The Puckerbruh Primitive Gathering is almost here, looks like a good one this year with many added presentations. It's a fun, family, kid-friendly event. I'll be there canvassing a canoe and displaying my outfit.
Pleasant River Fish & Game Conservation Association ·
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The Pleasant River Fish & Game Conservation Association of Columbia is pleased to announce that the 7th Annual Puckerbrush Primitive Gathering is scheduled to take place once again this year. The Gathering will take place July 15-17 at the club’s facility at 1597 Tibbettstown Rd. in Columbia, Maine.
The event will kick off the afternoon of Friday the 15th with a presentation on awareness in nature and opening address by Michael Douglas of the Maine Primitive Skills School, a fly fishing class with Al West, and pop-up discussions as presenters and guests arrive and set up.
Saturday the event begins in earnest with the opening circle, followed by presentations and workshops by perennial favorites such as Stim Wilcox and his bowmaking workshop. Our favorite blacksmith, the renowned Doug Wilson will be returning with his forge and helpers. Maine Trapper Safety Instructor Paul Favolise will be doing a trapping presentation. Jim “The Scythe Guy” Kovaleski will do a workshop on the use and maintenance of the scythe, as well as hand hay bailing. Chris Kravitt of Treestump Leather will be leading a side sewn knife sheath making class. Robin Lauer returns with his canvas over wood canoes, and will be working on canvasing one on site. Shaw Smith returns with his flint and steel workshops. Steve Balboni returns with his knifemaking workshop. Tim Beal will be leading a discussion on the use of the canoe pole as a component of shelter and cooking, making bow saws, and will lead an early morning canoe trip down the Pleasant River (we will have a limited number of loaner canoes available). New for this year, John Franklin will be leading a flint knapping workshop. Mike Elkavitch will lead a class in fly tying. Local reenactors will demonstrate a 1700s campsite and cooking. Kate Wentworth of Bear Hand Bushcraft will be leading a workshop on sewing hides and will be showcasing her salves made from bear fat. Joe Fraser, author of the Survival column in the Northwoods Sporting Journal will be leading a presentation on improvised survival shelters. Wayne Russell of Kullcraven Bushcraft will be leading a discussion on survival kits and trip preparedness. Lesley Howe of Maine Search and Rescue Dogs will be doing a demonstration with her dog. The trade blanket returns, this time under the leadership of Cyrus Brissette. The Maine Warden Service will be manning their mobile poaching display. Other workshops are in the works as well.
There will also be pop up workshops in friction fire, knot tying, archery, canoe poling, making birch tar, green woodworking, and more. The archery ranges will be in operation virtually all weekend. Other activities include participating in discussion circles, swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and loafing. Attendees are strongly urged to participate as this is a “hands on” event, but spectators are more than welcome as well. Some workshops may have a modest materials fee, but participants will walk away with a useful item they have crafted on their own.
Sunday there will be flint & steel and friction fire making races, there will be several raffles going, and drawings for door prizes will take place both days.
On site camping is available, as are food and refreshments. Breakfast will available Saturday and Sunday mornings, a pulled pork lunch will be available Saturday, and Saturday evening there will be a communal pot luck supper, followed by a bonfire where folks are encouraged to share their favorite musical instruments. Sanitary precautions will be followed such as mandatory disinfection of hands before the communal dinner.
The event opens to the public at noon on Friday the 15th , and closes at 3:00 pm Sunday the 17th. A weekend pass is $25.00 per person, and includes free camping on site. Day use fees are $5.00 for Friday, $15.00 for Saturday, and $10.00 for Sunday. Youth 12 and under are admitted free of charge with adult supervision. This is a family friendly, chem free/alcohol free event. Please leave pets at home for their safety and the safety of participants. Those who are at elevated risk from Covid are advised that many of the activities require working in close proximity to others, please proceed with caution. Air filtration systems will be in operation in all indoor spaces during the event. If you or someone in your family isn’t feeling well, or has recently tested positive for Covid, please join us at the 2023 event instead.
For further information and to download a flyer, please visit the PRF&GCA website at
www.prfgca.org
, or e-mail with specific questions,
puckerbrush@prfgca.org.
