Need advice- newbie questions

[gables]

I currently feel a nbit lost in my research but I have been interested in traditional muzzleloading and the era of fur trade since getting my first Book of Buckskinning more than 20 years ago. I have been doing research lately on the Caddo Indians and the trade relationships they had with the French in the 4-corner area of Texas, Ok, Ark and Louisiana. I am a traditional bowhunter, now make my own bows and want to work in elements to my hunting gear that the Caddo's might have traded with the French- trade knives, hawks, wool blankets, etc. I currently modern muzzload and hope within the next couple of years to make the transition into a flintlock that would have been carried by the French traders of the time.

First, I want to make a possibles bag to carry with me when bowhunting. What do you suggest? What resources should I look for? After a possibles bag I want to get a shooting pouch and horn. I would also like to incorporate period Indian and French trader dress into my hunting clothing and footwear.

The below is a link I find inspirational to the period and location I am most interested. Any further direction for research and design is appreciated.

http://www.caneriverheritage.org/main_file.php/fortstjean.php/

[Micanopy]

No illistrations or examples but good read none the less.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/bmcaj.html

[heatherhistorian]

Hello.  I would suggest looking at this link...http://traditionalmuzzleloadingcheap.com/forum/index.php?topic=5104.0  It is alot on the French Marine.  It has great photos of what the French would have dressed like. Many French that were in the frontier were French Marines or had been.  It was common that either you re-enlisted or you were left to settle in the Americas.  Since your person would have probably lived here for awhile, he would have addapted some native attire to his uniform.  So, you could go with knee breeches and a more civilian shirt.  You could add moccasins instead of military issued shoes.  You could replace some brass buttons on your clothes with bone to look like you lost a button and couldn't replace it, so you made your own...see where I am going? 

In one of the links on the French Marine post there is a book called sketchbook.  It has some great illustrations of bags and cartridge carriers for lack of a better term.  They made a cartridge with paper and put their ball and powder in it and loaded their gun all at once.  It also has uniforms, horns and such. 

If you want to add a touch of Caddoan to the outfit, you can look at some of the links in the Costuming help area on groups that were Caddoan. I know I have a section on the Wichita and on the Pawnee. 

I hope this helps.  Good luck!

[heatherhistorian]

Ok, so I lied...There is Pawnee.  I will add a section on the Wichita.

[gables]

Thanks you very much.

[Micanopy]

Ok, so I lied...There is Pawnee.  I will add a section on the Wichita.

Yer an ACE!

[Red Badger]

Ok, so I lied...There is Pawnee.  I will add a section on the Wichita.

Yer an ACE!

Ain't she grand!

[heatherhistorian]

I wish! haha!!