MUZZLELOADING
The Paul Bunyan Sportsman Club has a Traditional Muzzleloading Group called the Paul Bunyan Plainsmen. The Plainsmen enjoy shooting the muzzleloaders found in our country century's ago These range from the flintlock rifles and muskets found in Colonial America to the cap lock rifles, shotguns, and pistols that blazed the trails westward during the 1800's.
The women of the Plainsmen. along with women from other clubs, host a Women's Primitive Skills Weekend (http://womensprimitiveskills.com/) where up to 100 ladies share and learn skills used years ago. This could include period clothing, setting up camp, shooting a rifle or pistol, leatherwork, beading, or a multitude of other skills that are far to often lost as generations pass.
Our monthly match season that runs from October through May, then continues June thru August. Rifles and Pistols for the Monthly Shoots and Summer League can be a muzzleloader from any period however during the Rendezvous all muzzleloaders must be of a design and style used prior to the 1840's with patched round balls. Registration for the match starts at 9 am and it is usually done by noon.
The annual Rendezvous takes place over Memorial Day weekend. During this event participants dress in period correct clothing and you can find the range complex covered in canvas tents with people cooking over an open fire. A Traders Row is set up for purveyors of goods that could be found in a trade tent or frontier fort. Many of these items are handmade one-of-a-kind item such as that custom rifle or hand forged knife. Beside shooting rifles and pistols the Rendezvous includes competitions for Primitive Archery, Muzzleloading Pistol, Knife and Hawk throwing, games for kids, Pee-Wee and Junior Shooters, and contests that add to the flavor of years past.