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Rich in Indiana 2011

16K views 95 replies 15 participants last post by  wayneo 
#1 ·
I kicked off my 2011 season at my home club Oxford GC in Chester County Pa. Today was their annual New Years Day Ham Shoot and we had great weather. How do you beat a winter shoot in the 50's? The shooters came out and we had a great crowd. Between the Ham shoot and practice we had over 30 squads.
Soil Tree Grass Plant



I got there early to give Trap Captain Ray Natale a hand setting up. We were a little shorthanded because my daughter Samantha is still sick in bed (she is looking a little better and should be up and around soon). After setting up I had the ladies in the kitchen cook up my usual. Nothing beats breakfast at the gun club.
Fun Wood Recreation Vacation



After breakfast I saw the guys at the counter to get signed up. I got on Event #3, trap 3, post 5. While waiting for my event I helped load some traps and got on the practice trap to warm up. I was seeing the targets well and smoking them on the practice trap so I headed into the event feeling good. I got off to a great start by crushing the first 3 posts but then a slight left from post 3 left me wondering what happened. I think I took the target for granted and just lost my focus a little bit. After that I kept my head into the game and finished with 49x50. My luck was good and I ended up Hi-gun for my event and won across the board (hit with my 24,25, and 49) for 3 hams. I also managed 2 prizes on the splashboard, so I won't be headed back to Fort Wayne empty handed.
Land lot Sky Soil Landscape Grass



A beautiful day at the gun club

My gun mount felt good today. I just hope I can keep it going next Thursday nite and on Saturday for the Pen-Mar League. I would love to help my team out with a good score.

Rich (home for now) in Indiana

PS On the deer hunting front, I'm seeing plenty of deer, just not the one I want.
 
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#2 ·
Glad to have you back on TS. Hope your daughter is all better by now. We need another HAPPY thread here, too much negativity in some threads lately. Shoot well & stay with that diet & exercise program. Hope to meet you someday in Indiana when we visit our daughter. Ross
 
#3 ·
Ross, Thanks for the kind words and concern for Sammy. She was almost back to her usual self this morning and should be fine for school on Monday.

I was thinking about heading to West Chester today for their ham shoot but my wife wouldn't let me get out of bed this morning. I'm starting to think that she really does miss me when I'm in Indiana!!! Anyhow, I'm glad I was busy this morning because my Buddy Lucky Larry said that when he got to West Chester at 11am there wasn't a soul in sight. I'm not sure if the shoot got canceled or if we had the date wrong? I guess Larry and I will just have to wait for Tues. to shoot at Quarryville. Gale Wallace's cooking will just be icing on the cake. I think I have put 5lbs back on since being home but I am enjoying myself.

Rich in Indiana

PS I saw 11 deer on the back 40 last night but no antlers. I'm still getting some trailcam pics so I know there are still a few big ones around.
 
#4 ·
I met Lucky Larry at his house and rode with him to Quarryville for some Tuesday evening practice. We got there about 3pm just in time for the evening shadows to creep across the trap fields.
Vehicle All-terrain vehicle Mode of transport Military vehicle Combat vehicle



I like to do what I call Pen-Mar practice. 25 singles on trap 1 and 25 hcp on trap 2. Just the way it's done during the league shoot. The targets were tough to see so I wasn't unhappy with the results. 24 on singles and 24 on hcp. Now if I can just get it done on Sat. when it counts. Larry had a tough time with the lighting conditions but he shot better once the lights came on.
Food Meal Breakfast Cuisine Comfort food



After shooting it was time to see Gale in the clubhouse for dinner. Larry and I both had the Hot Roast Beef and it hit the spot. I was bad and had a piece of her chocolate and peanut butter cake as well. I guess I will just have to work out harder when I get back to the gym in Indiana.
Facial hair Beard



Before we left we settled up with Big Dave for our rds of practice. Tuesday evenings is informal and on the honor system. A nice place to shoot and to get a bite to eat.

Rich in Indiana

PS Larry and I got over to Dicks today for their sale on Gun Club Target Loads (both light and heavy). $49.98 a flat. I love the tax free shopping in Delaware.
 
#8 ·
Samantha was finally out of the sick bed. We got to Oxford and had things set up and ready to go by 4pm. But where were the shooters? The weather wasn't a real factor, temps in the 30's with no wind but we got off to a real slow start. The first Green Bird Squad finally hit the line after 5pm and we were wrapped up by 8:30. There were 21 squads total between practice and Green Bird. A real slow night.

I got off to a great start. I was seeing the targets well and ran the first 2 events. After that the gun went into the rack and I was loading traps and pushing squads. Around 7pm they had a squad that was one man short so I hit the line again. I was doing well and ran the first 3 posts when I heard what I thought was my name called out over the loudspeaker to shoot the longbird. While I was thinking about that I heard the puller call "Lost". That's what happens when you don't keep your focus on the job at hand. After that I had my first Cheddite primer dud in over 30,000. It was dented deep but didn't go bang. Anyhow, the very next target I got after not firing was the green bird. Talk about luck. 3 events, 2 Hi-guns and 1 green bird, not bad. I must have used up my luck for the night because the longbird didn't break until it hit the ground!!!! The pot rolls over to next week.
Property Building Rural area Real estate Garage



The garage is full of targets waiting for shooters.
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Chevrolet hhr Chevrolet



Some people noticed that the Mighty HHR has changed colors. After finding out how much new brakes and tires cost, I traded in the 08 for a Silver 2011. I hope it proves to be as good as the old one.

Next on the shooting schedule is the Pen-Mar League at Oxford on Saturday. I just hope the snow misses us.

Rich in Indiana
 
#9 ·
So much for hoping the snow would miss. Samantha and I got to the club about 8:45am and helped get things ready for the Pen-Mar Shoot. Shoveling snow, spreading salt, and doing the rest of the things that make winter shooting fun. After a good breakfast I hit the line on the 2nd squad out. It was snowing pretty good and the conditions were supposed to worsen as the day went on. On my 3rd target of singles I thought my mount felt a little off but I called anyway and we all know what happened next "Lost". Not the way I wanted to start. Being to lazy to do a remount cost me a singles target. I ran the rest but the damage was done. On hcp I ran the first 2 posts but then a hard right on post 5 caught me looking in the wrong place and I shot behind it. By the time I got to post 1 the snow had picked up a little bit and I was having trouble seeing the target and dropped 2 more. Wilbur Ruhl was Hi on my squad with a 47. He held Hi-gun most of the day but a late 48 knocked him down to 2nd. Fred Branscome and myself had 46's which got us a half yard punch.
Snow Shooting sport Shooting Recreation Trap shooting



Back Fence shooter Carliss Bowers dealing with the snow on his way to a 46.
Shooting sport Shooting Shooting range Outdoor recreation Skeet shooting



Kurt Nelson was one of the lucky ones and didn't have any snow while he tried out his new Trap Special.

Oxford gave it a good run but Cedars was to much today and we had to settle for 2nd. We have a 6 target lead with 4 shoots to go. I just hope it holds up. I won't be able to make any more of this seasons league shoots so they will have to do it without me.
Snow Winter Tree Freezing Road



There is no place like the gun club on a wintery day.

Rich in Indiana
 
#11 ·
I headed to Wilmington Trapshooting Assoc. today for some games put on by Curt Jones (nice bird by the way) and gang at WTA. It was a blustery winter day but the sun was shining (nothing falling from the sky). We started with a couple of Annies (Killers where I've been hanging out). I wasn't hitting them great but I managed to finish third in the first one. The 2nd one I shot out of turn and was the first shooter out. We also did a longbird from about the 35 yard line on post 5 next trap over. Curt and George were the only shooters to hit it and they went back and forth a few times before George was declared the winner (George donated his winnings back to the club).
Transport Road Vehicle Car Asphalt



We then headed into the club house for some free lunch. Meatball sandwich with potatoe salad. After warming up it was back to the line for some 27yard draw protection. My partner for the first 2 was Allen Brown. We dug ourselves a hole early in the first one and didn't make the shootoff. We did better the 2nd time and would have won if I hadn't shot into a broken bird (sorry Mr Brown). My partner for the last two protections was Bob Malmstead. He had to carry me for the first couple of posts but I got it back together and we won both shootoffs (Thanks Bob).
Recreation Soil Outerwear Landscape Winter



I had a lot of fun today with a great bunch of guys. I would like to say thank you to Kate for scoring today.
Artist Art



Merlynn keeping track of the cash.

Rich in Indiana
 
#14 ·
My holiday stay at home is starting to wind down. I hope to get to Quarryville on Tues. but we do have another winter storm on the way. My last chance to shoot at OGC will be the Thur. nite Green Bird as I will be hitting the road back to Indiana on Friday morning. My time does fly when your having fun. The only down side of my visit home is this cold that I can't shake.
Wildlife Woodland Deer Nature Nature reserve



This is one of my backyard bucks I have been keeping an eye on. He's a 3yr old 8pt about 20" wide. I can't wait to see what he looks like next year.

Rich (heading back soon) in Indiana
 
#16 ·
I told Lucky Larry to head to Quarryville without me. My cold took a turn for the worse yesterday. I started to run a slight fever and my cough feels like I'm ripping my lungs out. Not good for shooting or sitting in my deer stands. I had to miss the election membership meeting and dinner at Oxford last night. After hearing Larry's version of events I must say I am a little worried about the trap programs future. Trap Capt. Ray Natale stepped down. He says he is burnt out and I do understand the feeling. What I don't understand is no one willing to step up and take their turn for a year. It kills me to think that all our hard work over the last few years may be going down the tubes. Time will tell. I would do it in a minute if I wasn't 600 miles away.

Rich in Indiana
 
#17 ·
Rich,

Sorry to hear about Oxford and that no one from the "Trapshooting" side of the membership volunteered. Now the trapshooter's will have to contend with neophytes setting the targets and running the programs.

This'll be an interesting year for trapshooting at Oxford.

Curt
 
#18 ·
A few winter wonderland pics of the back 40 before the sweating with the snow shovel starts.
Winter Snow Sky Tree Freezing


Snow Winter Sky Tree Freezing



I just hope I will have a clear sky and dry pavement when I leave for Fort Wayne on Friday morning.

Rich (headed back soon) in Indiana

PS Yesterday afternoon before the snow my backyard buck buddy was making a scrape while I took his pic from my deck.
Wildlife Deer White-tailed deer Woodland Tail

 
#20 ·
I got on the road about 8:30 this morning (after a tearful goodbye with my gal, I hate leaving her like that) and I didn't see a snowflake until I hit State College. I drove in falling snow just about the rest of the way but the roads never got bad. I had no problems and made it in under 10hrs. Now I'm unpacking and trying to get back into my apartment living mode. I'm feeling a little down but some practice at St. Joe on Saturday should help things a bit. Plus I have to get back into the workout mode and get rid of the holiday weight I put on. I don't know how much it is and I'm not going anywhere near a scale until I've been back at it for a while. I don't want to depress myself anymore than I already am.

I did have a good time last night at Oxford. I entered 4 green bird events and had 2 hi-guns, 1 tie (I lost in the hat to Ken C.), and 1 green bird for 3 wins (23, 24, 24, 24). It was cold (in the teens after the sun went down) with a bit of a breeze. Turn-out was a little light (15 squads) but those of us that shot had fun.

Rich (back in Fort Wayne) in Indiana
 
#21 ·
I headed to Paulding Fish&Game today for my first shoot of the 2011 season in Ohio. It was cold (in the teens) but the sun was shining with no wind. Not a bad day for a 50 bird Lewis Class Meat Shoot. I signed up on squad 2, post 3. One thing I noticed while watching the first squad shoot was how bright it was with the snow and sun. I put on my dark purple lenses and still had to squint. Anymore my eyes seem to be real sensitive to bright light. I don't know if that's a result of doing a lot of welding but I could have used darker glasses today.
Snow Winter Freezing Tree Sky



Even with the squinting, I thought I was seeing the targets well, and I got off to a good start. I smoked the first 3 posts but (time for the excuses) by the time I got to post one my eyes were watering pretty bad and I missed a quarter left. I guess I just didn't see it right. I had the same problem on the caps and a couple got by me for a 47. I wasn't happy with the results so I signed up again. I should have stayed in the club house. I had the same trouble the 2nd time around and actually missed one more for a 46. All I can say is "That's winter shooting".
Deer Antler Room Recreation Reindeer



Turn-out was a little light today with 5 squads. After it was all said and done, Kenny Clutz and Yours Truly were top dogs today with 47's. We also split the draw pot when 47 came up. My luck held up and my 46 hit as well. With the meat I brought back from Oxford I almost didn't have enough room in the fridge for the pork sausage and ham I won today. Not a bad problem to have.

It was nice getting back together with my Ohio shooting friends, makes being away from home a little less depressing. I am going to try to get to Williams County next Sunday. Now I have to get ready for work.

Rich in Indiana

PS Congrats to my Oxford Team for winning the 2010-2011 Pen-Mar League. Also, little Gandbaby Piper rolled over by herself for the first time!!!!
 
#23 ·
The weekend is here again (finally!!). I have been back on the straight and narrow with my diet and hitting the gym fairly hard this week. I didn't weigh in because I'm going to give it one more week before I see if I have recovered from the holiday eating. I just hope the scale has something nice to say next Friday. I'm pretty stiff and sore so I'm going to try and walk it out today. Maybe I can find some of those sheds the bucks have been dropping. Looks like all the big boys at work have shed their antlers, so maybe I'll have some luck (I just hope the skilled trades guys haven't beat me to them). On Sunday, Craig and I are supposed to head to Williams County to get our feelings hurt again. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Rich in Indiana
 
#24 ·
I spent about 4hrs walking today at work (on my day off) and found the left side from this 10pt.
Snow Winter Freezing Branch Twig


Snow Branch Winter Freezing Twig



It was dropped right next to a fence crossing. I had no luck finding the other side. I did see several rubs on trees bigger than my leg.
Snow Winter Tree Freezing Plant


Branch Tree Grass Plant Soil



I found this half of a 6pt on the edge of a deer bed.

I enjoyed the walking but that wind chill was a killer. I was real happy to get back inside to warm up. Makes me wonder what shooting will be like on Sunday.

Rich in Indiana
 
#25 ·
After Craig left me a voicemail and said he wasn't going to make it today, I decided to catch up on my sleep. It's hard to drag yourself out of bed early Sunday morning when you know you won't be getting back in it till 8am Monday. I do wish it was blowing and snowing so I wouldn't feel so bad about missing a shoot but it looks nice outside. I do wish more clubs shot on Saturday. Anyhow, I do have some chores to get done and grocery shopping to do, so I had better get started (no where near as much fun as shooting).

Rich (tired, stiff, and sore) in Indiana

PS GO STEELERS!!!!!
 
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