Long Hunt

In the fall of 1768, Daniel Boone was visited at his home in North Carolinas' Yadkin Valley, by an old friend, John Findlay. Findlay told of a vast, unsettled country with unlimited game. A long hunt into the relatively unexplored Kentucky area was planned and organized. On May 1, 1769, Boone, Findlay, Boones' brother-in-law John Stuart and three other men, Joseph Holder, James Mooney, and William Cooley, who were hired as camp tenders, left on their adventure. It took seven months to amass a large supply of deer skins. In December a band of Shawnee warriors lead by Captain William Emery appeared. They confiscated thirteen horses, equipment, and bales containing nine hundred half-dressed deer skins. They allowed the whites two pairs of moccasins each, patch material and one French Fusil with a small quantity of powder and balls, and sent them on their way, telling them to "Go home and stay there". However, the men decided to remain. Squire Boone (Daniels' brother), who had stayed behind to help with the family harvest, soon arrived with more horses, guns and provisions. In January, Stuart vanished (killed by Indians) and the rest of the group except for Daniel and Squire Boone returned to North Carolina. By May 1, 1770, the Boones had nearly exhausted their meager supplies, so Squire Boone returned to North Carolina with some skins which he traded for lead, powder and supplies, and returned on July 27, 1770. The brothers continued to hunt and explore and started their trip home with their new load of skins by early summer of 1771. They were stopped by a group of Cherokee warriors near the Cumberland Gap and again had to forfeit the rewards of their labor. They returned to their homes after two years, penniless.

This painting shows Daniel and his companions with their pack horses loaded, traveling through the vast forest northwest of the Cumberland Gap on what was then The Warriors' Road. This trail eventually became The Wilderness Road, which opened the Kentucky territory to the huge numbers of settlers moving west from Virginia.

The highly detailed painting entitled "Long Hunt" has been reproduced as a very limited edition, archival quality, giclee canvas print of only ten individually signed and numbered reproductions.

The giclee process, especially in small quantities, is an extremely costly endeavor, however, it allows the collector to obtain a superior quality, lasting work of art which can be displayed without the need of protective matting or glass.