Rendevous ~ Part Two

Rendevous ..... Part Two

In interviewing one of the campers, Dallas Scott VanKirk of Missouri, some interesting insights of the Rendevouz are relived and brought to life. He is known by many of his friends as the Buckskinner. I am known as Lady Bearcat. We are at the Blanket Traders tent now:

Lady Bearcat: "People attend Rendezvous for all the different aspects that are

offered here. Can you tell me a few that come into mind?"

Buckskinner: " Yes. Some come in for buckskinning only, some for trading only,

(money can be made here too) Some come for the trading only.

There are the TRADERS, the CAMPERS, the HISTORIANS, the

barrel COMPETITORS, and some are COLLECTORS. Some, are

black powder men and hunters, some trying to outfit themselves."

Lady Bearcat: "I would like for you to tell me your reasons for participating in the

Rendezvous, and how long has your family been doing this as

Buckskinner: "I like to introduce people to the historical side of Rendezvous.

I like the family activity and the bonding created here. For the

history aspects of it. There is a brotherhood here, a very strong

kinship. I have many friends all over the place from many states

that know the Buckskinner. I like getting others involved in the

re -enactment. My family has been doing this for 5 years now.

Buckskinner: "Do you know the origin of the word Rendezvous? Why they were

held in Winter and the Fall?"

Lady Bearcat" "The French"

(now who is interviewing who?)

Buckskinner: "They were held in the Winter to trade for staples and trade Prime Winter furs. They were held in the Fall to trade for traps and other things to get them through Winter so they could go to the Winter Rendezvous."

Lady Bearcat: "Are all of the clothing you have made by hand?

Buckskinner: "Yep. Hand made down to the buttons, they are made out of deer antlers. Deer parts made good trade goods with the Indians."

Buckskinner: "You want to know what I wear?"

Buckskinner: "I wear brain tanned buckskin leggins, a breech cloth with muslin shirt, if I wear one at all it is all deer skin. Mochs (mocasins made of deer skin) and of course my bags.

Lady Bearcat: "One bag is made by me with a turtle shell with bobcat face for the cover flap, I keep my firestarter kit in it. and the other is a buckskin bag with buffalo flap, it is a belt bag. I sometimes wear a choker made of bone and buffalo horn Hairpipe."

Lady Bearcat: "Which weapons of the era do you own and shoot?"

Buckskinner: "I own a 45 Cal. Thompson Hawken and a Custom made Flinter, it was given to me and has special sentiment attached to it. I took it and had it custom built with the mans birth date and death date engraved on the butt plate.

Lady Bearcat: "Nice"

Buckskinner: "I am very proud of that gun!"

Buckskinner: "I have a Bowie type knife, I carry in a scabbard in my belt behind me my wife's' uncle is who it belonged to. I also carry a hawk (tomahawk) I wear a knife on my outer leg just below my right knee. The Bowie knife was made by an ancestor of my wife's who was a mountain man also. The knife I wear on my leg, I made myself. I made and it has a jaw bone handle. The coyote jaw bone is complete with the teeth. My Indian beads are very old also.

Lady Bearcat: "You take part in the re-enactments....what is your active role?"

Buckskinner: "I portray the Blanket Trader in camp. I also compete in the Woods Walks"

Lady Bearcat: "Can you explain for me please?"

Buckskinner: "First there is a scenario. Like the Fort sent out a hunting party two weeks ago, and they have not come back with food. Food is running scarce, so they will send out another party. On these walks there are targets. There is deer, or wild turkeys, or Indians hidden in trees, that shoot at you and other animals not

considered food sources. We would be in the second party not to search for the missing party but to get provisions. Hoping the missing party is OK, and will return with there catch later.

Lady Bearcat: "How do you score on these walks?"

Buckskinner: " You have to determine the good food sources and conserve ammo

most food for the least amount of shots taken...make every shot count. Scoring is done by the judge for good judgment. Like putting the food up in trees so bears don't get it, too instead of carrying it because it is too heavy and cumbersome. Points are

acquired by how good you can set a trap or snare and you don't shoot a Grizz in the stomach but the head.

Buckskinner: "Let me ask you a question....on a woods walk if you see a deer and a buffalo, which one would you shoot first?"

Lady Bearcat: "The buffalo , cause there is more food and more hide to use"

Buckskinner: "No. No. No."

Lady Bearcat: "No? Why?"

Buckskinner: "The deer, because if the buffalo is shot first the deer will run away, you kill the deer first buffalo are stupid, and they have poor eye sight. The buffalo will not run far they only run when they are in a herd. Buffalo are also slow runners and can betaken easy while on the run, the have big body mass. Deer are small and fast"

Lady Bearcat: "OK, I got the picture"

Buckskinner: "Kill the deer first!"

Lady Bearcat: "Thank you for letting me interview you!"

Buckskinner: "I am going to get you into buckskins yet !"

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� Moments In Time 1998-2003

First published Hunting Broadcast Network/1999-2003

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