16. Must have at least three full years of membership in AMM.
This requirement is not applicable for advancement to Bossloper but mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
To fulfill this requirement, one must be a member of the AMM for three years. Full membership does not begin until a Probationary member (aka Pilgrim) attains his Bossloper status.
15. Must have hunted for and killed at least one game or fur animal with a muzzleloading firearm or primitive bow and must have used the skin and/or meat for food, clothing and/or accoutrements. The hunt must be made from a strictly primitive camp, the hunt accomplished under primitive conditions within the limits of local game laws.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
This requirement is easily fulfilled during your Aux Aliments du Pays. “Hunted for and killed at least one game or fur animal” this includes everything from squirrels to moose. “With a muzzleloading firearm or primitive bow” does not include traps, snares, etc. Fishing is nowhere to be seen in this requirement. “Used the skin and/or meat for food, clothing and/or accoutrements”. Make something from the hide, make a meal from the meat. “From a strictly primitive camp” means just that. If I get up from my bed at home, grab my flintlock, walk out into my woodlot, and shoot a deer, that does not fulfill this requirement. “Under primitive conditions” means no pick-up trucks, ATV’s, motorboats, radios or other communication devices. “Within the limits of local game laws.” there is the admonition again to stay within the law. For example, if you are out with your smoothbore and a duck flies by, unless you are loaded with nontoxic shot and have all the proper waterfowl stamps, killing the duck would be illegal and therefore would not count toward fulfilling this requirement.
14. Must be able to converse using Plains Indians hand talk. The 200 words on page 64 of Tompkin’s book “Indian Sign Language”, will be used as a basis for conversation. To complete this requirement, you must demonstrate your ability to read the signs for 50 words, as well as to give the signs for 50 words.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
Dennis R. Leonard with Todd Glover and Gene Hickman have compiled a book of signs that is in common use now. It compliments and expands on Tompkin’s book.
It is my goal to become fluent enough to carry on a conversation in sign language. I don’t want to cram at a rendezvous and put all of these signs into my short-term memory, only to have them fade away before I can make real use of them. I think a person should speak the words while making the sign. This would help beginners to learn the signs and help learn another language if conversing with a different language speaker.
13. Must be able to cook a meal of meat using only the meat, fire, a knife, and materials found in nature.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
This requirement can be easily accomplished during your Aux Aliments du Pays. It is what we do. We live off of the land.
12. Must have spent at least five days traveling on foot, snowshoe, canoe, and/or horseback. One method or a combination may be used. Bullboat may be used in place of canoe. You are expected to gain as much distance as possible. This trip must be under primitive conditions, taking nothing that would not have been available to the mountain man between 1800-1840. Period weapon with accoutrements and knife must be along.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
It is my opinion that it takes at least 7 calendar days to complete most 5-day trips. Unless you are travelling close to home, a person needs to have additional days for travelling to and from your site.
“You are expected to gain as much distance as possible.” This portion of the requirement seems to be lost on some people. When I did my first trip, what time I had out of the canoe or setting up camp was spent hiking the canyons along the river. Someday, I would like to get in my canoe and just paddle for 5 days to see how far I can actually go.
11. Must be able to show ability to tan or Indian-dress hides.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
While putting together your clothing and kit from Requirement #1 you will need Indian-dressed hides. (Commonly called brain tanned) This requirement will give you a hide to use for moccasins, leggings, shirt or coat. I have found the book Deerskins into Buckskins to be an invaluable resource.
10. Must be able to start a fire in wet, as well as dry weather, using flint and steel or fire drill using tinder and wood found under natural conditions.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
Keeping track of all the fires you start at your camps throughout the year should fulfill this requirement. Learning to start a fire is one of the most common and important skills you will need in wilderness survival.
9. Must be able to properly field dress (clean and skin) a game animal under primitive conditions.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
This simple requirement is at the heart of wilderness survival. The ability to use the game we hunt and trap.
8. Must be able to demonstrate the ability to properly pack a horse, canoe, bullboat, or a man for distance travel under possible adverse conditions.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
Again, the best way to demonstrate these skills is to do them. This requirement should be fulfilled on your 5-day trip. (Requirement #12) This requirement asks you to demonstrate “the ability to properly pack” one of the above listed methods of transportation. If you can demonstrate all of them so much the better.
7. Must be able to demonstrate ability to track man or animal under natural wilderness conditions.
This requirement is optional for advancement to Bossloper and mandatory for the Hiveranno degree.
The best way to demonstrate a skill is to do it over and over. This requirement can be demonstrated at each hunting camp and every time you set a trap. I was taught to track animals as a child by my father and grandfather. It is a skill I’ve used and honed over a lifetime in the woods. If you don’t have someone to teach you in person, I will recommend the following books.
Gabe the Shootist
Gabe the Shootist 