Category Archives: events

Saturday Film Shoot

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Sorry for the late notice, but I just got this today . . .

If you have the clothing, weapons and desire to participate in this event you can Google up the site location at this address
23800 Hamilton Pool Rd Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Hello everyone, I hope you had a restful and joyful holiday season.I am writing everybody to request our assistance for an upcoming project I am working on. On January 10th a film shoot recreating the Battle of Bejar will be taking place at Reimer’s Ranch in Dripping springs Texas on the film set of the 2004 Alamo Movie. This may very will be the last opportunity to see the set as it is rapidly deteriorating and will most likely not be up much longer. The shoot will be sponsored by Phillip DeLaPena,in an effort to create an interactive instructional prototype to be used in Texas History classrooms. Although reenactors will not be paid, in accordance with an agreement with the San Antonio living history association, the footage collected will also be accumulated into a recruiting video for S.A.L.H.A. and copies of high quality digital shots of reenactors on the period location will be given free of charge, lunch will also be provided. Details of the shoot are as follows:

TIME: Reenactors are expected at the site at 8:30, filming will begin promptly and last until at most dusk.

LOCATION: Reimer’s Ranch, Dripping Springs Texas on the Set of the 2004 Alamo film.

IMPRESSIONS: Participants are encouraged to bring as much clothing as possible since due to editing abilities all wIll be playing multiple roles, with emphasis on the following parts:
• Texan Volunteers
• Bejar Townspeople
• Mexican Soldados
• New Orleans Greys
• Mexican Officers

I hope all can attend, we are also looking for anyone interested in filling principal characters (Frank Johnson, Ben Milam, Deaf Smith, Gen. Cos etc.) Also, this filming is not exclusive, if you know of anyone else who may be interested please feel free to email me at phillipdelapena@yahoo.com so I can pass along more details to interested parties.

From – Phillip DeLaPena

You Might Be a Buckskinner if…

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Received this via email and thought it was too good not to pass on . . .

You Might Be a Buckskinner if . . .

You set up a hawk block in your yard.

You have a closet designated just for period clothing

You determine which new vehicle to buy based on the amount of camping gear can fit into it

You spent more money on beeswax candles than on light bulbs last year.

You display more canvas then the local art gallery.

The smell of wood smoke lowers your blood pressure and makes you smile.

You will pay $80.00 for a linen hunting shirt, but refuse to squeeze out $12.99 for a half-decent oxford at Wally World.

You proudly display historical weapons in your house, but your modern firearms are all in put away in a storage closet.

You go modern camping with friends and show up with candles, lanterns and no flashlights.

The power goes out and you grab candle lanterns instead of using the readily available flashlights.

Your house looks like an armory, museum and/or taxidermist shop.

You have various parts of animals laying around your house.

You have a separate room in your house designated for camping equipment.

Your wedding gift to your spouse has the word “baker”, “wedge” or “wall” in it.

You look into the trunk of a friends new vehicle and think about how much gear you can pack into it.

You and your friends have a totally different meaning of the term “roughing it”.

You think the participants on Survivor are wimps.

You see someone you’ve known for years and don’t recognize them in modern clothing.

You have seen bed sheets, bed spreads or even drapes that you thought would make good clothing.

You’ve driven past some open land and thought, “What a great place for a rendezvous!”

You’ve worn wool even when the temperature tops 100 degrees.

Your kids can correct their history teacher.

You have been asked in a gas station if you are Amish.

In a conversation with a co-worker about camping, they all think you are insane when you tell them what type of gear you use.

You see a beautiful girl in a bikini and wonder what she looks like in a bodice.

Your $36,000.00 vehicle sits in the rain so your $200.00 tent can stay in the garage.

You plan the pregnancy of your child so it has the least impact on your re-enactment schedule.

You will eat items that have fallen onto the well trampled ground around a campfire, but not if it falls on your kitchen floor.

You have two levels of hygiene, “at events” and “at home”.

You own your own artillery.

You annually dispose of your Halloween pumpkins by cutting them up with various tomahawks to test which one works best.

And Finally:

If you’ve contemplated relocating your family to another region that has more rendezvous.

White Smoke Bridage – Match 54

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White Smoke Brigade – Match 54

I have already heard that two of our faithful shooters won’t be able to attend Match 54.
I’d like to know how many shooters to expect at the match.
The Grinch heard a rumor about it and has purchased a Kevlar vest. We’ll have to aim high.

Remember, it takes balls to shoot the December match!

December 13th at 10am

1 single shot pistol match; Minimum of 3 rifle matches

Let’s try again for a revolver match

At our range site on the west side of FM 306, just south of Purgatory Rd

Look for the WSB sign by the gate

Bring your single shot pistols & revolvers

– Grey Wolf

Anyone want to be famous? Potential TV project . . .

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I was contacted via email by a casting producer for the ABC show “Wife Swap.” Apparently they are looking for a “frontier family” to take part in an upcoming show. I am not sure about compensation, but if you ever wanted to be on TV without being on a daytime talk show or being caught in your front yard in your skivvies on an episode of COPS, this may be just the opportunity for you.

Here are the details:

ABC’s Wife Swap Casting Frontier Era Enthusiasts for Primetime!

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Danielle Gervais. I’m a Casting Producer for ABC’s Primetime show, “Wife Swap.” We’re currently casting our fifth season and we’re searching for dynamic families with plenty of personality to take part in the show. Specifically, we’re looking for families who are passionate about re-living the days of the past through Frontier Era reenactments, battles or lifestyles. Whether your family embraces the Native American way of life or the lifestyles of the Frontiersmen and women, if yours is a family that loves reliving history, we want to hear from you! Families who participate in this documentary-style program are given a unique opportunity to share their beliefs, lifestyles with another family. I’ve included some further information about the show…if after reading it, you have questions or would like to speak with me directly, please don’t hesitate to contact me. In addition, please don’t hesitate to pass this email on to whomever you think may be interested in this unique opportunity.

In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places in order to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. After making her observations, she introduces several “rule changes,” where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It’s a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney-owned ABC television on Fridays at 8 pm- the family hour!

Requirements: Each family must reside in the continental U.S. and must consist of two parents and at least one child between the ages of 6 and 17. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)

Participating in the show is a very unique experience that can be life-changing for everyone. Families that appear on the show will receive a financial honorarium for lost wages, time and commitment. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1000 as a ‘thank you’ from us.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! If you’re interested in learning more, please include your contact information.

Ms. Gervaise can be reached at casting.daniellegervais@gmail.com

For more details, here’s the flier.

– Many Rifles

Fire Ban for TFT Rendezvous IX

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Buckskinners!

There is a fire ban in effect in Wilson County (and others).

Big John is trying to get dispensation for the hog roasting fire.

Bring stoves for cooking and candle lanterns for Council “Fire”, and maybe fuel lanterns with dimming control.

It’s supposed to rain lightly for a couple of days then turn beautiful again.

I went to the site yesterday to drop off 12 hawk blocks. We will try hard to get a Knife & Hawk Walk set up on Thursday.

Stay below the horizon…….shinin’ times are a comin’

– Grey Wolf and the Brigade

Rendezvous IX promo

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Folks are invited to join Joe Wolf and the Texas Free Trappers at Rendezvous IX on November 14-16. 2008.

It is a reenactment of the fur trade rendezvous 1825-1840 where beaver trappers met the wagon train of supplies that came out of St. Louis in the summer to sell their pelts and buy their supplies. It was a time to meet old friends that had survived since the last rendezvous, drink bad whisky, gamble, have shooting, knife throwing, tomahawk throwing and archery competition, have horse and foot races, etc.

We don’t do all of that, but we live a weekend in the 19th century as much as is practical and possible. Civilian clothing is the usual, though when the woolen and cotton clothing and leather boots they wore to the mountains were worn out they went to buckskins and mocassins. Weapons were the same as in Texas in the same period. Nothing modern is supposed to be in sight in camp.

The site is a 400 acre on historic Cibolo Creek near La Vernia. Indian dancer friends are invited. There will be a potluck supper Saturday evening with roast pig provided, and a Round Robin trading circle, so bring something to trade. Last year a piece of the Santa Maria’s sail was traded for something equally valuable (tongue in cheek).

A Lipan Apache drum group that includes Jimmy Gonzales did a music program at Council Fire at Rendezvous VIII. They enjoyed themselves so much they say they are coming to Rendezvous IX and bringing some dancers.

Download the flier
Download the map

– Grey Wolf – wolfbear@gvtc.com

Shoot yeah – It’s Match 53 time!

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The White Smoke Brigade’s Match 53

November 8th at 10:00 am

1 single shot pistol match
Minimum of 3 rifle matches

Let’s try again for a revolver match

At our range site on the west side of FM 306, just south of Purgatory Rd

Let’s camp Friday night at the site……

Look for the WSB sign by the gate

Bring your single shot pistols & revolvers!

Grey Wolf – wolfbear@gvtc.com

TAB Fall Rendezvous Pictures

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I just posted some pictures that Otter Woman and I took yesterday at the TAB Fall Rendezvous in Lampasas, TX. We just went up for the day – we’re not quite ready to overnight with Little Otter – but we wanted her to get to see her first rendezvous.

Pictures are here.

It was a great event in an amazing location – canopied by pecan trees and on the banks of a live creek. The weather was nice and warm during the day and cold at night. Quite a different experience from our first rendezvous there (anyone else remember May 2001?).

If you have any other pictures you’d like to post from the event, please send them over!

– Many Rifles

Notice from Grey Wolf about Texas Free Trappers’ Rendezvous IX

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Skinners and pilgrims …………….take heed.

The dates of Texas Free Trappers’ Rendezvous IX have been changed to a week earlier.

A Civil War battle reenactment is scheduled on our original date and we find it best to change our dates.

The new flier is attached, as well as a map to avoid having to send it later to those who were unable to join us at our previous Rendezvous at the La Vernia site.

There were 30 registrants at Rendezvous VIII plus two youngsters whose registration is not required and our new Native American friends, The Running Waters Drum. They presented a drum and song program for us after council fire and enjoyed themselves enough to say that they will be at Rendezvous IX and bring along some dancers.

I hope to get some of our Native American friends that we will see at the “Celebrate Bandera” powwow over Labor Day weekend to be a part of Rendezvous IX.

The TFT brigade has been invited to set up a mountain man camp at “Celebrate Bandera” for the second time. We will be doing demonstrations and talking to visitors about the days of the fur trade. Period camps and campers are invited to join us there. Contact me for more information and/or to let me know if you will be there. We need to reserve plenty of space for lodges, knife and hawk, and possibly archery demonstrations.

At Rendezvous IX we can expect to meet some new reenactors who have found us. I was told that they do well researched “personas” of Cherokee and Seminole individuals and are ready to portray the 1810-1840 period with us.

We will have “Trader Bucks” ready to award as prizes, in addition to the black powder, so be there, traders!

Grey Wolf can be contacted at wolfbear@gvtc.com for more information.

This event has been posted to the events page – Many Rifles