Mountain Man Events in Oklahoma

There are not many mountains in Oklahoma, but that has not stopped the mountain man events from catching on. They are most often called "rendezvous" and involve reenactments of a lifestyle that has been lost in the modern era. At a rendezvous you may see muzzle-loaded rifles firing, hatchet throwing and other hunting skills used by mountain men before the 1850s in the wild of the United States. Survival skills such as building fires, shelters and clothing are also often on display.

  1. Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve

    • Woolaroc is a museum of the old west and an animal preserve in rural northern Oklahoma near Bartlesville. The facility was founded by oilman Frank Phillips in 1925 and is a 3,700 acre ranch that preserves history. There are a few mountain man encampments here. In the spring there is an encampment each weekend that has displays and demonstrations open to the public.

      Two main events round out the year. In April there is a spring encampment, which is an authentic 1840s camp. In October, they hold a fall encampment, which is very similar but goes more into the trapping aspects of mountain man life in the 1840s. There is an entry fee to Woolaroc, but no extra charge to attend the encampments.

      Woolaroc
      1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road,
      Bartlesville, OK 74003
      918-336-0307
      woolaroc.org

    Beaver Creek Free Trappers

    • The Beaver Creek Free Trappers have monthly meetings and contests, but their major events are a spring and fall rendezvous. The rendezvous are reenactments of life in the 1840s, whether or not in the mountains, but much of what is done is patterned after mountain life during that period.

      People are encouraged to come in costume, especially if they want to participate, but it is not required. Contests include: Mountain man walk, pistol shooting, muzzle loader shooting, fire starting, hawk throw and knife throwing, as well as other shooting contests and exhibitions. Blanket making is also demonstrated, and there are prizes awarded there as well. Campsites are primitive with no hookups or campers allowed. Water and wood are available.

      Beaver Creek Free Trappers
      Road 195
      Sterling, Oklahoma
      580-357-3491
      talking-bear.com/bcft2010.htm

    Renegade Free Trappers

    • The Renegade Free Trappers Primitive Weapon Club has three events each year in addition to its regular meetings. In March there is a "bucks" rendezvous, which is mostly made up of men. In April there is the spring event, and in October the fall event is held. Spring and Fall events are for the entire family. Camps of canvas and tepees are build as they were in the 1840s, and people wear costumes of the period. Cooking is done over open fires, and there are many contests of shooting, knife throwing, hawk (hatchet) throwing and fire starting. Crafts of the period are also demonstrated. Lots of tall tales are told in the evenings around the campfires. Camping is primitive. There is wood available, but no water.

      Highway 169
      South Coffeyville, OK 74072
      918-531-2272
      talking-bear.com/rft2010.htm