It was a BOO-tiful day.............

Joined
Apr 14, 2006
Messages
7,021
Well, it was a BOO-tiful day.....

like all Hallowe'en's are supposed to be. And, as Hallowe'ens tend to go, it was not without its share of scary looking creatures - Here - judge for yourself.

PBA.jpg


The only thing that would have been scarier, would have been if tonym had come to visit, again. I understand that there are still a few local children undergoing therapy for nightmares, because of his last visit.

Anyway, we decided to get together for the day and maybe learn some new skills. Net making was first and foremost. In the picture above, my buddy Slasher, was demonstrating how to go about it to our own kgd and a quiet stranger, by the name of R....

Once they thought they had the hang of it (don't know if that's a pun or not :confused:), Ken set out on his own. Looks inspiring, doesn't he?

PBB-1.jpg


To be serious for a moment, I don't know many people more eager or committed to learn than Ken, who proves his commitment by driving many miles and hours for a few short hours with the boys.

Anyway, that's enough of that crap! :rolleyes:

I also thought that because we're into a new season a bushcrafting fashion show might be in order so I decked myself out with a colourful survival bracelet from Talfuchre of Texas along with a matching firesteel lanyard. However, I forgot to take a picture - maybe Ken did. I also made a scarf for the occasion. Here's my buddy Phil, modeling said scarf.

PBC-1.jpg


Pretty handsome looking, isn't it? :D

Looks like Phil's making an adjustment - (Guess I'll let the pictures do the talking from here on in, being worth a thousand words, and all).

PBD.jpg


PBE.jpg


PBF.jpg


(to be continued)
 
Last edited:
PBG.jpg


PBH.jpg


PBI.jpg


Well, that was fun and it worked well. Actually, Phil and I had been playing around with some ideas for drop net triggers so we put them to the test, and they worked admirably. We are familiar with the drop net and trigger, John McPherson has in his book, and while it works, I didn't particularly like how the drop cord, etc. was set up (going off to the side through cross sticks, up and back across to the drop mechanism, which, of course, slows the action down, not to mention being a bit of a pain to construct, ALFM).

By doing it directly, we always were concerned about any knots in the release cord catching on the net, itself, as the cord went up and the net went down. The answer was in front of us the whole time - use a doubled cord which eliminates any knots - EUREKA!

Another trigger we modified, which also worked flawlessly, in fact, somewhat better than the one above due to ease of setting.

PBJ.jpg


Everybody, but Phil and I had to leave early (Ken had a big drive ahead of him), so Phil and I played for a bit longer. We didn't do any plant walks today because I picked up some kind of respiratory bug, and if I had hiked down into the valley, I wouldn't have been able to hike back up :(. That, not withstanding, I was quite happy with the day, the 2 new trap trigger modifications, and putting the DOC-CANADA survival scarf to the test. Mors, eat your heart out! :D

Hopefully, Ken will be along in a while with some of the pictures he took. Thanks for looking.

Doc
 
Cool stuff Doc, that's a handy scarf and I like those triggers. I'll have to try to play with that a little.
 
Thanks for posting Doc. I had fun yesterday and as much as I use gill nets for my job, its about time I learned how they were made! I'll try to get some of my pictures up tonight. We had some yummy snacks provided to us by one of Doc's good friends who owns an organic farm and brings organic meats and sausages to the market regularly. She supplied us with homemade blueberry and mushroom perogies and some curry/sausage sticks that were just amazing.

I had signed up to do the fire demo, but in that matter I was the least experienced member present. We also got a chance to check out each other's PSK's and discuss things <-- which largely turns out to be making fun out of one another. Doc doesn't seem to like my altoids fire kit much, not for its concept, but for the fact that I have so much stuff crammed in there I need three ranger bands to keep it all in place :D

I pretty much wanted to focus my attention on the net making. I only ever seem to be able to absorb one skill at a time and I want to try my hand at practicing some this week. Just have to make or obtain one of those net needles. The traps were really cool to see. As always with Doc traps, they are very elaborate. Its fun to watch Doc and Phil work together on them because they seem to know just what each other is thinking and they both have such a facility with various knots and triggers. I sometimes think it would be easier to solve a rubics cube then one of doc's toggle knots, but he sure ties them quick and with ease!
 
Last edited:
I sometimes think it would be easier to solve a rubics cube then one of doc's toggle knots, but he sure ties them quick and with ease!

Yeah, and then we you look at him all spaced out, he calls you a dumbass:rolleyes: It only took him all of his 136 years on this planet to get it, and he wants us to get in a minute...:rolleyes:
:D
 
Hey GP, I wish I could have joined you, but Halloween is my daughter's Birthday as well.
Not to mention I can only take so much of Canadians. I think once a year is about all I can handle.

I wouldn't mind getting a PDF of that drop net trigure though.....

The net making is very cool as well!

Hope you feel better soon!

GS
 
Brilliant stuff. Looks like a terrific way to spend Halloween. I dig the multi-use scarf.

All the best,

- Mike
 
AWESOME trap! Great job on the malletizing.
 
A few more shots of the day....

Some of the netting examples Doc brought along.

DSC_0002-3.jpg


DSC_0005-2.jpg


DSC_0007-3.jpg


The netting demo's

DSC_0013-4.jpg


DSC_0019.jpg


DSC_0023-9.jpg


Traps...

DSC_0025-2.jpg


DSC_0028.jpg


DSC_0033-8.jpg


DSC_0034.jpg


DSC_0035-11.jpg
 
Hey GP, I wish I could have joined you, but Halloween is my daughter's Birthday as well.
Not to mention I can only take so much of Canadians. I think once a year is about all I can handle.

I wouldn't mind getting a PDF of that drop net trigure though.....

The net making is very cool as well!

Hope you feel better soon!

GS

Hey, tell your little one happy Bday. My main squeeze and baby momma is also born on All hallows Eve....coolio bro.
Doc, by the way..great as always..even if you are 139 years young.
 
Now that looks like a great day!! Those traps are fantastic, I have been studying that drop trap but can't figure out the trigger/drop mechanism, any diagrams online?

I can see how that drop trap would be the bee's knees in an urban environment, squab anyone? Chris
 
First of all, thanks all for the positive comments.

Yeah, and then we you look at him all spaced out, he calls you a dumbass:rolleyes: It only took him all of his 136 years on this planet to get it, and he wants us to get in a minute...:rolleyes:
:D

Not so, the dumbass conclusion was reached long before that. :eek:

Hey GP, I wish I could have joined you, but Halloween is my daughter's Birthday as well.
Not to mention I can only take so much of Canadians. I think once a year is about all I can handle.

I wouldn't mind getting a PDF of that drop net trigure though.....

The net making is very cool as well!

Hope you feel better soon!

GS

Sorry to hear that. An inferiority complex can be a bitch.

Now that looks like a great day!! Those traps are fantastic, I have been studying that drop trap but can't figure out the trigger/drop mechanism, any diagrams online?

I can see how that drop trap would be the bee's knees in an urban environment, squab anyone? Chris

Hey Chris, both drop net triggers are modifications of existing triggers, made by Phil and I. I will be doing a trigger thread in the next little while. Stay tuned.

Doc
 
Great stuff Doc, a little longer and it could also be a hammock eh !

I guess with that one and the Mors Kochanski survival scarf.....scarves are this winters must haves !:D:thumbup:
 
Back
Top