Beaver Hunting in the Middle Ages

The beaver is one of my favorite species and one that is rather common where I live in Wisconsin.  In the history I usually reenact and blog about here in North America, the beaver was the largest commodity and the main object of desire in the fur trade.  One of the greatest reasons of exploration in French North America was the fur trade and the need to supply Europe with beaver fur and castor.  Historically, beaver were...

St. Hubert’s Rangers and hunting

As some of you may know from last year, I have decided to take up bowhunting again but in a different level.  I am hunting in medieval gear and with a stick bow.  Currently I am using 10th century Norse gear and clothing, but I soon plan on building a 14th century kit as well.  Using this, I will also build an all-wood crossbow that I can use for hunting.   When I started this medieval adventure, I was made aware of a...

Odd Stuff

As I have been doing more and more that is not really pertaining to the “French in Wisconsin,” I have decided to add a new blog category.  I am simply going to call it “Odd Stuff.”  It will consist of various other unusual projects in my continuing life and culture.  Some of it may be medieval recreation, some may be my interests in Scottish and Highland culture, some may involve my new attempts at...