The "hawk 'n knife competition has always been a part of our annual rendezvous. For the past fifteen or so years, we have had a separate trail that has 22 targets. Most are rounds cut off a big spruce tree. All throws are from one turn, but you have to throw both your weapons at each target without withdrawing the first. On some targets there is a saw cut separating knife from 'hawk, some laterally and some vertically. One target is right on the ground. Two targets are what we call "the Mumble-t-peg" (ph). On these the target is on the ground and one has to make the hawk and the knife make a full turn in the air and stick into the block. You stand close to the block and throw the tool underhand into the air to make it turn once.
One position has three blocks set about 10 feet apart -close, farther and farther yet. There is a stake that you set into the ground where you want, and one foot or the other has to be touching the stake. Possible 6 points. Here, the first throw is a bit of a flick of the wrist, the second is a long stretch, and the third is a turn and a half, or two revolutions, depending upon your style, skill, and weapon. One target has a rail laying laterally about five feet in front of the block, so it's best to thrown sidearm, parallel to the ground. One has a large dead tree stump leaning away from you against a vertical tree, and a saw cut separates the lower part - knife, from the upper - 'hawk. One position has two blocks, one on each side of the trail. You have to throw at both of them but from exactly the same spot on the trail. Another target is a definite up hill throw - most people throw low on it. Another target is swinging to and fro' on a pair of chains. There are lots of targets that are confidence boosters - simple straight forward throws. Lots of fun.
One of the most fun courses I've seen was run at the same time as the rifle trail. You had to carry both your knife and your 'hawk with you on the shooting trail, and when you came to a target, you had to hold your rifle or gun in the other hand while you threw. Let me tell you...that is not as easy as it sounds. Your balance is greatly affected by the weight and just the presence of the gun.
As LB has already pointed out, there is an in-camp block, and after the guns are clean, and supper is down, we often have a game of "handles". It's always lots of fun. It's a good idea to get your competition score in before evening comes to pass.
