[deercreek]

After a short trip to LV, I must share my thanks and experience. Yesterday my buddy and I drove to the Las Vegas Gun Club to get away from the city for a while. We are both shooters in Indiana and wanted to see the club. We arrived to be greeted by several, then met with Steve Carmichael. Two other fellas were finishing up and closing the bunker trap. We had never shot this before and wanted to try it bad. These two fellas stayed open and let us shoot along with explaining the game and showing us the traphouse and machines. We then went to shoot some trap before having to leave soon. The club is very nice looking and friendly atmosphere. All the people we came in contact with were very friendly to us. We do wish we could have stayed longer and I would much rather be at the club than in the city. I had pre-decided that LV was not for me until I was outside the city, now I want to return soon.

To Steve C. and Nick...thank you two for your hospitality and courtesy to strangers.

To the Bunker fellas...thank you for your extra time that you gave and the many questions that you both answered.

I look forward to visiting again someday and hope that all you guys are still around then...thanks again.

Bryan Griffith & Scott Thompson from Indiana

 

[deercreek]

^

 

[Captain Bud]

very fine folks at Las Vegas Gun Club.

Phil

 

[Ahab]

The Las Vegas Gun Club is always an enjoyable experience!

 

[W.P.T.]

Steve and his family are probably one of the best promotions of the sport of trapshooting there is or could possibly be ... They are genuine people and great for public relations to anyone who is involved or wants to get involved in clay target shooting ... Las Vegas Gun Club has had some of the best shoots this side of the Mississippi and hopefully that will continue on long into the future for the benefit of the sport and the shooters themself ... Its always a pleasure to go to the Gun Club because you feel so welcome, you don't want to leave ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

[Big Heap]

The ATA should contract with Steve to organize and operate the Grand American in Sparta. The U.S. Open has been handed-over to a local Sparta promoter which is an admission by the ATA that, as they are now organized, they can't run a successful shoot.

Steve has learned how to operate a successful gun club and knows what works and what doesn't. The shooters would be happier and the EC would be money ahead to pay Steve for his expertise.

 

[handlepuller]

That the ATA "can't run a successful shoot?"

That's the Biggest Heap I have ever heard.

Just a dumb statement.

 

[shooter99]

Las Vegas is a great club. I shot there many times and it was an event to remember each and every time. Last fall when I was at the Fall Handicap shoot Steve told me that he most likly close in 2008 due to the fact that he leases the property. The state had it then turned it over to the county then the county turned it over to the city. Now the city doesn't want to renew the lease when it come due. With property going for a high cost in the Las Vegas area it is dollar wise for the city to get rid of the gun club. Not being anti gun as they (CLARK COUNTY)is building a shooting complex like Sparta so There does not seem to be a recourse in the matter. I know Steve was working on some things but I don't know if he will be successful.

CHEERS

 

[W.P.T.]

handlepuller,

In reality the ATA is not supposed to be able to run shoots being as its an organization that has a membership that goes to clubs that have registered shoots and who do know how to run shoots ... The ATA is in desparate need of professional management in running the shoots they plan on hosting at the WSC in Sparta, Illinois and thats if they hope to make a profit on them or even at least break even ... I don't think anyone in their right mind will say that the Big Shoots run themself because I can tell you from experience that they surely do not ... The preparation and time it takes to set up for a bigger shoot is more than most people would or could possibly imagine and the ATA/EC is not geared or set up for that ... The ATA has tried to run shoots and lost money in doing so according to whats been said and the bottom line when its all said and done, but at least they tried ... The presents of the ATA/EC at shoots does not mean they are running the show and more times than not they would be better off to stay out of the way and let the people who know how to run a shoot, run it ... This is not a slam on the ATA/EC in anyway, its just the way it is ... The ATA/EC should stick to running what they do best and get someone who knows what the hell they are doing to run the shoots they host at the WSC in Sparta, Illinois ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

[W.P.T.]

^^^^

 

[Big Heap]

Watching golf's Master's - and wondering why a similar tournament, honoring trap's HOF members does not exist. Las Vegas could be the location - and moved to the new Clark County facility when it's ready.

 

[W.P.T.]

Big Heap,

Makes too much sense and a great reason to have a shoot, to Honor the inductees of the past ... The Living Legends of the sport could be another good reason to have a shoot, and most of them would probably show up ... The Masters of Trapshooting, and the Living Legends Trapshoot to Honor those that are would probably over flow the place ... Great Idea ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

[handlepuller]

I agree, WPT.

I think that's why having an outside group run things at Sparta makes total sense.

The ATA has been running a successful shoot for years, i.e. the Grand and they seem to have done okay.

However, if someone else wants to do it and can better and still meet everyone's needs, that seems to be the way to go.

 

[W.P.T.]

^^^ Have a nice day ...

 

[handlepuller]

You too WPT.

How's the weather in AZ?

Supposed to freakin' snow here in Minnesota today.

 

[W.P.T.]

Getting warm, no snow or rain, lots of sunny skys during the day and stars in the sky at night ... This ain't Heaven, but we got the same ZIP code ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

[rjdden]

Somewhat cloudy and a little overcast. It moves in and then moves back out. It's been this way for a couple days now. The temp is nice. In the mid to upper 70's or even low 80's. No rain but there was some in the forcast for yesterday. They put it in when the dewpoint and humitity goes up and the berometer goes down. Some breeze. About 7 to 8 MPH. Rich. (inPeoria,Az.)

 

[lumper]

Ya know concerning the ATA vs. an outside firm running an event all that can be said is ya get what you pay for and just how much was the ATA paying themselves?

 

[LV Trapshooting Park]

First, thanks to all who have been to our facility and had nice things to say about it. We certainly enjoyed having you, and look forward to seeing you again.

What the future brings for us is uncertain at this time. The City of Las Vegas will be our new landlord starting this June, and although our lease will continue thru 2008, there is no promise that it will continue after that. We will do our best to try to stay here as long as possible.

The new Shooting Sports Park to be built by Clark County will probably happen sooner or later, but the latest rumor is that the Greenpeace organization has filed an injunction against it. I'm getting this information second hand, but supposedly this has happened according to one of the advisory board members that shoots with us here. They also have to provide an additional flood diversion above the property that was not in their original budget, so sounds like this project could still be a ways off. Once it is built, I'm sure it will be a fantastic facility.

I do have some concerns that the hotel/casinos will not financially support major shooting events at the new facility as many seem to think. Getting financial assistance from a hotel/casino to support a trapshooting event went out the window years ago. The shooting group is pretty much labeled as a non-gambling group, hence, the hotels won't do much for them anymore. As a matter of fact, about the only sports groups the hotels will put any money into would be NASCAR, NFR (rodeo) and boxing, as they have a tremendous spectator following. If you are part of a sport that takes you away from the hotel all day, and has no spectator base, the hotels just aren't very interested, and may very well label the group with a convention rate (which may be considerably higher than those walking in off the street). I dealt with many Las Vegas Hotels here all through the 90s, and heard the same thing from all of them. This was one of the reasons we broke away from hosting major trapshooting events, and chose to concentrate more on the smaller venues, and local business.

In the meantime, by all means support the Grand at Sparta. Yes, it is remote, but it is a fantastic facility. If it doesn't work out there down the road, another look should certainly be given to Jack Fishburn at Cardinal Center in Ohio.

Best of luck to all in your trapshooting endeavors.


Steve Carmichael

Las Vegas Gun Club

 

[Big Al 29]

What color targets do they shoot? I thought I heard they shot black targets. Must be neat!!! Its on my check list the next trip to Vegas. Can i rent/borrow/use a gun at the club or will I need to bring my own? Is it open to the public?