Where are the rondevous ?

Wife an I have been out of it for a long, long, time. Seems like the shoots and buck skinner camps have become fewer and fewer then they were 40 years ago.

I know there are a couple of sites out there that list doins across the country and would like to find said sites. Any help would be appreciated....

Thanks

Talking-Bear.com is one.

Hunt: My issue of "Muzzzle Blasts" lists 13 charter clubs in Illinois with contact information for each club. If you go online to the NMLRA web site and look at the on line issues of "Muzzle Blasts" I am sure you will find the information that you are looking for.
Smoke and Fire.com also has listings.

I can think of two clubs in central Illinois, both shoot once a month. Okaw Valley Muzzleloaders near Ramsey, IL and Prairie Land Frontiersmen near Sullivan, IL. Both clubs will allow you to shoot with them a few times before joining, but they may be as much as 2.5 hours or more away from you. I do not know the particulars of the Okaw Valley Muzzleloaders, but I do know the Prairie Land Frontiersmen club is located on 40 acres and allows primitive camping for their members.

Effingham County Sportsman Club used to have a primitive shoot from time to time, but I'm not certain if they do anymore. Some of their shoots have been reduced to "by request" due to the reduced numbers of new "primitive" shooters.

If any of those spark your interest let me know and I can get you some phone numbers so you can talk to the clubs directly.

Thank you all for your reply's. We have shot at Okaw many years ago and the Prairie Land folks are old friends. Steve Woods has invited us to come and camp. And there are many stories about our visits to that club.

Seems lots has really changed in the almost 40 years since we were really active.... Go figure. Travel to us is a no brainer. We were regular attendants at the Texas Association of Buck Skinners deep winter gathering for many years.

Thanks again.... any more info greatly appreciated......

Crazy Crow used to keep a list as well. My sense is that there has been a huge contraction in the hobby over those 40 years, attributable to the aging of the baby boomers and the much, much higher bar of authenticity that naturally flowed from the information bonanza that is the Internet. Back in the '70s, a rendezvouer resplendent in chrome-tanned, tailored deer hide trousers and war shirt looked magnificent, despite the wristwatch and the photo-sensitive eyeglasses. Today, such a sight is an embarrassment.

BillinOregon said:

Crazy Crow used to keep a list as well.

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I believe they still do.

BillinOregon said:

Crazy Crow used to keep a list as well. My sense is that there has been a huge contraction in the hobby over those 40 years, attributable to the aging of the baby boomers and the much, much higher bar of authenticity that naturally flowed from the information bonanza that is the Internet. Back in the '70s, a rendezvouer resplendent in chrome-tanned, tailored deer hide trousers and war shirt looked magnificent, despite the wristwatch and the photo-sensitive eyeglasses. Today, such a sight is an embarrassment.

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Bill:

Man did you hit the nail on the head.... I am a boomer (DOB 1947). However my stuff, even back then was brain tanned and mostly hand sewn. The most embarrassing thing was a picture, I think was taken at Friendship on the primitive side by Mike Nesbit, of my wife and I. Everything looks good …. except my wristwatch …… LOL....

I must agree, boomers were the big number driving force back then and we have all aged. The amount of info now available on the net is amazing in comparison to what was available. The problem with it now is it has created internet snobs and false authorities. There are those few (I hope) who pontificate what should be and how it should be but have never, in my opinion, practiced it. They would die in the woods.... if ya know what I mean.

Good post man.....

Huntschool, I am vintage 1953. I still see a lot of wristwatches and modern eyeglasses, but not so much chrome tan. That said, it has been several years since I attended a 'vous. Remember when just about the only source of information was from Scurlock Publishing?

BillinOregon said:

Remember when just about the only source of information was from Scurlock Publishing?

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And we all went to Tandy Leather for our buckskining and Indian needs. And one other thing, forget about the watches and eyeglass, how are we going to cover up our walkers and oxygen bottles???

Juice, that would be a lot funnier if it weren't so near the truth ...

Juice Jaws said:

And we all went to Tandy Leather for our buckskining and Indian needs. And one other thing, forget about the watches and eyeglass, how are we going to cover up our walkers and oxygen bottles???

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I have already started working on a bag pattern to put my compact o2 generator in when I get one. Hand sewn, smoked, brain tan of course.... Now all I have to do is figure a way to make my motorized cart look like a small horse..... Thank you very much......

BillinOregon said:

Huntschool, I am vintage 1953. I still see a lot of wristwatches and modern eyeglasses, but not so much chrome tan. That said, it has been several years since I attended a 'vous. Remember when just about the only source of information was from Scurlock Publishing?

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Bill: Oren and Bill did a pretty good job trying to present what they could. I thought.... remember there just was not much out there.

Ya know, truthfully, back then, one could almost be at a good camp or skinner voux every weekend if ya wanted to. For us, living in Southernmost Illinois, stuff in Southern MO, IN, and TN and KY were doable, many in under 3 hour trips one way . I am not even counting our AMM camps. Course we were in the business so it was part of our stuff but man the folks we met. I have really missed it.

The one thing that bothers me now is the elitist attitude I have seen amongst many "reenactors." Its kinda like they are the kings. I dont think so. I was doing this long before many of them got out of diapers and frankly I resent their attitudes. Muskets and uniflrms interest me about as much as watching paint dry. They are some of the folks that only seem to "perform" at their own gatherings. Thats just me. I guess, to some, the group to which I belong (AMM) might be the same thing, but not as far as I am concerned.

Just some thoughts. Dont shoot me..... I suspect we all have our parts to play.

Anyone going to the Rocky Mtn National next month?

Wish I was..... Hope ya have a great time.

Thanks Hunts! Gonna try and have a good time. (Twist my arm)!