for

decorative or added layers on the head covering. A less common hat was one of a full-length animal from head

to tail including the paws even though it looks very impressive. Indians used these types of fur hats in ceremonial

dances. Hats of French origin were also not very common. A silk or cotton handkerchief was a common head

covering worn by the mountainman. It was tied in the back of the head fully covering the hair. Another less

common hat was the toque, a knitted cap with a tassel at the tip of the hat. No matter which hat was worn, each

was made different by decoration or hatband. Feathers, snakeskin, fur tails and beads were all used to make a

unique mountainman hat.

Outfit Styles

Mountainman Style (Buckskinner / Trapper)

Who can say there is a correct way for the Trapper or Mountainman to dress? Research shows certain styles that

this reckless breed of men might have worn. We will refer to these styles in the following manner:

Company Trapper - This individual most likely dressed in the European style.


Hat: Large wide brims, low crowned felt or straw hat

Coat: Heavy wool or manufactured leather

Shirt: Drop sleeve, made from wide print calico, Onnesburg, wool, pillow ticking, linen etc.

Pants: Most always manufactured leather there was also a heavy linsey-woolsey or canvas pant available.

Shoes: The common shoe of the period was a lace up brogan straight lasted to fit either foot with the

rough side out. Also common was a heavy square- toed type boot. Moccasins were not often seen

in a company brigade.

Weapons and tools:

Rifle: Usually a flintlock in the military style or long rifle such as a poor boy or Lancaster. Harper's

Ferry rifled muskets were widely seen.

Knife: There were many styles of knives carried. Mostly they were butcher knives of good size because

of various uses of them. Also, a small knife was carried on the gun bag for patch cutting.

Axe: Commonly a large belt axe was carried, but this was cumbersome, so the lightweight trade axes (i.e.

Tomahawk) were adopted.

As you read this you draw a picture in your mind of a greenhorn headed for the mountains. Remember

these were men hired to do a job for a company and most of the time the company outfitted them and

took it out of their pay, so they used what was available at the point of departure. But there arose out of

these men an independent visionary who we will examine next.

The Free Trapper

“Waugh! Pilgrim I took ye fer an injun! Ye raised the fur on ma back son. Why ave kissed more purty

injun squaws, fit more silver tips, ate more boudins, shot more hump, an trapped the golden beever. I

know which way the stick floats, I can tell fat cow from por bull, I reed sign, an ain't never been lost. I've

seen the cross of the mountains, sculped my share of piegans, wintered up at 80 below, this ole coon can't

be beat, I got the hair of the bear in me for I am a MOUNTAIN MAN. !!!”

The free trapper was a free spirit who decided he didn't need the company telling him where and when he

could go. These men were explorers. It took a different breed of men to open up the west. They always

had another mountain to see, the other side of a valley to reach and a constant searching for a place

where the beaver were huge and the color of gold.

They often wintered with a friendly band of Native Americans and most likely took up with a consenting

lady of the tribe. This is where the Indian look came into the dress of the free trapper. He knew that

OLE’ calico shirt he kept packed away just for rendezvous wouldn't last forever so he petitioned his lady

friend to fix him up with some fine duds. She most likely used his trade beads along with quills that she

dyed for color, on his new suit of rendezvous clothes. Keep in mind that there is no certain way a free

trapper would have looked. But it can be said that the extent to which we go to in the FCF may just be

over doing it a bit. This is not said to discount all the work that goes into our outfits for there is time and

place for every aspect of our ministry. Let’s just keep in mind that if you are going to put something

together to wear in the FCF, give a lot of thought to being as close to period and the era as possible.

Shirt: War shirt, beaded or not, your preference. Some were painted with various patterns.


Pants: Usually leather fringed breeches. Leggings and breechcloth were not real common although they

were in use.

Head Gear: The trapper still liked his wide brim hat. If they lost it, they would adopt a scarf to ware on

their head. In the colder climes they would resort to fur hats. There was no common fur that

was used, but I would say that a lot of beaver and otter were used although these were cash

furs, they used what was available. Fox and coyote were used as well as buffalo, wolf and

other common animals. Just remember the fur was almost always a winter coat for the

warmth. They had a sense of humor and uniqueness with hats and at times got very

elaborate with them.

Weapons and tools:

Rifle: Their rifle was very dear to them. They protected it and took very good care of it. They carried

spare parts for it. It most always was a Flintlock due to the unavailability of primer caps.

Outfits Competition Competition for best outfit is a common event at National and Territorial Rendezvous. The point sheet for

judging outfits is provided for your study. It cannot be said enough, you need to make your own gear if you want

to win. You’ll gain respect and a bit of pride for your efforts. Official FCF Outfit Judging forms for

Mountainman (seen below), Colonial, Voyager, Long Hunter, Taos Trapper, Military and Professional categories

used for Trace and Rendezvous are found on the National FCF Website, www.nationalfcf.org

Mountainman Category Read through each category – Check off each point designation you have earned. Add up your total points for each category. Add up the

total points for the entire sheet, and then bring your judging form and all costume items to judges for final approval and possible bonus

points.

1. Shirt – Choose one

a. Frontier Style shirt (linen, cotton, muslin, calico, or wool) –7 pts

b. Buckskin war shirt (cowhide, buckskin, moose, elk, buffalo) – 10 pts

i. If shirt has beaded decoration (rosettes and strips) – add 3 pts

ii. If shirt has quilled decoration (rosettes and strips) – add 5 pts

c. Hand sewn or laced- YES � NO �

Total Points (15 pt Max) _________

2. Pants- Choose one

a. Frontier style pants (wool, cotton, duck, linen, ticking, corduroy) – 4 pts

i. Drop front or French fly – add 4 pts

b. Fringed leather pants (cowhide, buckskin, moose, elk, buffalo) - 12 pts

i. Beaded decoration- add 2 pts

ii. Quilled decoration- add 3 pts

c. Hand sewn - YES � NO �


3. Coat - Choose one

a. Fringed leather coat made of buckskin, moose, elk etc. – 10 pts

i. Beadwork, quillwork, or other decorations – add 5 pts

ii. Fringe Decoration – add 5 pts

b. Wool Capote– 10 pts

i. Embroidery (moose hair, silk, or other) – add 3 pts

ii. Fringed decoration – add 2 pts

c. Buffalo Robe – 10 pts

i. Bead or quill decoration – add 5 pts


d. Hand sewn or laced- YES � NO �


4. Headgear- Choose one

a. Felt hat (round crown plainsmen felt hat, tricorn, toque

Top hat, NO cowboy hats)– 6 pts

b. Fur hat (Real fur such as fox, bear, coyote, raccoon, skunk, wolf, etc. NO rabbit) – 10 pts

i. Quill, bead, or feather decoration – add 5 pts

c. Handmade- YES � NO �


5. Shoes- Choose one

a. Plains style moccasins -10 pts

i. If moccasins are beaded –add 3 points

ii. If moccasins are quilled – add 5 points

b. Saddle boots – 6 pts

c. Paul Revere Style Boot (turndown cuff) – 6 pts

d. Handmade- YES � NO �


6. Belt

a. Wide leather belt with buckle (2 ½ -3 inches wide) – 10 pts

i. Brass buckle- 2 pts

ii. Forged buckle- 4 pts

iii. If beaded or studded – add 1 pts

b. Handmade- YES � NO �

7. Total Points (15 pt Max) _________ Knife and Sheath (throwing knife does not count here)

a. Frontier style knife- 5 pts

i. If knife was hand forged – add 5 pts

b. Hand made leather sheath – 5 pts

i. If sheath is heavily quilled, beaded or studded – add 5 pts

c. Handmade-Knife - YES � NO �

d. Handmade-Sheath - YES � NO �


8. Hunting Pouch- Choose one

a. Canvas haversack – 5 pts

b. Leather or animal hide – 10 pts

i. Beaded decoration – add 3 pts

ii. Quilled decoration – add 5pts

c. Handmade- YES � NO �


9. Powder Horn

a. Authentic powder horn – 2 pts

i. If horn is buffalo horn- add 1 pt

b. Matching primer horn – 2 pts

i. If horn is buffalo horn – add 1 pt

c. Scrimshaw

i. Powder horn and primer – 2 pts

d. Carving or file work

i. Powder horn or primer- 1 pt

e. Handmade- YES � NO �



10. Rifle

a. Percussion rifle –7 pts

b. Flintlock Rifle – 10pts

c. Points here count for percussion or flintlock rifles

i. Stud work – add 5 pt

ii. Inlay silver or brass – 5 pt

iii. Additional decorations (beads, feathers, rawhide, etc.)- add 1 pts

d. Handmade- YES � NO �


11. Additional Items

Add two points for each additional item and check the box to the left if the item was handmade by the contestant. Write in

the total points in the space.

� Throwing knife and sheath ______

� Tomahawk w/ sheath ______

� Choker ______

� Flint and steel with tinder box ______

� Burning glass ______

� Patch Knife ______

� Salt Horn ______

� Horn Spoon ______

� Powder Measure ______

� Personal Pouch ______

� Canteen (no gourds) ______

� Horn Cup or Noggin ______

� ID Staff ______

� Fringed Leather gun case ______

� Frontier glasses ______

� Capper or Flash guard ______

� Long handles ______

� Bullet Bag ______

� Gauntlets ______

� Trade Bead Necklace ______


Total Score (200 pt Max) _________

Additional points for handmade _______

Additional points for craftsmanship _______

Bonus for overall appearance _______

Total Overall score _______

Conclusion

You now have the basics of putting together an outfit. With research and attention to detail, you will have an

outfit that you can be proud to wear at an FCF event. Add some accessories such as a belt, knife, botas,

necklaces and beaded pouches and you’ll look like a real old timer. Ask for ideas from other knowledgeable

FCF’ers and they will be glad to give you some good advice

These points will be added

by the judge, using the

Additional Points form


Choker Instructions

The bag that you have been given has all the pieces necessary to create a quality bone pipe choker. It is important that

you use care in opening the bag to avoid losing any pieces. The bead on the tie string indicates the color of the

choker beads. You will need the bead on the string to complete your choker.

The choker should include the following:

40 Crow Beads (Solid color glass beads)

20 1 1/2" Bone Pipe

6 ft. Sinew

6 Leather spacers

1 Tie thong

1 Calico cloth wrap

ASSEMBLY

Carefully lay out all the choker pieces. Look through each bead and bone pipe to make sure the hole is clear. If it is

plugged, take a needle or other small probe to push through the obstruction. Leather spacer holes will also need to

be opened up with a small knife or needle.

Lay out the bead and bone pipe kit as shown below. Begin stringing the sinew through the leather spacer top hole,

through a bead, then a bone pipe, then a bead, through the next leather spacer and so on. At the end of the first row,

start back through the leather spacer and finish the second row and so forth. When finished threading through all

rows, pull the sinew tightly and tie the two loose ends together in a knot. Singe the sinew with a match or flame to

melt the knot over itself. This will prevent the choker from coming apart in the future.

Cut the leather tie thong in two equal pieces. Wrap an end around the leather spacer and tie with the sinew as shown

below. Thongs may be replaced later with softer leather for comfort.


Fire Making

Objectives How to select good tinder.

How to properly lay a fire.

How to use flint and steel to start a fire.

How to make charred cloth or tow.

Items for demonstration: Fire ring, flint and steel, char cloth, water, shovel.

Introduction "What was the most common cause of death of the Trapper?

"In the writing of Rudolph Frederich Kurtz we have indisputable proof that a Fire Steel was one of the Mountain

Man's most valued possessions. Kurtz was a Swiss artist who went to the America West to paint Indians, a

subject, which at that time had captured the imagination of the civilized world. On January 20, 1852, Kurz made

the following entry in his journal: "Smith wants my fire steel for his benefit early in the morning: He is going on

a hunt. Throughout the entire fort not a fire steel, a utensil of such importance… Hunters find their flint and

steel indispensable. So Smith is at a loss unless he can use mine. I was perfectly aware of the fact that in this

place a man never knows where he will sleep the next night or whether he may be sent unexpectedly into the

open where a fire steel is just as necessary as a knife and gun."(Buckskinning I, Rebel Publishing 1981, P.145)

Basics Good Fire Making

Selecting Good Tinder

It is important that any tinder that you select must be dry.

Inner bark of most dead trees. (i.e. cedar, birch, pine, cotton wood, etc.)

Fine wood shavings, Grasses, Weeds, Reeds (i.e. cattail heads, nettle, milkweed, etc.)

Pine needles, Tow or Flax, Canvas thread prepared in a char can

How To Make A Fire

Form a bird’s nest with your tinder

Place a few pieces of char cloth in the center of the nest

Place the nest in front of you with the wind to your back

Put a piece of char cloth on top of or under your flint

Hold the steel in your other hand and strike it against the flint in a downward motion

As soon as a spark ignites the char cloth and begins to glow, stop striking the flint

Place the glowing char cloth into the center of the nest with the other char cloth

Wrap the bird’s nest around the char cloth

Hold the nest upward to avoid getting smoke in your eyes

Blow continuously into the center opening of the nest until it ignites into flame


How To Make Char Cloth

Cut 100% cotton material to desired size. (1 ½” to 2” squares are a good size)

Pack into a tin can or metal box with a tight fitting lid

Punch a 1/16 or 1/8" diameter hole in the center of the lid

Place the container on a moderate fire in a ventilated area for approx. 5-10 minutes

Remove the container from the fire when it no longer emits smoke through the hole in the lid

Turn the container upside down to cover the hole in the lid and let it cool for 15 minutes

DO NOT OPEN THE CAN WHILE IT IS HOT! The char will ignite and burn in the can

Remove char cloth from container and place in a moisture resistant container


Trapping

Objectives Anchoring, baiting and setting the trap.

Possession of animal furs and parts.

Animal hide skinning.

Items for demonstration: Various sized traps, fur hides.

Introduction The mountain man moved west in search of fortunes that could be made by trapping beaver. Beaver pelts were in

high demand throughout Europe and were used in making men’s top hats. A good beaver pelt would bring

upwards of five dollars wholesale. Trappers would stay out all winter and at the annual rendezvous each would

bring back upwards of 500 pelts for sale. After a few years of trapping, enough money had been made to

purchase some land and settle down with a wife and start a family.

Steel Traps The universal mode of taking beaver was the steel trap, which the trapper became very skilled with. The trap

weighed about five pounds and was valued at about sixteen dollars during the fur trade period. The chain

attached to the trap was about five feet long and had a swivel near the end to keep it from kinking.

Setting Traps The trapper set his trap by wading into the stream so that his tracks were not visible. He planted his trap in three

or four inches of water just a short distance from the bank, and then fastened the chain to a stake, which was

driven into the bed of the stream at full chain length from the trap. Immediately over the trap a little twig is set

so that one end was about four inches above the surface of the water. On this he would put bait called castorum

or castor, the odor of which has a great attraction to beaver. To reach the bait, the beaver raises his mouth

toward it and in this act brings his feet directly under it. He in turn steps upon the trap, springs it, and is caught.

In fear he seeks cover in his usual way by diving into the deep water, but finds himself held by the chain which

he cannot gnaw in two, and after a struggle, he sinks to the bottom and is drowned. Traps were checked at least

once a day because other predators would find the trapped beaver and if not already drowned, would kill and eat

a portion of the beaver and destroy the value of the hide.

Possession of Wildlife Animals, Birds of Prey or Their Parts The State and National Fish and Game departments regulate the taking and possession of all animals or parts of

animals. It is not legal to possess any part of a bird of prey in most states. Check with your local Fish & Game

department before picking up birds of prey feathers or possessing certain animal parts.


Birds that are restricted from possession:

Bald Eagle

Golden Eagle

Red tail hawks

Marsh hawk

Peregrine falcon

Osprey

Barn owls

Great horned owl

Short eared owl

Screech owl

Animals restricted from possession:

Bear (any kind especially Grizzly)

Black bear can be in possession only during

hunting season with a permit

No trading, selling or buying of native bear parts

Wolf (any kind)

Mountain lion

Lynx (California)

Pine Martin (So. Dakota)

Swift Fox (So. Dakota)

Fisher (So. Dakota)

River Otter (So. Dakota)

Black footed Ferret (So. Dakota)

Special permits can be obtained from the department of fish and game by Royal Rangers outposts for the possession

of these restricted game animals and birds for educational use only. Each church can apply for this permit with a

demonstrated need for use in instruction and wildlife education. It is a good idea to develop good relationships with

the local fish and game. They can be a resource of items like animal mounts and other demonstration materials for use

in FCF.


Hawk and Knife Throwing

Objectives Proper throwing of the knife and hawk.

Selecting a quality knife.

Selecting a quality hawk.

Introduction The purchase of a knife or tomahawk is an investment that should only be made after you have an understanding

of what makes a good knife or hawk.

Qualities of a good throwing knife

High carbon steel

Generally 440 stainless is a good indicator of a good steel. However, quality

manufacturers of knives do not often mark their blades with any indication of the type of

steel used. You must ask the vendor or research information about companies that build

quality knives.

Proper knife length

For good control you need a knife length of 11 to 16 inches.

Weight

The knife should weigh 11 to 16 ounces for good target penetration and control. A good

rule of thumb is a weight of approximately one ounce per inch of blade.

Balance

Most important of all the knife must be balanced. To determine the balance point of the

knife lay the knife across our index finger and the balance point should be at the center or

at most one inch toward the tip.

Qualities of a good throwing hawk

Forged head

Hawk heads can be made from cast iron but run the risk of breaking on impact with hard

objects. Forged hawks are fire hardened high carbon steel and are durable for long use and

re-sharpening.

Handle of straight grain hardwood

Cut handle to proper length – grasp hawk head in palm of hand with handle parallel to

forearm. Mark length at elbow and cut off excess.

Decorative markings

Punched designs in hawk heads do not weaken the head and are very often a nice touch to

the look of a hawk.

The art of throwing a tomahawk is one that almost anyone can learn quite simply. Your accuracy will improve

only with practice. Preparing for competition will require many hours of throwing.


How to throw a hawk 1. The easiest way to throw a hawk is to stand twelve to fifteen feet from the target. Take a firm grip

about one inch from the end of the handle.

2. The stance is much like that of a pitcher, if you’re right handed, then you stand with feet square with

your shoulders facing the target.

3. With your natural wind up for an overhand fast ball, bring your hawk hand up and back and step

forward as your throwing arm moves toward the target.

4. Release the hawk when you instinctively know you are aimed at the target and at the instant just

before release your left foot should plant firmly on the ground.

5. You may have to step forward or back a foot or two until the hawk can make a complete revolution.

If the hawk is thrown properly the handle will point down at about a 45° angle from the face of the

target.

How to throw a knife The techniques of throwing a hawk and knife are similar, but the knife is a lot more difficult to master.

1. You stand about eight to twelve feet from the face of the target with the same stance as the hawk.

2. With the same windup and step as for the hawk, you throw the knife. But you must make sure you

don’t snap your wrist, you must keep it locked.

3. Then with the follow-through you continue with the same sweep of the arm and shoulder as though

the knife were still in your hand.


Frontier Trade Goods Suppliers

These suppliers offer catalogs with primitive equipment and supplies.

Track of the Wolf (612) 424-2500

Box Y Osseo, MN 55369

www.trackofthewolf.com

Crazy Crow Trading Post (214) 463-1366

P.O Box 314 Dennison, TX 75020

www.crazycrow.com

Nomadic Tipi Makers (503) 389-3980

17671-L Snow Creek Rd. Bend, OR 97701

www.tipi.com

Little Bear Tipi Pole Co. (406) 293-9880

22983 U.S Highway 2 South, Libby, MT 59923

Northwest Traders (513) 767-9244

5055 W. Jackson Rd. Enon, OH 45323

www.nwtrader.com

Muzzleloaders, Inc. (703) 866-0990

9566 Old Keene Mill Rd. Burke, VA 22015

The House of Muskettes (303) 731-2295

P.O Box 4640 Pagosa Springs, CO 81157

Panther Primitives (304) 462-7718

P.O Box 32 Normantown, WV 25267

www.pantherprimitives.com

La Pelleterie (816) 837-3261

P.O Box 127 Arrow Rock, MO 65320

www.lapelleterie.com

Arrowhead Forge (605) 938-4814

Rt. 1 Box 26 Wilmot, SD 57279

www.arrowhead-forge.com

Yester Years Trading Post (601) 446-8393

118 S. Canal St. Natchez, MS 39120

Wakeda Trading Post (916) 485-9838

P.O Box 19146 Carmichael, CA 95819

www.wakeda.com

Additional vendors can be found on the National FCF website at www.nationalfcf.org -click on the Vendors tab.

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