A Practical Primitive Intensive Skills Program
The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt
The Application Deadline for 2011 has
now passed.
If you woul like to be notified the
next time this program is run please e-mail Julie.
Program Begins: September 24-25,
2011
Application Deadline: Midnight, August 18, 2011
» Don't be Scented
» Don't be Seen
» Don't be Heard
» Know the Right Place
» Be there at the Right Time
Learn how to Turn these Rules into
Actions.
Learn how to Become Invisible on the Landscape
Learn the True Skills of the Spirit of the
Hunt
The Application Deadline for this program has passed.
About the Program | Purpose & Philosophy | FAQs
About the Program
Ultimate Hunter: Spirit
of the Hunt
Upcoming Session: September – December,
2011
Location: Practical
Primitive, Great Meadows, NJ
Tuition: $1295 ($500
deposit due upon acceptance.)
Program Dates: One
2-day weekend each month (Saturday & Sunday)
Application Deadline: August
18, 2011
Apply: Application Deadline
has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions: See Below
When most people think of hunting today they envision tree stands, feeders, high-fence game farms and guided hunts on private land. A far cry from the ways used by our ancestors long (and not so long) ago!
Our focus for this program will center around the Hunt in it's traditional form — on-the-ground, fair-chase hunting where you match your wits with those of the animal through knowledge, instinct, skill and stealth. You will learn to track, and to pattern game so that you will not only know their movements now, but where they will be at any given time of year. You will discover how to become virtually invisible on the landscape, move silently through the woods, and stalk closer to animals than you have ever thought possible. Your awareness of all that goes on around you will increase exponentially, so that you will soon be able to tell when an animal (two-legged or four) is moving through an area that you can neither see nor hear.
Your camera will be your tool during this program, making it perfect for hunters, photographers and nature lovers - any one who wishes to be able to blend into the landscape and get closer than ever before to any animal, anywhere.
You will be one of only SIX people to spend 4 months learning from Eddie Starnater, one of the best, most highly skilled and experienced instructors in the world of primitive skills. Eddie has been hunting since the age of 10, when he killed his first two deer with one shot each. He has hunted with firearms, bows (from compound bows and laminated longbows through to his own hand-crafted selfbows with flint-tipped arrows) throwing sticks & thrusting spears. Over the past 40 years Eddie has hunted deer, turkey, hogs, elk and more all over the United States, in tree stands and under blinds, but his most preferred hunting style is spot-and-stalk fair chase hunting — exactly what you will be learning in this program.
Like all our Intensive Skills Programs, The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt is meant to be as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. We have built a program in which it will be practical for virtually anyone participate, and will NOT require you to quit your job, be away from your family for extended periods, or uproot your life!
Tracking … Trailing … Concealment
As a member of this program you will gain a thorough and hands-on understanding of the skills of the ancient Hunter. You will discover the secrets of moving through the woods silently and stealthily, without being seen or heard or noticed by the animals with whom you are sharing the area. You will learn how, when and where to move, the importance of silence and the art of stillness. Tracking, trailing and patterning will become second nature and you will realize just how much you have been missing all this time…
Our focus will be on building a solid ability in and fundamental understanding of each skill. By coming to know a skill from the ground up you will discover how to transfer your existing knowledge in one skill to an entirely new subject. A new way of looking at the Hunter-Gatherer's world will begin to emerge, and you will see how easy it can become to pull knowledge and pieces from many different areas and to bring them together into a whole new skill; a new and dynamic way of learning and understanding your connection with our Ancestors and the whole of Creation.
The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt — The Purpose and Philosophy behind this Program
There was a time when The Hunt was considered sacred. The chosen animal had been "set aside" in order that the people might continue to survive, and it was the responsibility of the hunter to harvest that animal in an honored and respectful manner. This is the goal of the Ultimate Hunter — to return to the mindset in which the hunter tracked and stalked his prey, and fed his people through skill, stealth, cunning and art.
By re-designing the Ultimate Hunter and separating it from the World of the Bow, Eddie has re-focused this curriculum in order to take the Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt program to a whole new level. Drawing on his decades of "in the woods" and hunting experience, he has choosen each skill and every project carefully and specifically to build your hunting, traking and awareness skills in a manner that will grow exponentially.
You will receive intense and personalized instruction that simply can not be matched, all in an environment that is positive and fun and enjoyable, where we share each others successes and learn from each others failures. If you have been wanting to learn to hunt, or have been frustrated with your success (or lack thereof) to this point, or simply want to learn how to get closer to the animals that move through your world every day, the Ultimate Hunter program will take you places you have, until now, only dreamed of being able to go.
It is through the learning of these skills that the sacred aspects of the hunt will re-emerge for you. The entire experience will be enhanced in a way that modern hunting can simply not match. To sit in a tree stand or wait in a ground blind in the hope that an animal might come down your path or to your feeder will no longer be enough. Instead, you will be drawn into the world of the ancient hunter, where you must match your wits with those of the animal and prove yourself worthy to take home the prize.
The timing of this program is such that it culminates during the height of bow season. Throughout the four months your projects, exercises and homework assignments will all be working toward preparing you to take part in a hunt unlike any other you have experienced. It is here that you will enter the Realm of the Ultimate Hunter. It is here that you will find the true Spirit of the Hunt.
Program FAQs
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Q. What will be covered in the program? What sorts of skills will
I learn?
A. Over the course of your four months
you will learn many more skills than there is space to list here, but
below are a few of the main subjects we will be covering and expanding
on as the program goes on:
- Hunting ethics, the honor of the hunt & the rules of fair chase
- Hunting safety
- Strategy, silence and stealth
- Blinds: uses, location & construction
- Tracking, sign tracking & trailing — why "losing" your animal is not acceptable
- Patterning game now for any time of year
- Camouflage — How to become invisible on the landscape
- Game calls and their uses
- Animal behavior and wildlife identification
- Scouting and stalking
- How, when and where to move through the woods
- Bird language and Awareness
- Field dressing and processing your game
- Recipes and cooking tips for wild game
- ... and much, much more!
Q. Will I learn to make bows in this program?
A. No, building bows and arrows is
not a part of the Ultimte Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt program.
Experience has taught us that there is simply not enough time! In order
to be able to focus solely on the Hunt itself we have split the art of
bow-making off into its own Intensive Skills Program, The
World of the Bow, giving this ancient
art the time and energy deserves.
Q. Is this program only for bow hunters? What if I hunt with a
firearm? Or with my camera?
A. The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit
of the Hunt program is not a bow-hunter specific program
and is open to anyone who wishes to learn, improve or perfect the Art
of the Hunt. We will be focusing on the Skills of the Hunt,
not on the weapon used. Our goal is to teach you hunting strategies
that you can use for any animal, any time, any where, using any weapon.
Whether you hunt with a firearm, a bow, an atlatl, a stick or a camera,
this program will help you get closer to your animal than you ever
before thought possible!
Q. Will be be doing any actual hunting during the program?
A. Your camera will be your tool
during this program and we are not planning on taking any animals during
the Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt weekends. The goal of
this program is to teach you HOW to hunt in an ethical, honorable
and sacred manner. You will be using a camera a lot to document your
homework, and to show how close you were able to get and what tracks
you found etc.
Q. What do you mean by "Homework"? Will I have to write
essays or something?
A. No written assignments, we
promise! The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt is a hands-on program
and you will be expected to practice and apply the skills we work
on during our weekends together in your home environment, and in the
woods and meadows you plan to hunt. Each weekend we will cover the
basics of certain skills and work on associated exercises together.
You will then be given "homework projects" to complete on
your own within a given time frame and in your local hunting area.
Examples of homework projects include completing a Hunter Safety Education
course, identification of hunting opportunities, scouting reports
with photographic evidence of animal activity, simulated hunting activites
using a camera, stalking exercises, track ID, following tracks to
their animal, concentric ring studies and much more!
Q. I am really busy with family/work/life etc. Does it matter
if I won't have time to do all the homework projects?
A. If you are accepted into the Ultimate
Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt program we require that you work diligently
to do your best to complete all of the homework assignments each month.
We realize that life gets busy, but fully expect that you will make
this program a priority in your life for those four months. This is
a hands-on, exercise-based program and each month builds on the skills
and exercises of the last. If you fall behind it will affect not just
you, but the entire group. Remember, as part of the program you are
not only working to better your own hunting skills, but to learn from
and contribute to the program by sharing your experiences with the
member of the group! If you are unable to devote time and energy to
working and practicing your hunting skills on a regular basis it would
be best if you waited to apply until your schedule is more accomodating.
PROGRAM LOGISTICS
Q. How do I apply and when is the deadline?
A. You can apply for the Ultimate
Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt program online,
or you can download and print a PDF version of
the application to mail in. All applications must be received by midnight
August 18, 2011 to be considered for this year's program.
Q. How many people
do you accept into the Ultimate Hunter program?
A. The Ultimate
Hunter: World of the Hunt program
is limited to a maximum of 6 people. Our
new facility with greater access to more land with a large deer herd
has allowed us to expand this program without compromising the experience
of participants, while continuing to provide plenty of individual time
with the Instructors. This same unparalleled learning experience can simply
not be re-created in larger groups or with a higher student-to-instructor
ratio.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. Yes, you must be at least 18 years
old to apply for the Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the
Hunt program.
There is no upper age limit and so long as you are physically able to complete
the course-work and participate in the outdoor activites we encourage you
to apply!
Q. Where do the Ultimate Hunter weekends take place?
A. The Ultimate Hunter: Spirit
of the Hunt weekends
all take place at our main Pracitcal Primitive location near Great Meadows,
NJ. Check out our Locations page for more
detailed information and directions.
Q. Do you ever offer the Ultimate Hunter program anywhere
else?
A. To this point we have only offered
the Ultimate Hunter program at our New Jersey location. While it is possible
that we may run the program at our Texas location in the future, we do
not have any firm plans to do so at the time.
Camouflage … Cunning … Strategy
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE / ULTIMATE HUNTER WEEKEND INFO
Q. What is the schedule for the program?
A. Program members will gather for
one 2-day
weekend each month for 4 months, beginning in September.
(See our Workshop Schedule for the
proposed Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt weekends.) We will
get started at 9am Saturday morning and finish up around 5pm Sunday afternoon.
Each weekend will be filled with intense instruction and exercises to
help you practice your hunting skills, an outline of the homework assignments
for the upcoming month, as well as a debrief of the homework and exercises
from the previous month.
Q. I really want to apply but have a conflict for one of the
weekends listed on the schedule. What can I do?
A. The weekends listed on our Fall
Workshop Schedule are the ones we have currently set aside for Ultimate
Hunter, however some variations can be made and the final dates
will be based on the schedules of accepted participants, and agreed
upon by all.
Q. What if I will definitely not be able to make one of the weekends
no matter when it is rescheduled? Should I still apply?
A. As an Ultimate Hunter participant
you must commit to attend every get-together weekend without fail. If
you know that you will be away for an extended period, or are unable
to commit to attending every one of the Ultimate Hunter weekends
it would be best that you wait to apply until your schedule is more
accomodating.
Q. Where can I stay during the weekend?
A. Participants will camp on-site
at Practical Primitive over the weekends. You may either bring a tent
to set up in the back yard, or choose to stay indoors over nights. You
will have full access to facilities, and all meals will be provided over
the course of the weekend.
Q. I live far away & can not "commute". Do you
have a Residential option?
A. A limited number of Residential
spaces are available for the New Jersey program
for an additional fee. If you would like more information please e-mail
us for details. Alternatively, we live near a college town with many
reasonably-priced rooms for rent. We would be happy to provide you with
local information to check out this more private option.
ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION
Q. How do I apply and when is the deadline?
A. The application deadline for the 2011 program has now passed.
Check back in May 2012 for further information.
Q. What sort of skills / experience do I need to have to apply?
A. There are no minimum
or maximum skill-level requirements for the Ultimate Hunter: Spirit
of the Hunt program. Whether
you are a skilled outdoorsperson, someone who has taken a few classes
over the years, or one who has to this point been only an armchair enthusiast,
will make no difference when we are reviewing applications.
Q. I am not a hunter and I don't want to be — I just want to be
able to get close to animals! Is this program for me?
A. Absolutely! The Ultimate Hunter:
Spirit of the Hunt is for anyone who wants to be able to find,
track and get closer to animals for whatever reason! Whether you plan to use
a camera, a gun, a bow, or simply wish to get close enough to reach out and
touch the animal as it walks by you makes no difference to us and will have
no bearing on your odds of acceptance into the program. The skills you will
learn
over these four months will be invaluable under every circumstance.
Q. Then what ARE you looking for in participants?
A. We are looking for people who want
to LEARN!!! This is not a "fill your notebook then leave it on the
shelf" type
of program. We are seeking participants who have a passion for learning
the ways of our ancestors and a real desire to discover how the Spirit
of the Hunt can bring a whole new aspect of sacred . If you are dedicated,
self-motivated, prepared to learn and always ready to try, perhaps fail,
and try again, then we hope you will apply today!
Q. How do you choose Ultimate Hunter participants?
A. Participants will be chosen based
on the answers in their application, and our belief that they have a real
desire to learn the ways of the sacred hunt. We choose carefully to bring
together a group we believe will work well together and bring out the
best in each other.
Q. Do I have to have taken a Practical Primitive workshop in
order to apply?
A. No, it is not mandatory to have
attended a Practical Primitive workshop in order to apply for the Ultimate Hunter:
Spirit of the Hunt program.
We have had several participants for whom one of our Intensive Skills
programs was their first Practical Primitive experience. However, due
to the
intense nature of the skills being taught and the need for focus,
attention to detail and ability to be
calm, still and silent, preference may be given to applicants we have had the opportunity to meet
and get to know, whether through workshops,
attendance at our free Open Skills Nights,
at events, or through other means.
If we have never met but you submit
an excellent and compelling application that piques our interest we will
want to chat with you on the phone and, if the distance is feasible, ask
that you come to meet us in-person and possibly attend a "group" event
(such as an Open Skills Night). Remember, you will be spending a lot of
time in the woods together — we
want you to like each other!
TUITION & ADDITIONAL PROGRAM BENEFITS
Q. How much is the tuition for the Ultimate Hunter: Spirit of
the Hunt program?
A. The four-month Ultimate Hunter:
Spirit of the Hunt program tuition is $1295, which includes
all of the project supplies and materials, all of your meals during the
Ultimate Hunter weekends, and the option to schedule up
to 8 hours of one-on-one Mentoring time each month at no additional cost.
Q. What is included in my tuition?
A. Your program tuition includes all
of the supplies and materials for your projects, as well as all of your
meals during the Ultimate Hunter weekends. Plus, you will also
have the option to schedule up to eight hours of individual mentoring each
month to gain additional instruction in or assistance with skills learned
and exercises assigned during the Ultimate Hunter program —
a $600 value at no additional cost to you!
Q. Is there an application fee?
A. No, there is no application fee
for any of our Intensive Skills Programs. If you are accepted into the
program we require a $500 deposit to secure your place,
with the balance of the tuition due on or before the first day.
Q. Are there any "Materials" fees on top
of the tuition?
A. No, there are not any additional
fees; we provide all required materials for your Ultimate Hunter
projects at no extra charge. We do give you a list of reference books
you will need to purchase for your "Ultimate Hunter library",
however these additional costs are minimal and all books would be available
through your local public library. Feel free to contact
us for more specific details.
Q. Do you offer any scholarships or tuition assistance?
A. We do not currently provide tuition
assistance or work-study programs for the Ultimate
Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt Intensive Skills Program, however requests for extended
payment plans may be considered on an individual basis. (For tuition
assistance with our regular workshops you may wish to consider applying
for our Internship program.
Intern hours may not be used toward Intensive Skills Programs.)
Awareness … Silence … Stealth
Ultimate
Hunter: Spirit of the Hunt
Program Length: 4 Months
Upcoming Session: September – December,
2011
Location: Practical
Primitive, Great Meadows, NJ
Tuition: $1295 ($500
deposit due upon acceptance.)
Application Deadline: August
18,
2011
Apply: Application deadline
has passed
The application
deadline for the 2011 program has now passed.
If you woul like to be notified
the next time this program is run please e-mail Julie.
If you have any questions about the program feel free to give us a call,
or send an e-mail to info@practicalprimitive.com.
Printable Application Form
If you would prefer to mail in your application you
may download
a printable copy here. (This
is a PDF file. Acrobat Reader is required.) Simply click on the "Print" icon
at the top left of the form, or on Save to save a copy to your computer for printing
at a later time.
Please mail your completed application to:
Intensive Skills Studies Program
Practical Primitive
14 Sussex Lane
Great Meadows, NJ 07838
(To apply online click here.)