Can't blame a fellow ranger for sneaking up on you, can ya?
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Thank you for the welcome!
Some of my background... I stumbled across this forum while looking for "ranger" images to show my upcoming Ranger Corps (little scheme I'm working on. This site has been great for inspiration) and give them an idea of the "look" we want to go for. Basically I'm hoping to get a local group of rangers together, probably relying heavily on SCA contacts, and to teach, learn, and practice ranger skills and crafts together. I've been shooting a bow since I was 5, so kinda got born into the archery thing. I hunt big game and small with my bow. I'm the Archery Champion and Marshal for our local barony (Rivenoak, West Kingdom, SCA), and I teach archery as well. I love pretty much everything about Tolkien's rangers, and the other rangers undoubtedly inspired by his works (currently working rapidly through the Ranger's Apprentice series with my wife and kids). For some years now I've been wanting to do the hunting/camping in period/ranger garb thing, and have been working to that end, so coming across this site was truly elating (Gasp! There are MORE like me out there!?!?). I do custom leather work -- armour, sheaths, bags, belts, quivers, tooling (especially Celtic knotwork), and garments. Some of the things I want my Ranger Corps to do are: archery (obviously), get kits together, build our own bows (I've made a laminate longbow and am itching to try a Holmgaard self bow), learn and practice woodsmanship, sword and other melee, knife and 'hawk throwing, and stealth skills, and to periodically all go camping together in full garb. Ideally I'd also like to throw in horsemanship, and the falconry angle sounds immensely cool, if I can find a local falconer. Anyway, I'm excited. I'm also working on some novels, so I apologize in advance for any overly long-winded posts. I DO try to make them entertaining, useful, and/or informative.
On a new guy note, I've been trying to post a pic for my avatar, but am continually thwarted by the 6 KB limit. I just can't make the image any smaller, or with less resolution. Is there some trick to getting it to work? Thanks for the help, and thanks again for the welcome! I'm already feeling inspired by the posts here for new leather projects, ranger games, and new skill sets!