Innholdsfortegnelse for #258 i American Frontiersman

Pops took me on my first “you’re on your own, kid” whitetail hunt 40-some years ago. I can still hear the sound of frosty leaves under my Sorel boots as he quietly but swiftly guided me in the darkness into my stand position—a gigantic boulder nestled between blowdowns and scrub brush that overlooked a gully filled with mature oak trees on what our gun club members called “The German Property.” Right after settling onto my five-gallon pail seat, I checked my hand-me-down Woolrich hunting jacket pocket regularly to make sure my buck slayer was locked and loaded. No, my dad didn’t plop his 9-year-old son in the woods packing a large-frame revolver. You see, my “firearm” at the time was a 35. Nope, not a gun chambered in .35 Whelen.…

FOR THE LONG HAUL: At room temperature, pemmican can generally last from one to five years. In 2019, a successfully preserved pemmican and grain mixture from a 1906 U.S. Army Emergency Ration Pack was safely eaten. Unrefrigerated pemmican, like maple syrup, peanut butter and honey, doesn't rot because of its low water content. WAR OF FOODS: Métis, northern plains people who were part native/part European, made bison pemmican to trade with North West Company posts. Pemmican was so important that in 1814, Red River Colony (located in Canada/North Dakota border country) Governor Miles Macdonell started the so-called Pemmican War with the Métis when he forbade export of the food from the colony. TANKA TIME: If you don't want to make your own pemmican, buy some buffalo and cranberry Tanka Bars,…

Another simple pack that was used on the American frontier was the market wallet. While not generally boasting as much capacity as a blanket pack, the market wallet is good for day trips. This makes it a great option for people just wanting to experiment. To make a market wallet, start by cutting a section of material you want to use. Traditionally, canvas was widely used, but this isn’t essential. Cut your material in a rectangular shape, keeping in mind that your market wallet will only be half as wide as you cut it, but it’ll be just as long. Once your material is cut, you can start sewing. Make sure to work with your material inside out as you sew. Lay the material faceup in front of you, and…

Life on a farm takes on special meaning when you are fascinated with whitetails. Deer hunting—and the activities that surround it—become a year-round adventure. Game cameras have become integral parts of keeping track of the deer on mine and my neighbors’ farms, and allow me to keep up with special bucks as they mature from one year to the next. But keeping tabs on local deer isn’t the only reason I’ve enlisted the use of game cameras. They’re an excellent means of security, too. My Kentucky farm was a 2-hour drive from home, and it was difficult to keep track of things from a distance. I had a problem with some of the local miscreants driving through crop fields and stealing anything that wasn’t nailed down. Game cameras became my…

Nearly 10 years ago, Thompson/ Center expanded its line of muzzleloaders with the introduction of the Pro Hunter FX. Its most notable feature, and what separates it from other T/C muzzleloaders (like the Encore used by the Mainers) in the line, is its fixed .50-caliber barrel, which is not interchangeable with other barrel configurations. Instead, the muzzleloader sports a 26-inch fluted barrel with patented Quick Load Accurizer (QLA) for enhanced accuracy. Other notable features include the muzzleloader’s improved handling and recoil reduction system made possible by the FlexTech stock and forend. Inside the FlexTech stock four Energy Burners, along with the recoil pad, allow the stock to slightly compress when firing, helping to reduce felt recoil by 42 percent. If you are a small-frame shooter, you will appreciate this feature.…

IT seems that every time a new hunting cartridge is invented or an existing one improved, it’s always being compared to .30-30 Winchester. This leads to the question, “Why not just stick with .30-30 Winchester, then?” Of course, there are many reasons why modern hunters flock to these new rounds, but at the top of that list is simple sound suppression. Many hunters foolishly opt not to wear ear protection in the woods, and this is safe, just as long as your equipment doesn’t generate volume in excess of 85 decibels. Getting down that low takes some work, but proper ammunition is going to be half of the solution. So, back to the ol’ .30-30, a round made when hearing protection wasn't on the minds of most. For the longest…

One of the things I admire most about our frontier forefathers and mothers is they met the many challenges life threw at them with little more than a few tools, what nature provided and a fierce determination and inventiveness. Loading dead deer, logs and the odd landscaping boulder can be back-breaking, and the lift into the bed of my Ford F150 truck is 3 feet. At 65, my back isn't what it used to be. I’m not complaining, mind you, as I had my youth and a lot of fun getting this beat up. (Allow me this one boast: On my first deer hunt in the mountains of Colorado at age 33, I lifted an un-gutted, 3x3 mule deer buck over a five-strand barbed wire fence and again into my…

The relentless expansion from east to west presented early explorers and fur trappers with many challenges. Countless natural obstacles stood in the way of exploration and eventual settlement. For the mountain men during the era of the beaver trade, the search for fur-rich mountain streams was constant. The land had to be crossed and explored no matter how harsh the conditions. Furs were money, and success meant overcoming whatever stood in the way; these men had to find out what was over the next hill. With that thought in mind, my trekking partner, Nick Hanauska, and I set out for some exploring of our own. In full mountain-man garb and carrying equipment true to the period, we set out to explore Devils Garden. The only way to get a true…

★ Firecraft: The Book of Camp Lore and Woodcraft by Dan Beard Every skill you ever wanted to know about related to Woodcraft and traditional outdoor skills with a multitude of illustrations by the author. There is a ton of information here on fire making and maintenance. ★ First Aid: American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook This is an all-time classic. Be sure you get the latest edition for the most up-to-date information, and also be sure to take a course. ★ Maps and Compasses: Be Expert with Map and Compass by Bjorn Kjellstrom This is the manual for the baseplate compass! It’s a must for all outdoor libraries. ★ Weather: Finding your Way in the Outdoors by Robert L Mooers, Jr. This book provides great information about…

North Dakota spring mornings can be quite cold. Shrugging a bit deeper into my woolen coat, I was thankful there was no wind. The 27-degree air temperature would have felt even colder had the prairie wind been blowing. After a short walk through the riparian forest near my homestead, I came across my first set. The previous evening, I had made an artificial castor mound out of river mud, molding it into a patty and applying lure. Hollowing out a shelf under the frigid water, I placed a foothold trap, attaching it to a cable leading to deep water. To complete the set, a dried goldenrod stalk had been threaded through the attachment clip on the trap. The goldenrod was gone. Steeling myself, I removed my jacket before reaching into…

Buschcrafting is a recent trend that still seems to be grabbing people’s attention. The rise in its popularity comes at a great time in history. As technology makes our trips to the woods more comfortable and much easier, bushcrafters are keeping alive the traditional knowledge of the past. Renowned bushcrafter Ray Mears perhaps summed up bushcrafting best when he said his goal was to “learn to live in the woods, not just visit from time to time.” This is in stark contrast to most modern Americans’ camping trips. For a simple weekend camping trip, many people pack coolers, tents, extra clothing, bedding, games and anything else that can fit in the camper. Simply put, when people go camping, they tend to bring a lot of stuff. That isn’t necessarily bad,…

The final primitive pack comes from E.H. Kreps’ book Woodcraft. Originally published in 1919, this small book is filled with useful information for those wanting to camp simply. Near the end of the book, a friend of Kreps’ describes how to make the Y-frame pack that he used. Start by selecting a stout limb that has a solid fork in it. Cut the limbs of the fork off at a distance suitable to the size you want. For the pack featured, the limbs are 16 inches long from the fork. Then, cut the butt end of the fork off (I cut mine to 9 inches). After smoothing any sharp points with your knife, the frame is complete. At this point, you can take a length of rope and make a…

Dressed in caps of coon, coyote, fox or skunk skin and often wearing deerskin britches and shirts, history buffs and antique-gun enthusiasts today look as though they’ve just emerged from a log cabin for a day of hunting hundreds of years ago. In fact, they’re heading out into the autumn woods to enjoy a hunt with their traditional Kentucky squirrel rifles. Returning To Old Ways “The Squirrel Hunter”By David Wright A growing group of Americans prefer hunting and shooting with the guns of yesteryear. Each year, my friend Tim Cosby of Ramer, Alabama, organizes a squirrel hunt for men and boys who enjoy testing their skills the old way. They want to harvest squirrels like the early frontiersmen did and use the same type of hand-built Kentucky squirrel rifles that…

Leupold’s Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44 MOA scope isn’t its only offering for shooters who straddle the fence between a tactical and a hunting scope. Let’s face it: Lots of people want to get into precision rifle competition but cannot afford a good tactical scope and a hunting scope. The VX-5HD was introduced in 2017 and marketed as a dedicated hunting scope due to being lightweight, very robust and providing excellent light transmission for dusk and dawn. The VX-5HD’s 3-15x44mm variation will now be available in first focal plane with a mil-dot reticle and milliradian turret. As mil adjustments gain popularity in the civilian market and shooters want to do more with their scopes, Leupold’s VX-5HD 3-15x44mm is adapting to the times. MRSP: $1,235. (leupold.com)…

Many hunters equate wild hog hunting to grizzly hunting at a fraction of the cost. It’s exciting, usually occurs at close range and is best done with big-bore calibers firing heavy, deep-penetrating bullets that carry a lot of energy to the target. Feral hogs have been called the “low-budget grizzly,” and with good reason. Feral hogs, both boar and sow, can be dangerous animals to hunt under the right set of circumstances. Due to their size, build and sharp senses, they can test the hunter’s skills and the knockdown power of many calibers. I’ve seen a large boar take a hit from a .308 Winchester and stay on its feet, ready to fight. They do have some of the same “pucker factor” qualities of a grizzly at a much lower…

✔ Roaps can slip so tie logs around the middle (unless there's a knob to keep the strap in place). ✔ When parked on an uneven or sloped surface, shift the ramp to accommodate the angle to ensure the load stays put on the ramp. ✔ Just leave the ramp and ratchet in your truck. If you're like me, you never know when an opportunity to grab some free wood off the curb might arise, you run across a rummage sale or find some other hard-to-load free item left on the roadside. ✔ With any mechanical gear, be sure not to exceed limits and tolerances for your safety and the sake of the equipment. ✔ Watch your fingers and toes closely when moving heavy loads that can crush or break…

FINISHES: There are a variety of food-safe wood finishes with different properties and looks, including raw linseed oil, walnut oil, tung oil, butcher block oil/mineral oil, beeswax and shellac. I used amber tinted shellac. It is a food safe (once dry) wood stain made from a resin secreted from the female lac bug with various carrying agents that evaporate. I've never used shellac before. I liked how it brought out the rich wood grain without obscuring it. I lightly sanded with emery paper after the first coat, then applied two more coats. The bowl is smooth, rich looking and protected. TOOL TIME: The 2-inch angle grinder worked well, but I thought a 4-inch grinder would be faster, so I bought one for $130. This is a very powerful tool. In…

FIFTY YEARS AGO, there were no decent longrifle kits to build and only a handful of people who made the iconic American muzzleloader from scratch to sell at primitive re-enactments and craft shows. Today, dozens of artist gunmakers exhibit their finest work at the annual Contemporary Longrifle Association show held in the posh elegance of the Grand Ball Room of the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Clearly, a lot has changed since the early 1960s. The House brothers and the Woodbury School associated with them have played a significant role in that. This article is too short to examine all the factors and people that contributed to the elevation of longrifle building from arts and crafts to fine art. I hope it will, however, provide a basic foundation for future…

The nomadic lifestyle of frontier Native Americans, Euro-explorers and, now, today's adventurers demands a practical way to carry everyday needs on your person. Thus was born the “possibles bag,” an over-the-shoulder leather bag to carry all sorts of things to make your day's activities possible. We know this was done early in North America because of a statement by Hidatsa tribal member Buffalo Bird Woman (b. North Dakota 1839-1932) in a 1917 book by Gilbert L. Wilson. “In olden times every warrior carried a bag of soft skin on his left side supported by a thong over his right shoulder; in this bag he kept needles, sinews, awl, soft-tanned skin for making patches for moccasins, gun caps and the like… In the bottom of this soft-skin bag the warrior commonly…

Seldom is there an account of native or frontier life that doesn't mention pemmican, that ancient, portable “nutrition bar” invented by native Americans. Pemmican is a portable food made out of pounded meat and fruit bound together with melted fat. It was often packed for long journeys or hunting expeditions by people who didn't have Yetis or Amanas. I have read about this famous concoction so much in the history books that I just had to make some for myself. I wanted to taste what so many others have tasted when they were on the move and unable to hunt for fresh meat. Indian pemmican was quickly adopted by Europeans involved in the fur trade and other exploits. Polar explorer Robert Peary wrote in his 1917 book Secrets of Polar…

Wool blankets were common and very useful on the American frontier. One of the major advantages of wool is that it will insulate you even if it gets wet. Also, when combined with a fire or a primitive shelter, a wool blanket can really help make a night in the woods more comfortable. Another benefit is that blankets can be used to create simple yet effective packs. All you need to make a blanket pack is a large blanket and a length of cord measuring about 7 feet. Start by spreading your blanket on the ground. Next, place the gear you want to take in the middle of the blanket about 6 inches from the top edge. You will need to lay your gear in a way that allows the…

As the American frontier moved westward and southward, the gunsmiths followed, usually to places with a demand for 12 to 14 new guns every year. Most of the early gunmakers were farmers as well as gunsmiths. These wilderness gunmakers usually made the bulk of their money repairing guns. The early rifles had springs that would break, frizzens that would wear thin and need to be replaced or repaired and stocks that sometimes broke. Historian Jim Randall Pierce mentions that over 100 gunsmiths were listed in each of the years of the censuses of the 1800s from an area of southwestern Virginia to Chattanooga, Tennessee.…

The AAC Jaeger 30 is purpose-built for hunting use with bolt-action and single-shot rifles; it is not intended for high-volume fire. The Jaeger 30 direct-threads on the rifle’s muzzle and is kept light at only 13.9 ounces. Its length is 9.28 inches; its width is 1.47 inches. The Jaeger 30 features a Grade 9 titanium mount and blast baffle. The outer tube and monolithic core are machined from 7075-T6 aluminum. The black-anodized titanium mount is the strongest component of the suppressor, and it carries the serial number and data panel. This is an important nuance in case the outer tube and/or baffle system is damaged out in the field. These parts can be repaired without involving BATF procedures for shipping and/or replacement work. The 5/8-24 threads of the Jaeger 30…

While feral hogs can be fun to hunt, there are some cautions that need to be understood: They can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. This report comes to us from the University of North Carolina’s Cooperative Extension service and emphasizes the need to wear latex gloves when dressing wild hogs. At his deer camp, a 27-year-old hunter field-dressed and quartered several white-tailed deer and feral hogs after a successful hunt. He was unaware that a wild hog he was cleaning was infected with bacteria that cause brucellosis and that he could contract this and other diseases simply by touching the contaminated meat. Since he wasn’t wearing latex gloves, a nick or briar scratch on his hands or arms would provide enough of a cut for infection to…