Frontier Era Buckskinning and Muzzleloading Shooting Groups

As a group Armory Hill currently participates in re-enactments in the Pacific Coast area but is looking forward to attending Eastern events in the future.

We are also available for living history demonstrations at schools and other public institutions in the Northern California area.

We hold SHOOTS and SEMINARS all weekend. The ladies seem to really enjoy the ALL WOMENS ROUND ROBIN, and the kids just love the fall rendezvous. There are lots of GAMES and PUMPKIN CARVING, and of course TRICK OR TREAT!!! Once the pumpkins are lit the camp is a site to behold!!!!

Theres is usually some sort of ENTERTAINMENT Saturday night. We have several "musical" members in the Clann.

Our primitive wilderness facility holds a 54 position muzzle loading range for both fun and serious competition. There are 25, 50 and 100 yard shooting lines for both rifle and pistol, as well as smoothbore guns shooting patched round balls. Our shooting range is called "Tunder Valley", the reason for the name becoming evident when the shooting starts.

There is over 20 acres of area suitable for primitive camping and activities associated with rendezvous' of yesteryear. Our grounds are a beautiful place to go shooting and camping for the weekend with the family. The area is also suited for nature hikes. You may consider taking a camera along as the area is home to a wide variety of wildlife including songbirds, raccoons, deer, pheasant, quail, squirrels, beaver, coyote and other creatures.

We encourage family participation at all of our shoots and functions. Our shoots are held on the third Saturday of every month, rain or shine. We alternate between paper, novelty, and trailwalk shoots. We use Flintlock & Percussion muzzleloading rifles, trade guns, pistols, and shotguns. We also have Hawk and Knife throwing competitions. All shoots are with patched round ball and open iron sights only.

Our permanent range is located near the Flying M Ranch, just west of Yamhill OR.

We have monthly shoots at Holladay Gun Club with our Club Meeting the first Thursday of every Month. We are a Charter Club with the NMLRA and we Shoot Muzzleloading Rifle,Pistol,Shootgun,as well as Black Powder Cartridge.

We endeavor to promote and maintain high standards of sportsmanship and good fellowship, together with the historical appreciation of the era and equipment. Bringing together those individuals who are interested in the history, shooting of muzzle loading firearms, throwers of hawk and knife, and the recreation of that past period of American History. We are a family oriented club, catering to all ages.

Our Rendezvous, Club meetings, and Monthly Shoots, are held at the Poulsbo Sportsman's Club in Poulsbo, WA USA

Today, we keep this goal foremost. It is a family oriented activity with a growing membership. As a club, we sponsor our own shoot and rendezvous in May. The rendezvous is a re-creation of a pre-1840 camp set up to trade with the mountain men and voyageurs of yesteryear. We have other enthusiasts who travel to compete with us from Canada and across the states of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and even some from across the USA.

Every year, competitions in shooting paper targets, primitive targets, throwing hawk and knife, kid's and women's games, trail walk, and much more. This event is held on private land south of Kindred, ND. In 1997 we celebrated our 25th anniversary.

We greet in this way all interested and naturally also those, who have visited us purely by coincidence and have nothing at all to do with our "hobby," also, those who would like to shoot with powder and lead as they did 200 years ago. We would like to introduce you to our hobby.

Due to the many inquiries, concerning the Vorderladerei (muzzleloading), years ago we decided to put up this web site, in order to answer a part of these questions and to create a platform for our hobby.

The Trappers of Starved Rock started out as a club in 1974. The name at that time was "Frontloaders," this original name was derived from the method used to load these primitive firearms. In September 1995 the first formal meeting was held and the name "Trappers of Starve Rock" was adopted. The name was taken from the name the Indians gave this area, "Starved Rock" because food and hunting were scarce due to the westward expansion of the white man. We started shooting as a club in 1974. Our first club shoot of 1975 was held in October at the Daniel Boone home in St. Charles County. We continued to hold our October shoot at the Boone home until we moved to Busch Wildlife area in 1990, in 1995 we moved the annual Rendezvous to a beautiful valley in Sioux Passage Park in North St. Louis County the first weekend of October.

In July of 1976 we received our charter for incorporation and became a not-for-profit organization. At this time we also purchased insurance and legally became affiliated as a club with the NMLRA. In January 1976 we held our first Trade Session or swap meet which has become an annual event the first Sunday in March. Our first Christmas Party or (Buckskin Formal) was in December 1976 and has also become an annual event.

This site is to serve purely for the provision of information for the German Hobbyist scene. It is also to provide, in addition, information to non-hobbyists about what we do nad give them an overview of the hobby. Perhaps one can bring one's talents to others so they may learn and then participate actively in the hobby. Please, look at the sites in which you interested!