Be a Buckskinner
Historically, mountain men met traders at "rendezvous" to sell furs, buy supplies, and cut loose. Modern rendezvous give "buckskinners" the opportunity to dress in period clothing, shoot muzzleloaders, and party like it's 1839. The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (800-745-1493; nmlra.org) sponsors several such gatherings. The largest, the Eastern Primitive, attracts over 2,000 participants. Rendezvousers camp in tepees, lean-tos, and tents and keep it all very real-"no generators, no visible coolers, and, uh, no in-line rifles.

Bonus Web Coverage: Rifle Names
Your muzzleloader deserves a name. Here are some examples from the frontier:

• Daniel Boone: "Ticklicker"
• Davy Crockett: "Old Betsy" for hunting "Pretty Betsy" for show
• Natty Bumppo/"Hawkeye": "Killdeer"
• Michael Stoner: "Sweet Lips"
• Simon Kenton: "Jacob"