18th Century usage of bows and clothing

[Vision Hunter]

Hi,

Just wondering who would have been using a bow in the 18th century.  I know indians, but they also had access to guns in the east from trading with trappers and settlers.

I am a reenactor of the French and Indian war and would like to try and dress the part when I hunt.  I see most pics of guys with traditional bows but modern clothes.  Nothing wrong with that, in fact I own an ASAT leafy suit that I  have worn and still do.  It is just that I don't have any reference for traditional clothes to go along with my longbow.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[vermonster13]

If someone could afford a firearm then that's what they hunted with. It was all about survival not fun then. So dress the part of a woodsman from those days and just carry a bow.

[Shane_Thomas]

not nessecarily. I can see how they might choose a bow over the rifle.

Guns at the time were'nt exactly high powered long range hitters. And if you shoot a bow in the woods, the group of indians 1/2 mile away are'nt going to hear a boom telling them to come kill the white man and take his gun/pelts/money/scalp/powder/gold/wife/etc........

[fatman]

Check Mr LaClair's site....

[mike g]

More people back then used a bow more than we suspect....
   Moss of them came from England and Scottland and Ireland and were used to uesing bows....
   The people who wrote the history loved to leave stuff out that they did not like....

[Ron LaClair]

http://www.shrewbows.com/endorsements/PaulWilburn.html

[vermonster13]

Regardless. The people hunting would dress just like anyone else in the wilds.

[Dirty Bill]

The french and indian era would most likely find a woods man carrying a musket. A pennsylvainia style flintlock would also be possible if the man could afford one. The indian would carry a cheap trade musket or a bow. The woodland indian bows of the era
have been documented,and if you want want of those,if you do a search you can find instructions to reproduce one.

A good friend of mine does the F&I reenactments as an indian,but carries a musket.Hope this helps some.  

[Vision Hunter]

Thanks for the  input so far.  Just like anything in a hobby, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding is what keeps you going.  

I may try and look into building my own woodland style bow once I finish my gunstock warclub that I have (not) been working on the last three years, LOL.