"Mountain Man" shoots/competitions?

[chazz1975]

Hi All,

Not sure where to post this question, but here it goes. What are the courses of fire/events of a "Mountain Man" shoot/competition? I think I would like to give one a try this year if I can get some advice and pointers on what all this entails. I am guessing a running course with shooting, throwing hawk and/or knife, on some sort of long course or trail? Is there pistol involved? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

There is no pat answer.
A match can incorporate any, or all of the things you mentioned. Usually hawk and knife are separate, but not always. Even when they are separate, the sometimes are included in an over-all aggregate.
Personally, I have never shot a course where time was part of the scoring. I'd be in trouble anymore if I did have to because my running days are over.
Best bet is to call the event organizers and find out ahead of time how they are running the matches.

 

[Big John]

First they vary widely club to club. The running event is the senneca run type,timed running through the course and shooting at targets. Most of the shoots walk through shooting at steel targets from 10yds. out to 100yds. Then you have novelty targets including potato's, feathers,cards on edge, string,splitting a roundball on an axehead, eggs,candles and any small items at close range. Also hawk & knife throwing, spear & bow and arrow shooting and lastly flint and steel fire starting

 

[ohio ramrod]

As stated the events vary with locality. The Seneca runs are timed , most others are not. Even then the seneca runs are often won on hot days by someone who "strolls" through. Running in hot weather wearing leather is not good for the eyes focusing. I once won a seneca run in 95 degree heat five months after major back surgery. I did not have the shortest time but I did have the most "hits". To make up for the longer time. :idunno:

 

[rafterob]

Check NMLRA to see if there are any "official" Mountain man event rules. Our club's Mounatain man Aggregate consists of novelty targets, fire starting, hawk and knife throws.

 

[Many Klatch]

The "Mountain Man" event at Friendship has shooting at targets, shooting at an axe blade and breaking two clay birds with one shot. Hawk and Knife and finally: starting a fire with flint and steel. The Fire start time is the tie breaker. Points are given for the time.

For an example Start a fire in 4 seconds, get 10 points. Start a fire in under one minute and you only get 1 point. To be competitive you need to get flame in less than 6 seconds.

So you need to be able to hit small gongs at various distances, split a ball on an axe blade, throw knife and hawk and start a fire with flint and steel.

Many Klatch

 

[nit wit]

Check NMLRA to see if there are any "official" Mountain man event rules. Our club's Mounatain man Aggregate consists of novelty targets, fire starting, hawk and knife throws.

Who cares? As long as the walks are done in a safe manner.
NW

 

[matt denison]

Hi All,

Not sure where to post this question, but here it goes. What are the courses of fire/events of a "Mountain Man" shoot/competition? I think I would like to give one a try this year if I can get some advice and pointers on what all this entails. I am guessing a running course with shooting, throwing hawk and/or knife, on some sort of long course or trail? Is there pistol involved? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I've attended many mountain man rendezvous over the past 20 or so years. If you plan to go to one bring: your rifle, a pistol, knife and hawk your bow and arrows, fire startingg gear just for starters.

A typical rendezvous will have a "trail walk" for rifle, and a separate one for pistol shooting. A trail walk is (typically) 100 - 200 yards long with shooting stations along the way. At each station will be a target of random size and at random distance, usually some kind of gong, sillouette, or piece of iron junk. A hit is a point. Same on the pistol range. These walks are fun, relaxed, sort of informal depending on how serious you are and how well you can shoot off hand. Some clubs send an escort to keep score and keep everyone safe and honest. Others use an honor system where you keep your own score.

Knife and hawk will have their own trail walk but I have been to shoots where the K&H are done in the course of the rifle walk. Depends on the club and the crew who set it all up.

Some rendezvous have primitive archery walks, novelty shoots, Seneca runs and various combinations of shoots, again depends on the club.

I reccomend that you go, see how you fit into that kind of shooting. Enjoy the comeraderie.