Nine (9) days until Whitetail Hunting Season opens (and several other critters too).
We sound our horns for our Patrons' grace,
Guard and Guide us upon the Chase.
May our hearts be filled with Strength and Cheer,
And our hunts yield Game through all the year.
Or something like that, I did not bother to look it up. ;)
In any case, all of my medieval gear is ready...well, all that is necessary to hunt in medieval style at least. There are partially finished projects that will augment existing kit and clothing, but they aren't necessary right now.
Sharpening of swallowtail hunting points, trimming arrows to better length, changing out points, making whistler arrows, completing pants, that sort of thing.
I tend to prefer pants for medieval pursuits, finding them rather more convenient than braies and hose on the whole. One cannot really tell the difference when tunics and shirts and boots are worn in any case. Fortunately, pants have been around for a lot longer than the middle ages. ;)
I found my Cor du Roy (Corduroy) shirt. This one features a lace up front and the lacing is not done shoe-lace style, but medieval spiral style. It is a dark green, which is nice, and it will work well with the black pants I am finishing up. Also the black boots...since the brown ones aren't yet fitted to my feet, a process that takes time and patience, as well as not walking in the damned things until the requisite stretching cycle is complete. I have turn shoes, but I prefer boots in the bush whenever practicable.
I have not decided on the use of a vambrace yet..I may, or may not. Shooting with proper style really tends to negate the need. Certes I will have my hooded mantle. A blaze orange (short) cyclas/surcote is ready should I hunt medievally during gun season, as does a blaze orange coif.
My longbow, the ash one, is still usable, and I do have the tri-laminate longbow too, not to mention a reflex-deflex bow, which style was known. Bamboo, on the other hand, isn't so those bows do not really fit so well. Nor does the Magyar horse bow, although 'Turkish' bows were known.
I tried contacting Taurus bows to order a proper medieval bow, but I got no response. Given the last entry on his site seems to be sometime in 2012, it is more than a little possible he's no longer in business.
This year is a bit different; my youngest son is 18 and I am free to get out nice and early, as in before dawn, and get back after dusk if I so choose. :) Woot!
I have a good camera, an Olympus Tough, which is waterproof, shockproof, etc, and for which I have nice small tripod stand that can be velcroed to a tree or branch too. All I have to do is figure out how to use the timer function and I can record various static things..like me with any game I might take. :)
I have a new belt up for construction, and some pouches to complete. Generally, though, I can hunt as is easily enough.
Time to get into the forest and go all medieval ranger on things. ;)
Eledhwen
