5-Stand Shoot a Success

The Club conducted its first Monthly 5-Stand Shoot on February 2, 2013.  A total of 44 shooters participated, despite the chilly temperatures, and had a great time knocking down the clays. 

5-Stand can best be described as a cross between trap and sporting clays. In it the shooter is presented with 5 targets at each stand.  Targets are launched per a set menu, the menu is posted at each shooting stand, and come at the shooter in a single, report pair, and true pair format.  The clays come at the shooter from several different directions and include crossing, incoming, and outgoing targets. 

The club conducts weekly 5-Stand Shooting on Tuesday afternoon and evening, beginning at 4 pm, and will conduct a second Saturday shoot on March 2, 2013.  Come and join us. 

5-Stand Shooting Ends March 19, 2013

March 19, 2013 is the last 5-Stand Shoot for the 2012-2013 winter season.  This event has been very successful over the past several months.  Over 350 shooters participated in this weekly event.  The large number reflects the number of times a single shooter fired one iteration of the 5-Stand course.  This success led to increased use of the club facilities during the winter months and an increase in club income. 

Special thanks go to Gordy Weber and Jon Giraud for their weekly assistance in setting up and running the course over the season.  Thanks also go to Jim Suhr, Dennis Knoll, and Ron Zeigler for their assistance during the two Saturday shoots we conducted in February and March. 

Given the success of this event the club expects to conduct 5-Stand shooting during the 2013-2014 winter months beginning the week after the 2013 Gun Deer Season. 

Shotgun Shooting Sports Simulator

The club has purchased a Shooting Sports Simulator and installed it in the lower club house.  The system, from DryFire USA, allows shooters to practice Trap, Sporting Clays, and Skeet shooting indoors.  This simulator allows a shooter to practice the various shotgun disciplines using his or her own shotgun, a laser designator, and a trigger switch assembly. 

The laser and switch assembly are temporarily mounted on the shooter's shotgun.  Once mounted the shooter can then engage a variety of targets just as if they were shooting outdoors.  The only thing missing is the cost of ammunition and the recoil. 

One club shooter, who has already used the system commented that he simply fired the shotgun just as if he was on the outdoor trap field.  The Dry Fire System we purchased also allows the club to conduct squad shooting for up to five shooters at a time. 

If you want to see the system in operation come to the club house on any Tuesday evening and bring your favorite shotgun.  The simulator will also be set up for the 5 Stand Fun Shoot on February 2, 2013.

Youth Deer Hunt

The club sponsored a youth deer hunt on October 6-7, 2012.  Kegan Rodgers of Sparta was selected by the club as this year's youth hunter.  He, along with John Giraud successfully harvested a nice doe on Sunday afternoon after spending the better part of two days in a blind.  Kegan spotted the deer late Sunday afternoon and took it down with a single shot.  This shot was the culmination of several weeks of shooting practice with John Giraud.  Special thanks go to John for making this event a rousing success.  His willingness to work through the challenging paperwork, coordinating with DNR personnel, and working with Kegan set the conditions for a successful hunt.  Additional thanks go to Tom's Custom Meats for donating the processing.  The club received a thank you letter from Kegan Rodgers along with pictures.  Kegan's letter reads as follows:

“Thank you for the great youth hunt weekend. I had a lot of fun hunting for the 2 days with John my mentor and now great friend. This was my first time hunting and was very lucky to have seen the deer when we did. It was almost time to be done. Then she showed herself and I took the shot. I just can’t stop smiling. Thank you for letting me take part in this mentor program for the youth. Not only has this made me a hunter it also has given me a new friend. I have learned so much from John. Thank you!”

— Kegan Rodgers

Kegan Rodgers with his deer, Youth Deer Hunt Oct 6-7, 2012

Rinehart 100

The R-100 Archery event conducted at the Sparta Rod and Gun club was a success.  This is the seventh time the club has hosted this event and it continues to grow in attendance. 

Special thanks go out to all of the volunteers who make this happen through their efforts and support.  Look for additional postings about this event over the next several weeks.

Master Plan

The club is planning on developing a master plan to improve club operations, facilities, and membership.  This plan, developed over the next several months, will address needed and desired capital improvements to all club facilities, enhance club operations, and increase membership participation in club activities.

If you wish to be part of this effort attend the November 2012 club meeting and help us initiate this strategic initiative.

100 Bird Trap Shoot and Sporting Clays Fundraiser

The club had a successful Trap and Sporting Clays 100 Bird Shoot on August 25 and 26, 2012.  The event included a 100 Bird Trap shoot on Saturday and Doubles Trap shoot on Sunday.  Sporting Clays conducted a 100 bird course on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Approximately 60 shooters participated in the weekend's activities.  A special thanks go out to all of the volunteers who made this shoot a success.  

Updated Range Rules

The club is updating the range rules to reflect restrictions on types of targets and simulated automatic weapons firing (bump firing).  Due to noise concerns the club will prohibit the use of exploding targets on all ranges.  Some of the larger exploding targets have the possibility of disturbing the clubs neighbors.  We intend to specifically prohibit simulated automatic weapons firing, sometimes called bump firing.  This firing technique does not permit controlled and aimed weapons fire.  Given the tight confines of our ranges and the need to ensure all rounds impact within the designated range area and inside the berms simulated automatic weapons fire, sometimes called bump firing, is prohibited.

Fall Hunter Safety Classes

Fall Hunter Safety Classes begin September 10, 2012.  Pre registration is required.  Maurice Amundson is the point of contact for these classes.

Hunter Safety Instructor Training Session

The Sparta Rod & Gun Club will host a Hunter Safety Instructor Training Session for all Monroe County instructors.  The session will be held on June 23, 6-9 pm on the club grounds.