From: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com (hist_text-digest) To: hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: hist_text-digest V1 #1263 Reply-To: hist_text Sender: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-hist_text-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk hist_text-digest Monday, November 10 2003 Volume 01 : Number 1263 In this issue: -       Re: MtMan-List: The Northwoods -       MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       MtMan-List: Sheepskin Sleeping Robes -       Re: MtMan-List: Calling Frenchtown Sean -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       RE: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding -       Re: MtMan-List: bedding ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 20:10:33 -0700 From: James and Sue Stone Subject: Re: MtMan-List: The Northwoods - --------------070208080503040705060805 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Beaverboy, When it is quite cold, like -18, or even 5 or 7 above, animals act differently than they do when we are hunting them on the balmy days of September and October. I have this from two sources. First, a wildlife biologist and guide told me that waterfowl wait until it is a bit warmer to move about...like the same time of day we would consider moving about...mid day. another wildlife biologist source said that deer stay bedded until more comfortable times in the face of a storm or cold temps. Makes sense to me, I see many more moving waterfowl between 10 adn 2 when it is mostly frozen. I have seen plenty of deer in mid day during Idaho's muzzleloader season (November). Sparks beaverboy@sofast.net wrote: >SMB, >They weren't just the plews, they had the beaver in them too! > Got down to -18 below in the Sun River valley last night. I almost >didn't go to my stand this morning but you don't get deer watching >the Today show. > Well, I should have watched the the Today show because all I got was >cold toes! The bitter cold really makes the sound travel. The dry >snow squeaked when I hiked in. > People ask me all the time about beaver tails, I've never found any >references to them being used for anything but a meal. Not a big >deal to me. I have a knife sheath made of one too, but seldom use >it. Looks good though! > Stay warm, > BB > > > > > > > >>Well, Huzzaa to you!!! It's a good day when you get a sore back from >>carting >>off all those plews!! MMMM fresh bever stew............. I've served it >>to >>a few pilgrims who didn't know what it was. I'm now relegated to bringing >>the potato chips............... If you've never tried it that tail if >>skinned and dried tight then oiled will make a pretty durable knife sheath >>if you use it as an outer cover on a soft piece of leather. I have a >>new/old >>knife I'm planning on doing just that with. When I get some of the >>yellow >>toothed critters for my self. >> >>SMB >> >> >> >> >>>From: beaverboy@sofast.net >>>Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >>>To: hist_text@xmission.com >>>Subject: MtMan-List: The Northwoods >>>Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:27:28 -0700 (MST) >>> >>>Dear List, >>> Winter reared it's ugly head early here in north central >>>Montana. >>>Bitter cold and blowing snow for the last five days. It was 5 >>>degrees above when I got up at 5:00AM to go deer hunting. I was >>>up not ten minutes making coffee when I heard a rap on the front >>>door! It was the newspaper lady. She was stuck in a snow drift >>>nearby and needed a tow, she came to my house because my light >>>was on. It was the first time we met though I have passed her >>>many times in the early morning on my way to work. She was >>>running an hour behind schedule due to the snow. I usually pass >>>her around 3:30 - 4:00AM. She starts her work day at 1:00AM which >>>made me feel pretty good about my work hours. She's a >>>Grandmother, tough old gal! She was bundled up and had a >>>flashlight. I told her to knock anytime she was in a bind whether >>>the light was on or not. >>> I only have to hike a short distance from my home to hunt >>>whitetails which is why I can sleep in so late. I even have time >>>to enjoy some hot coffee and watch the news before leaving. The >>>weather the last three mornings has been bitter cold! This is the >>>weather they write about in the journals like that of Fort Clark >>>and Fort Union!! Bitter, bitter cold with a stiff north wind and >>>snow with deep drifts in spots! It's all I can do to sit in my >>>stand for an hour and a half before getting too cold. And I am >>>bundled up. Once I get moving I'm fine, but everyone knows it's >>>tough to hunt whitetails on the move. >>> I have to keep a close watch on my lock steel and blow snow from >>>it. >>> I decided not to set traps for the Red Drifters (red fox) yet as >>>it >>>is soo bitterly cold, I want his last day on earth to be a little >>>more comfortable. Remember, I'm an old softy now. I did wade out to >>>an island on the Missouri River yesterday and set 7 beaver traps. >>>These were all killer drowning sets so I did not worry about them. I >>>checked them this afternoon and had 6 beaver in the 7 traps! It >>>doesn't get much better than this! For those of you who don't know, >>>rolling a wet rat, mink or beaver in snow dries it instantly. You >>>have to take it quickly out of the water and put it right into the >>>snow and roll and rub it all over with snow. It will work too if >>>you ever take a spill in icy water and need to soak up some of the >>>water quick. >>> I had to make two trips off of the island with my trapping pack >>>loaded down. One trip it weighed 88 pounds not including ax. The >>>second trip it was 93 pounds. I couldn't even make it up the snowy >>>bank with the heavy pack. I had to take it off and push it up >>>ahead of me. >>> I rough skinned two of the smaller beaver right off so the dogs >>>could have fresh meat tonight. They are ravenous eaters in this >>>bitter cold. I cut off all four hams (8 total) and saved the >>>remaining carcass for cat trappers I know who use what's left for >>>bait. Nothing goes to waste in the north woods. >>> Life has been good for beaver boy. With 6 beaver in one night, I >>>guess I can go by beaverboy for another 6 month's anyway. >>> It's clear out now and I just checked my thermometer and its -10 >>>below at 8:00PM! Tomorrow's hunt should be interesting. >>> These are shining times! I'm having a hot toddy tonight and built >>>a >>>fire in the woodstove. Hey, I'm on vacation! Oh, and I took two >>>aspirins too. >>> Good luck to all of you down the trail, >>> beaverboy >>> >>> >>> >>>---------------------- >>>hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html >>> >>> >>_________________________________________________________________ >>Concerned that messages may bounce because your Hotmail account is over >>limit? Get Hotmail Extra Storage! http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es >> >> >>---------------------- >>hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html >> >> >> > > >---------------------- >hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > > > - --------------070208080503040705060805 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Beaverboy,
When it is quite cold, like -18, or even 5 or 7 above, animals act differently than they do when we are hunting them on the balmy days of September and October.  I have this from two sources.
First, a wildlife biologist and guide told me that waterfowl wait until it is a bit warmer to move about...like the same time of day we would consider moving about...mid day.  another wildlife biologist source said that deer stay bedded until more comfortable times in the face of a storm or cold temps.  Makes sense to me, I see many  more moving waterfowl between 10 adn 2 when it is mostly frozen.  I have seen plenty of deer in mid day during Idaho's muzzleloader season (November).
Sparks

beaverboy@sofast.net wrote:
SMB,
They weren't just the plews, they had the beaver in them too!
      Got down to -18 below in the Sun River valley last night. I almost
didn't go to my stand this morning but you don't get deer watching
the Today show.
      Well, I should have watched the the Today show because all I got was
cold toes! The bitter cold really makes the sound travel. The dry
snow squeaked when I hiked in.
      People ask me all the time about beaver tails, I've never found any
references to them being used for anything but a meal. Not a big
deal to me. I have a knife sheath made of one too, but seldom use
it. Looks good though!
      Stay warm,
           BB





  
Well, Huzzaa to you!!! It's a good day when you get a sore back from
carting
off all those plews!! MMMM  fresh bever stew............. I've served it
to
a few pilgrims who didn't know what it was. I'm now relegated to bringing
the potato chips............... If you've never tried it that tail if
skinned and dried tight then oiled will make a pretty durable knife sheath
if you use it as an outer cover on a soft piece of leather. I have a
new/old
knife I'm planning on doing just that with.   When I get some of the
yellow
toothed critters for my self.

SMB


    
From: beaverboy@sofast.net
Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com
To: hist_text@xmission.com
Subject: MtMan-List: The Northwoods
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:27:28 -0700 (MST)

Dear List,
         Winter reared it’s ugly head early here in north central
Montana.
Bitter cold and blowing snow for the last five days. It was 5
degrees above when I got up at 5:00AM to go deer hunting. I was
up not ten minutes making coffee when I heard a rap on the front
door! It was the newspaper lady. She was stuck in a snow drift
nearby and needed a tow, she came to my house because my light
was on. It was the first time we met though I have passed her
many times in the early morning on my way to work. She was
running an hour behind schedule due to the snow. I usually pass
her around 3:30 - 4:00AM. She starts her work day at 1:00AM which
made me feel pretty good about my work hours. She’s a
Grandmother, tough old gal! She was bundled up and had a
flashlight. I told her to knock anytime she was in a bind whether
the light was on or not.
         I only have to hike a short distance from my home to hunt
whitetails which is why I can sleep in so late. I even have time
to enjoy some hot coffee and watch the news before leaving. The
weather the last three mornings has been bitter cold! This is the
weather they write about in the journals like that of Fort Clark
and Fort Union!! Bitter, bitter cold with a stiff north wind and
snow with deep drifts in spots! It’s all I can do to sit in my
stand for an hour and a half before getting too cold. And I am
bundled up. Once I get moving I’m fine, but everyone knows it’s
tough to hunt whitetails on the move.
      I have to keep a close watch on my lock steel and blow snow from
it.
      I decided not to set traps for the Red Drifters (red fox) yet as
it
is soo bitterly cold,  I want his last day on earth to be a little
more comfortable. Remember, I’m an old softy now.  I did wade out to
an island on the Missouri River yesterday and set 7 beaver traps.
These were all killer drowning sets so I did not worry about them. I
checked them this afternoon and had 6 beaver in the 7 traps! It
doesn’t get much better than this! For those of you who don’t know,
rolling a wet rat, mink or beaver in snow dries it instantly. You
have to take it quickly out of the water and put it right into the
snow and roll and rub it all over with snow.  It will work too if
you ever take a spill in icy water and need to soak up some of the
water quick.
        I had to make two trips off of the island with my trapping pack
loaded down. One trip it weighed 88 pounds not including ax. The
second trip it was 93 pounds. I couldn’t even make it up the snowy
bank with the heavy pack. I had to take it off and push it up
ahead of me.
       I rough skinned two of the smaller beaver right off so the dogs
could have fresh meat tonight. They are ravenous eaters in this
bitter cold. I cut off all four hams (8 total) and saved the
remaining carcass for cat trappers I know who use what’s left for
bait. Nothing goes to waste in the north woods.
      Life has been good for beaver boy. With 6 beaver in one night, I
guess I can go by beaverboy for another 6 month’s anyway.
      It’s clear out now and I just checked my thermometer and its -10
below at 8:00PM! Tomorrow’s hunt should be interesting.
      These are shining times!  I’m having a hot toddy tonight and built
a
fire in the woodstove. Hey, I’m on vacation! Oh, and I took two
aspirins too.
      Good luck to all of you down the trail,
           beaverboy



- ----------------------
hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html
      
_________________________________________________________________
Concerned that messages may bounce because your Hotmail account is over
limit? Get Hotmail Extra Storage! http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es


- ----------------------
hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html

    


- ----------------------
hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html

  

- --------------070208080503040705060805-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 22:09:08 -0700 From: "Larry" Subject: MtMan-List: bedding for bedding, the best thing appears to be a buffalo robe. unfortunately not all of us can afford a buffalo robe right off. (I am saving up my pennies and dimes though). so how do the alternates measure up? deer hide elk moose bear caribou what's the next best thing? larry - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 21:20:42 -0800 From: "roger lahti" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding Larry, I don't have any experience using any of the others for a bed but other than the bear, the other critters will loose hair something fast as it breaks off easily. I hear that a brain tan deer/elk/moose/whatever hide holds it's hair well but not the commercial ones. A thick bear robe would be good. Before I got my buffalo robe this spring I did give thought over the years of sewing up some sheep robes into a bed roll but I think they would have been very heavy by the time I got enough to roll up in. I've used a trimmed down sheep skin as a sleeping pad (3/4 pad) and that helps but it is pretty heavy even then and is extra weight when two blankets in a canvas bed roll or one buffalo rob are enough for below freezing temps. Capt. Lahti' - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry" To: Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 9:09 PM Subject: MtMan-List: bedding > for bedding, the best thing appears to be a buffalo robe. unfortunately not > all of us can afford a buffalo robe right off. (I am saving up my pennies > and dimes though). so how do the alternates measure up? > deer hide > elk > moose > bear > caribou > what's the next best thing? > larry > > > > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 02:02:03 -0700 (MST) From: beaverboy@sofast.net Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding The best thing is wool blankets, in my opinion. I've never been extremely impressed with my bison robe. I gotta believe pound for pound, wool is the best. Plus the getting wet factor. Wool is cheap too. bb > for bedding, the best thing appears to be a buffalo robe. unfortunately > not > all of us can afford a buffalo robe right off. (I am saving up my > pennies > and dimes though). so how do the alternates measure up? > deer hide > elk > moose > bear > caribou > what's the next best thing? > larry > > > > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 08:11:57 -0700 From: Ole Jensen Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding Larry, A couple of months ago Sam's club had wool fleece on sale at 75.00 each that is about 125.00 less than a Hudson Bay blanket.. Ole On Sunday, November 9, 2003, at 10:09 PM, Larry wrote: > for bedding, the best thing appears to be a buffalo robe. > unfortunately not > all of us can afford a buffalo robe right off. (I am saving up my > pennies > and dimes though). so how do the alternates measure up? > deer hide > elk > moose > bear > caribou > what's the next best thing? > larry > > > > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 12:20:25 EST From: SWcushing@aol.com Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding - -------------------------------1068484825 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 11/10/2003 1:02:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, beaverboy@sofast.net writes: I've never been extremely impressed with my bison robe. Hmmmm..... Beaver, your robe must be a summer kill, or at least not prime. The brain tan buffalo robe I got a couple years ago with Bead, is far and away the best blanket I've ever had. I've slept on frozen ground with just a drop cloth, a sheep skin for a pad, and the robe for a blanket and think the temp was down around 10 degrees in the morning. Only time I was cold was when I kicked the robe off for being too warm. I wore my clothes then (mostly wool) and mocs mainly because I wanted to get up before light, and go hunting. A couple weeks ago at a camp with Crawdad, it got down to freezing and I slept near nakid under the stars with only the robe for cover..... My onlyest bitch is when it's real cold.... I have to pull the hide over my head, and sometimes feel like I may suffocate unless I lift a conner for fresh air. Actually.... I also get a little tired of spitting out hair balls once in a while too, but a small price to pay... So..... my ideal winter nest would be a good water proof ground cloth, a thick sheep skin pad, a folded wool blanket to sleep on, (nice ground insulation) and the brain tan buffalo hide. If it gets real cold, I'd sleep with dry clothes on, and need to get a wool "wolf ear" cap with ties for head cover, because my wool cap keeps falling off... Too bad your robe ain't warm, cause nearly everyone I know swears by them.... Magpie - -------------------------------1068484825 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
In a message dated 11/10/2003 1:02:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, beaverb= oy@sofast.net writes:
I've never been extremely
impressed with my= bison robe.
Hmmmm..... Beaver, your robe must be a summer kill, or at least no= t prime. The brain tan buffalo robe I got a couple years ago with Bead, is f= ar and away the best blanket I've ever had. I've slept on frozen ground with= just a drop cloth, a sheep skin for a pad, and the robe for a blanket and t= hink the temp was down around 10 degrees in the morning. Only time I wa= s cold was when I kicked the robe off for being too warm. I wore my clothes=20= then (mostly wool) and mocs mainly because I wanted to get up before li= ght, and go hunting.
 
A couple weeks ago at a camp with Crawdad, it got down to freezing and=20= I slept near nakid under the stars with only the robe for cover...= .. My onlyest bitch is when it's real cold.... I have to pull the=20= hide over my head, and sometimes feel like I may suffocate unless I lif= t a conner for fresh air. Actually.... I also get a little tired of spitting= out hair balls once in a while too, but a small price to pay...<G>
 
So..... my ideal winter nest would be a good water proof ground cloth,=20= a thick sheep skin pad, a folded wool blanket to sleep on, (nice ground= insulation) and the brain tan buffalo hide. If it gets real cold, I'd sleep= with dry clothes on, and need to get a wool "wolf ear" cap with ties for he= ad cover, because my wool cap keeps falling off...    
 
Too bad your robe ain't warm, cause nearly everyone I know swears by th= em....
 
Magpie
- -------------------------------1068484825-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 09:42:26 -0800 From: "roger lahti" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding I got to agree with bb on bison robes being a pain if they get wet. But I suspect that, well I know my robe is warmer than an equivalent weight of wool blanket. To make the blankets warm at all you still need some sort of air barrier like a canvas bed roll to cut the air movement by the blanket. The robe comes with it's own barrier but it's not water repellent at all. Brain tan is very light though when done right with plenty of hide shaving to get it thin as possible. I still have good use for my wool blankets. Capt. Lahti - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 17:04:23 EST From: LazyAceAZ@aol.com Subject: MtMan-List: Sheepskin Sleeping Robes - -------------------------------1068501863 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I have been using a sheepskin sleeping robe lately. I acquired 6 shearling hides measuring about 6 sq ft each with 1/2 to 3/4 wool. Stitched them together, folded over and thonged around the outside edge every 4 inches - makes like a sleeping bag! Finished size came out to be 34 x 73 - plenty of room to stretch out in. Completed, it weighs in at 9 pounds and folds to about the same as a comparable buffalo robe. "Test driving" the robe - I've taken it out and sleeping in the southwest desert here - I've been perfectly warm in weather down to 26 deg sleeping nekkid! I tried it with 3 and 4 point blankets a time or two and have been a little too warm. As far as historical - well, "mountaineers" used sheepskin epishamores - documentation a plenty! Sheepskins have been used for sleeping for centuries - used by ancient Romans and Greeks. Ewing Young was to have traded "Fine woven blankets and tanned sheepskins" from the Utes and Navajoes out of Taos in the 30's - I assume (there's that word again) that sheep had been acquired from the Mexicans in New Mexico. Ace "the Chief" Emanuel AZ State COHT Rep - -------------------------------1068501863 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I have been using a sheepskin sleeping robe lately.  I acquired 6=20= shearling hides measuring about 6 sq ft each with 1/2 to 3/4 wool.  Sti= tched them together, folded over and thonged around the outside edge every 4= inches - makes like a sleeping bag!  Finished size came out to be 34 x=  73 - plenty of room to stretch out in. Completed, it weighs in at= 9 pounds and folds to about the same as a comparable buffalo robe.
 
"Test driving" the robe - I've taken it out and sleeping in the southwe= st desert here - I've been perfectly warm in weather down to 26 deg sleeping= nekkid!  I tried it with 3 and 4 point blankets a time or two and have= been a little too warm.
 
As far as historical - well, "mountaineers" used sheepskin epishamores=20= - - documentation a plenty!  Sheepskins have been used for sleeping for c= enturies - used by ancient Romans and Greeks.  Ewing Young was to have=20= traded "Fine woven blankets and tanned sheepskins" from the Utes and Navajoe= s out of Taos in the 30's - I assume (there's that word again) that sheep ha= d been acquired from the Mexicans in New Mexico.
 
            = ;            &nb= sp;            &= nbsp;            = ;            &nb= sp;            Ace "t= he Chief" Emanuel
            = ;            &nb= sp;            &= nbsp;            = ;            &nb= sp;            AZ Sta= te COHT Rep
- -------------------------------1068501863-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 17:31:13 -0500 From: "Addison Miller" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Calling Frenchtown Sean Sure... :)) email for the MLML is seanbear@charter.net .... Or... you can use my regular email aomiller@charter.net .... Regards, Ad Miller - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 1:20 PM Subject: MtMan-List: Calling Frenchtown Sean > Sean, > Can you contact me off list. I lost your address. > Thanks > Beaverboy > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html > - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 17:21:49 -0700 From: James and Sue Stone Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding - --------------090401090206040906040205 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I've had no problem keeping a hat on my head when it's cold. Seems like my head seeks out that warmth when it is out in the cold... Sparks SWcushing@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 11/10/2003 1:02:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, > beaverboy@sofast.net writes: > > I've never been extremely > impressed with my bison robe. > > Hmmmm..... Beaver, your robe must be a summer kill, or at least not > prime. The brain tan buffalo robe I got a couple years ago with Bead, > is far and away the best blanket I've ever had. I've slept on frozen > ground with just a drop cloth, a sheep skin for a pad, and the robe > for a blanket and think the temp was down around 10 degrees in the > morning. Only time I was cold was when I kicked the robe off for being > too warm. I wore my clothes then (mostly wool) and mocs mainly because > I wanted to get up before light, and go hunting. > > A couple weeks ago at a camp with Crawdad, it got down to freezing and > I slept near nakid under the stars with only the robe for > cover..... My onlyest bitch is when it's real cold.... I have to pull > the hide over my head, and sometimes feel like I may suffocate unless > I lift a conner for fresh air. Actually.... I also get a little tired > of spitting out hair balls once in a while too, but a small price to > pay... > > So..... my ideal winter nest would be a good water proof ground cloth, > a thick sheep skin pad, a folded wool blanket to sleep on, (nice > ground insulation) and the brain tan buffalo hide. If it gets real > cold, I'd sleep with dry clothes on, and need to get a wool "wolf ear" > cap with ties for head cover, because my wool cap keeps falling off... > > Too bad your robe ain't warm, cause nearly everyone I know swears by > them.... > > Magpie - --------------090401090206040906040205 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I've had no problem keeping a hat on my head when it's cold.  Seems like my head seeks out that warmth when it is out in the cold...
Sparks

SWcushing@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 11/10/2003 1:02:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, beaverboy@sofast.net writes:
I've never been extremely
impressed with my bison robe.
Hmmmm..... Beaver, your robe must be a summer kill, or at least not prime. The brain tan buffalo robe I got a couple years ago with Bead, is far and away the best blanket I've ever had. I've slept on frozen ground with just a drop cloth, a sheep skin for a pad, and the robe for a blanket and think the temp was down around 10 degrees in the morning. Only time I was cold was when I kicked the robe off for being too warm. I wore my clothes then (mostly wool) and mocs mainly because I wanted to get up before light, and go hunting.
 
A couple weeks ago at a camp with Crawdad, it got down to freezing and I slept near nakid under the stars with only the robe for cover..... My onlyest bitch is when it's real cold.... I have to pull the hide over my head, and sometimes feel like I may suffocate unless I lift a conner for fresh air. Actually.... I also get a little tired of spitting out hair balls once in a while too, but a small price to pay...<G>
 
So..... my ideal winter nest would be a good water proof ground cloth, a thick sheep skin pad, a folded wool blanket to sleep on, (nice ground insulation) and the brain tan buffalo hide. If it gets real cold, I'd sleep with dry clothes on, and need to get a wool "wolf ear" cap with ties for head cover, because my wool cap keeps falling off...    
 
Too bad your robe ain't warm, cause nearly everyone I know swears by them....
 
Magpie

- --------------090401090206040906040205-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 16:59:11 -0800 From: "Randal Bublitz" Subject: RE: MtMan-List: bedding Larry, I have a braintanned buffalo robe (winter kill cow, from Wes Housler-New Mex.). I , too, swear by it. I have slept in near 0 temps with it, a canvas tarp, and a wool blanket- and woke up warm and cozy. Before the buff robe, I have used a sheep skin as padding, and ground insulation, and highly recommend a sheep skin. I have used an elk robe, but the hair is brittle and breaks off (making you feel like having had a fresh hair cut- scratchy). I solved this by using the elk to lay on top of, with a mexican saddle blanket over it. Half of the trick to beating the cold is having insulation under you, as well as a cover over you. I agree that a wool blanket works better when combined with a piece of tarp to keep the air flow down. The best/ cheapest bed roll I have used is a 10 X 10' tarp, a sheep skin and a good wool blanket or two. Lay the tarp down, put the sheepskin wool side up on half the tarp. lay the blankets out flat on top of the sheep skin. Lay down (with tarp, sheepskin, blankets under you) fold blanket(s) over you with other half of tarp. This arrangement works pretty good for me. The buffalo robe , tarp and maybe a blanket works better for me. It was hard to spend so much money for a good brain tanned buff robe, but I don't regret it now that I have one. Yfab, Randy > [Original Message] > From: Larry > To: > Date: 11/9/03 9:09:32 PM > Subject: MtMan-List: bedding > > for bedding, the best thing appears to be a buffalo robe. unfortunately not > all of us can afford a buffalo robe right off. (I am saving up my pennies > and dimes though). so how do the alternates measure up? > deer hide > elk > moose > bear > caribou > what's the next best thing? > larry > > > > > ---------------------- > hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 17:02:07 -0800 From: "roger lahti" Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_00CB_01C3A7AC.5F71E8A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Sparks, et.al.,=20 I've never had much success with a stocking cap but since I got me a = Scottish tam from Jas Townsend and sons, I've not had a problem keeping = it on all night. It may end up turned around a couple times but it's = always there where I left it. Capt. Lahti - ------=_NextPart_000_00CB_01C3A7AC.5F71E8A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Sparks, et.al.,
 
I've never had much success with a = stocking cap but=20 since I got me a Scottish tam from Jas Townsend and sons, I've not had a = problem=20 keeping it on all night. It may end up turned around a couple times but = it's=20 always there where I left it. <G>
 
Capt. Lahti
 
 
 
- ------=_NextPart_000_00CB_01C3A7AC.5F71E8A0-- - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:21:51 -0700 (MST) From: beaverboy@sofast.net Subject: Re: MtMan-List: bedding > Hmmmm..... Beaver, your robe must be a summer kill, or at least not prime. Magpie, My robe came from Yellowstone Park in the winter when they were in there shooting them and selling the hides a few years back. I was a furbuyer for 10 years, I could spot, smell or taste a summer hide or flat pelt in the dark a 1/2 mile away. No, it's a winter hide and from Yellowstone Park. It's the real thing. 6'x6' or 36' square feet. It is commercially tanned which makes it heavier than brain tanned but only rich pilots and retired Colonel biologist can afford prime brain tanned bison hides. (just kidding) Most people cannot afford a hide tanned by Wes. I know Larry is a poor trapper like beaverboy. Any wet bison hide regardless of how it is tanned weighs a lot and does not retain it's insulation like wool does when wet, nothing does. Plus wool dries much faster than any type of wet hide ever will. I love wool above all other fabrics on this earth!!!!!! But hey, thats just my opinion. I don't care what anyone uses in their camp. If bison is so great why is everyone wearing wool copotes and not bison robe coats? Capt., I use a canvas mantee cloth for wind and moisture protection no matter which bedding I use. If bison robes were so great, why did every Indian want wool blankets??? It wasn't just all the pretty colors. Larry, I suggest you just buy some white surplus English hospital blankets (without the blue stripe if you can find them) Or some other historically correct color blanket and buy five or six of them. You can find them cheap all over. Also, do you notice how many campers use a wool blanket with their bison robes? Maybe thats why they seem so warm???? Stay warm, bb - ---------------------- hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html ------------------------------ End of hist_text-digest V1 #1263 ******************************** - To unsubscribe to hist_text-digest, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe hist_text-digest" in the body of the message.