Thursday, November 13, 2014

Gunfight at Givhans Ferry

Dodge City Dixie and Reno Mustang packed up their covered wagon and headed to my homestead last Tuesday. After throwing in my gear (we left most of my Garage Papa Dave) we headed to Ridgeville South Carolina for the SASS Southeast Regional Match. We rolled in on Wednesday in time to set up camp and find and check out the range. This was our first trip there and we were happy to find a very nice range. We checked out the stages and they looked good, targets were reasonable sized and close enough to easily hit, or miss if you decide to run too fast.

Thursday morning we got to the range early and while Dixie attended the Doily Gang Clinic Reno and I had some great omelets from Crazy Lady Cafe'. He told us when we ordered the loaded omelets that they don't do small and they don't do normal and I'd say their 4 egg omelets were not normal and certainly not small. We shot a few of the Speed Side Matches and I learned a long time ago if you're not a fast shooter shoot early and you can still get your name in the book. At 1 pm the 3 of us shot the 3 stage Blast Match to get a feel for the stages.

Friday we shot the afternoon wave starting with the Safety Meeting at noon. We were on Posse 16 with;

 Bill Bonney FL
Chicken Scratch FL
Did I Get 'um NJ
Dodge City Dixie TN
Medicine Bow FL
Peddler Jack NY
Randy Saint Eagle TN
Renegade Roper NY
Reno Mustang TN
Saddle Burr Jack NC
Sidekick Chick FL
Sixgun Schwaby NY
Three Cut NC
Wendover Kid NC Posse Marshal

We started with Stage 6, Givhan's Ferry, where you started with shotgun in had, pistols holstered and rifle staged on a downrange table. You shot 2 shotgun knock downs each from 3 locations, then placed your shotgun on the table, then with the rifle and pistols put at least 3 rounds each on 6 targets. 1, 3 and 4 were square targets and 2, 5 and 6 were rectangles. It was one of my favorite stages. The first day went really well for me, good for Reno and Dixie had a bit of a train wreck.

Saturday we shot the Morning wave and it was pretty cool when we got to the range, still some frost in the shade. We shot the first 5 stages and I started with a pistol miss. I blame it on a loose nut behind the trigger. I think all 3 of us had some great stages and some that didn't go so well. I've learned that no matter how good the stages are I can manage to mess up a few of them.

With only 14 on our Posse we didn't have time to take any shooting pictures but I was able to shoot with some folks I'd never met and now I like to think I have several new friends. After we finished and checked out the vendors we went for ice cream, then headed back to our camp to prepare for the banquet. The banquet had some really good food including pulled pork, chicken, smoked sausage and some really big shrimp. They also had side match awards and a good cowboy singer.

Sunday morning we headed back to the range for the Awards Ceremony and a touching tribute to our Veterans. Santa Fe River Stan was the "Top Gun" of the match followed by Blackhawk Henry, Cowboy Junky, Morgan Dollar and Bulls Head Bill rounded out the Top 5.

Shamrock Sadie was the "Ladies Top Gun" followed by Sue Render, Sixgun Sallie, Hawkeye Gin and Maggie Darlin' rounded out the Ladies Top 5.

Wartrace shooters fared well, Garnet Gal was 1st Ladies Senior and shot a "clean" match,
 Scrub Oak Willie, 4th Silver Senior Duelist.
Reno Mustang, 1st Senior Gunfighter.
Dodge City Dixie, 2nd Ladies B-Western.
Randy Saint Eagle, 1st Senior Duelist.

Complete Scores

If you haven't been to Givhan's Ferry you should put it on you're list to try out. Thanks to Shamrock Sadie, Knot Hardly Dunn, JM Brown, Doc Kemm and all involved in putting on this match.

This was my last big match of the year and I have to say a big Thank You to Dixie and Reno for making is a fun trip.

Pictures

Happy Trails, until we meet again.





Thursday, October 23, 2014

2014 Tennessee State Championship, The Regulators Reckoning







The 2014 Tennessee State Championship is in the record books and I for one think it was our best one yet. It started a little iffy weather wise with lots of rain leading up to the match. In fact it didn't stop until early Thursday morning. It was overcast and cool on Thursday for Side-Matches but the rain was gone and we were blessed with great weather for the match.

Thursday started with a Black Powder Match and a Warm Up Match, then the normal Speed events, Long Range, and Cut The Rope. Blackfish Kid managed to cut it with the first shot with his rifle and Lefty's Lady cut it with her rifle in 2 shots. In the afternoon we had a Wild Bunch Match. This is the 2nd year we've had "Are You Tough Enough To Wear Pink" on Thursday to raise money for the American Cancer Society and this year thanks to a huge $1000.00 check, from a great shooting couple who I'm sure would not want to be mentioned we raised $1141.00. Hopefully next year a few more folks will donate as well.

 This year for the first time we had a Shoot-Off that everyone could enter. We had this on Thursday right after the Side-Matches ended. We offered 3 Categories based on shooting style, Traditional, Gunfighter and Duelist with these winners shooting for Overall. Prestidigitator won Traditional, Fast Harley won Gunfighter and Shaddai Vaquero won Duelist. The final round had Shaddai going against Tator with Tator being the Shoot-Off Top Gun. With the participation and number of spectators we had I'm sure this will be an annual event. Dodge City Dixie took 20 Videos of the shoot-off.

Dixie's Videos

During the Shoot-Off we also had a Chili Cook-Off going on with plenty of chili and fixings for everyone to feast on. I didn't hear who won the chili contest, but all of us who stayed to eat it were definitely winners.

Friday started with Whiskey Hayes welcoming all our shooters. Papa Dave had our Safety Meeting, Whiskey offered a prayer and lead us in the Pledge. Everyone headed to their respective stages to start the match. We use Stage Drivers to explain the stages so that every Posse gets the same instructions and this system has always worked well for us.

Whiskey Hayes always writes some really good stages and these were no exception. They were all straight forward with no "P-Traps" and you could run right on the edge but you had to be careful not to run off. Several were shooters choice (rifle not last) for the gun order and some had a choice as to where you staged them. This year's stages were The Train, Depot, Wagon, Livery, Mine, Fort Sweeney, Cantina, Wells Fargo, Grafton's and the Line Shack.

After the first 5 stages were finished we had our Team Match. This year we had 11 3 person teams starting on stools, the rifle or pistol shooter ran to the staged location and fired their 10 rounds then re-staged guns and went back and tagged the next shooter. Rifle shooter had a Texas Star and a plate rack, Pistol shooter had a plate rack and 5 knock downs, Shotgun had 6 knock downs plus anything left standing. I think everyone enjoyed it.

After the Team Match we had dinner on the range, again cooked by Rolling Chopstix,  Side-Match Awards and several door prizes, including lots of Jack Daniels and several free entries to shoots. Chickamauga Slim had Karaoke going and had several folks singing different songs. Those singing including Slim, Bluff, Donald Duke, Whiskey Hayes and I'm sure others I missed.

Saturday brought on the last 5 stages of the match and another day of great fall weather. Everyone finished up in time to clean up and get ready for the banquet which was in Shelbyville this year at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration grounds. The Bell Buckle Cafe catered the meal again this year and a couple we sat with from Texas said it was the best Banquet food they had ever had. Awards set-up at banquet.

One milestone we celebrated was surpassing 200 shooters for the first time. Tennessee Missy, a Buckarette was our 200th registered shooter and Dodge City Dixie prepared a couple of really nice shirts to present to her. We ended up with 227 registered and  220 to actually shoot the match. This match was also the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The awards started with recognizing Category State Champions with State Champion buckles. Then it was turned over to Mose and Bella Spencer to give awards to all of the Triple Crown Champions. They also presented a gun cart, donated by Ruger to Georgia Slick, the only shooter to shoot all 3 Triple Crown matches "Clean". Ruger also donated a gun to be given away to a lucky Triple Crown shooter.

Next we recognized the 21 shooters who shot our match "Clean". We had 2 pistols donated by Ruger, a Henry .22 donated by Franklin Gun Shop, a Holligan Wagon gun cart donated by Papa Dave and a really big Bowie Knife donated by Brada Tat Tat and Dirty Nerdy, that were given away during the awards. Then we recognized the top 5 in each category.

Unpleasant was the Overall Men's State Champion and Dew R Dye was the Overall Ladies State Champion.

Lead Ringer was the Top Gun of the match, followed by Sidekick, Missouri Lefty, Fast Eddie and Unpleasant rounded out the top 5.

Slick's Sharp Shooter was the Ladies Top Gun, followed by Shamrock Sadie, Dew R Dye, Dodge City Dixie and Maggie Darlin' rounded out the Ladies top 5.

Complete Scores

DB Pro Photo was there taking Posse, Action and Banquet photos.

Gringo Gordo usually take pictures for the Cowboy Chronicle report but was out of town so HT Terry took range photos and ToyBoy Bandito took Banquet photos. They used Gringo's camera so as soon as he gets back I'll add a link to his album.

HT Terry, ToyBoy Bandito & Gringo Gordo Photos

Slideshow

I want to thank all my old friends and the new ones I just met for helping to make this the Biggest and I think the Best,  Regulators Reckoning ever. I hope you will all be back next year.

Starting with our Nov. 1st Cowboy Match Wartrace will be back on our regular schedule until next years State Match.

For more info about our club always check out our website.

Wartrace Regulators

Happy Trails until we meet again.

Monday, July 7, 2014

End Of Trail The Cowboy Action Shooting World Championship

Dodge City Dixie and Reno Mustang hitched up their wagon  and drove it to my ranch early on June 21st. After getting my gear loaded we pointed the wagon west and headed to Edgewood, New Mexico and EOT. We stopped just outside of Oklahoma City that night and headed on toward Moriarty, New Mexico the next morning. We rolled into Moriarty Sunday evening and decided to check out the range even though everything was over for the day. We looked on the SASS website and saw the address 215 Cowboy Way, Edgewood. NM, only to find out that the office is not at the range. After going to the directions tab we found the range and it was impressive. We were in awe walking the range for the first time, the scenery is fantastic and the range looked great.

Monday morning we headed back to the range to sign in and check out the vendors and the stages. Everyone we talked to was really helpful and tried to make us feel at home. The shooters packet came with chap stick and everyone said us it and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water. I think I averaged about 10 bottles a day the whole time we were there.

While walking the stages we met T.A. Chance, the Match Director, and discussed the stages with him. He was a pleasure to talk to and all the stages were fast and fun, with one moving target each day. One stage had pistol and rifle knockdowns but T.A. included a stationary target where you could make up any pistol or rifle KD misses with a shotgun. If a target didn't go down you could still end up with a clean stage.

I ran into Split Rail and he said to use sinus rinse before you end up with bleeding sinuses and that was some of the best advice along with Mose and Bella telling us to drink Pedialite. Sheriff Frank Canton from home had told us to use Shot Bloc's which helped as well.

We decided to pace ourselves and try to get used to the altitude, nearly 7000 feet above sea level, so we didn't shoot on Monday.

Tuesday morning we shot a 4 stage Warm Up Match and if you haven't been there you wouldn't believe how winded you are after a 25 second stage. After lunch we checked out the vendors and just hung out.

Wednesday was Side Match day and we shot a little and got to see some amazing shooters. I shot the speed rifle in 3.43 seconds and that is about as good as I can do. Waterloo came up and shot a 1.84 and I thought no one could beat that, until Matt Black came up on the first run and shot a 1.80. It was amazing to watch him shoot that fast and I heard he came back later and beat that time.

Reno and Dixie went to Albuquerque to meet Papa Dave's flight and I stayed and worked the Long Range Side Match for a couple of hours. When they got back Papa signed in and we went to the Opening Ceremonies, Which included a flag presentation from every country represented and a big welcome from all involved with the match We were warned to be careful where you walked, especially at night, see my pictures. We decided to walk the first days stages for the Main Match. In the process we happened upon a party at Hot Tamale's Stage where we spun the prize wheel and somehow I ended up with a margarita.

Thursday was the first day of the main match and we shot the late wave. We had a 12:30 Safety Meeting and then headed to the Posse shoot where the entire posse lined up with pistols and rifle. One person shot a plate rack, one was designated to put the last shot on a clay bird the rest lined up to shoot a 4x4 in to. We did it in about 16 seconds but the winning team did it in under 6 I think. We really had a great posse including Amaduelist (Posse Marshall), Deadly Sharpshooter (Assistant Posse Marshall), Calhoun Kid, Dixie Rebel, Dodge City Dixie, Estancia Kid, Hotshot Harley, Irish Leadslinger, Kalamity Kae, Kansas City Sneed, Oklahoma Dee, Papa Dave, Posey County Lefty, Posey's Lefty's Lady, Purdy Sharp, Randy Saint Eagle, Reno Mustang, Smokey Shane and Sundown Tex.

After finishing the day stages we headed back to the bunkhouse to clean up and hit the road for Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque. It is a fantastic ride up to 10,378 feet above sea level and High Finance  restaurant. The view is really nice and the food is really good, thanks Papa Dave.

Friday we shot the mid-day wave and stages 1-4, including the swinger on stage 3 and pistol and rifle knock downs on stage 4. After the days stages Dodge City Dixie, Reno Mustang and I were still clean so the pressure was on.

In the afternoon we were able to watch "Badlands Bill" Ogelsby, Exhibition Shooter and it was a great show. He shot 2 balloons with a single action revolver that sounded like 1 shot. He also show how to shoot like the movie cowboys, slinging the bullets out to get extra velocity. He told jokes and my favorite shot was the mirror shot where he split a bullet on a knife blade and busted 2 balloons, did I mention he did this in about a 20 mph wind. If you ever get the opportunity to see him I think you'll enjoy it.

Saturday morning we shot the middle stages on the morning wave and after being clean for 2 days I was really nervous. Stage 8 we shot a combined pistol and rifle progressive sweep on 6 targets, which required a rifle reload, then 4 shotgun KD's. When we got to the final stage Reno shot first and finished with a Clean Match. Dixie shot third and also finished with a Clean Match so now the pressure was really on. I was watching the loading table and was a nervous wreck by the time someone relieved me so I could shoot. I shot the stage in slow motion and was so happy when the last pistol shot hit steel I missed a shotgun KD and had to make it up. I finished with a Clean Match as well.

After the match was over we decided to try the Cowboy Clays. I'd never tried Sporting Clays before, but Papa Dave and Reno were good coaches. We shot the first half of the course, 50 shots, and then shot the 5-Stand Team Match. Both were lots of fun but after shooting the final 4 stages of the Main Match and 75 shotgun rounds we were ready for lunch.

Dodge City Dixie posted a daily report on the Ocoee Rangers Forum and Judge'em All Duncan said while we were there we had to try Chili Hills Restaurant, chili.hills@yahoo.com. By Saturday at lunch I think we had been 5 times. If you go to EOT or to Edgewood for any other reason make sure you stop by for a great meal and ask to speak to Debbie Goss, the owner and pie chef extraordinaire. Debbie gave SASS members 15% off during EOT. She also developed the Bighorn endorsed SASS pie, be sure to try a slice. It's hard to have a meal there and not top it off with a slice of her delicious homemade pies. Between Dixie, Reno, Papa Dave and I we tried several of them.

Saturday night we went back to the range for the Saturday Night Bash featuring the Dooley Gang. The most exciting part of this for us was when they called out the Top 16 Cowboys and the Top 16 Cowgirls. I think Dodge City Dixie needed oxygen when they called out her name. She had a great first EOT, shot "Clean" and made the "Sweet 16 Shoot-off".

Sunday morning we loaded the wagon and headed back to the range for the Shoot-off, I think Dixie was a little nervous. They had the Ladies and Men Top 8 Wild Bunch Shoot-off first and it was lots of fun to watch.  Then they reset the tables and started the Top 16 and the Sweet 16 shoot-offs. They alternated Cowgirl and Cowboy runs 20 knockdowns for pistol and rifle combined and 3 shotgun KD's plus the crossover with exploding centers attached, it was a real hoot to watch. When the smoke had all cleared Lead Ringer was the Top Cowboy and Holy Terror was the Top Cowgirl. The final match was between the 2 of them and it was really close. It looked like Lead Ringer had a substantial lead going into the shotgun knock downs but Holy Terror kicked it into high gear and we had to wait for the smoke to clear to see that Lead Ringer had indeed won.

The Awards started shortly after and it moved quickly (all Dooley Gang Award Ceremonies do). T-Bone Dooley, Ringo Fire and the gang did a great job.

Cobra Cat was the Top Gun and Cowboy World Champion; followed by Lead Ringer, Wrangler World Champion; James Samuel Pike; Sass Kicker, Ladies Top Gun and Junior Girls World Champion; Savage Sam; Prestidigitator; Phantom, 49'r World Champion; White Lightning Jack; C.S.Brady; and Hells Comin, Senior World Champion rounded out the Overall Top 10.

As noted earlier Sass Kicker was the Ladies Top Gun; followed by Slick's Sharp Shooter, Cowgirl World Champion; Holy Terror; Two Sons, Ladies Silver Senior World Champion; Texas Tiger, Ladies 49'r World Champion; Hey You; Shamrock Sadie; Bent Barrel Betty; Dew R Dye, Ladies Wrangler World Champion; and Really rounded out the Ladies Top 10.

From Wartrace, Dodge City Dixie was 3rd Ladies B-Western with a Clean Match.
Randy Saint Eagle was 3rd Senior Duelist with a Clean Match.
Papa Dave was 3rd Cattle Baron.
Reno Mustang was 9th Senior Gunfighter with a Clean Match.

Complete Scores

Also from Tennessee, Iron Maiden, Ladies Duelist World Champion; Mae Berry, Ladies Frontier Cartridge Duelist World Champion and Dew R Dye, Ladies Wrangler World Champion.   Congratulations Ladies.

After the results, we hitched up the team, loaded the wagon and headed home but we couldn't get through Edgewood without making one more stop at Chili Hills for more good food and of course pie.

Reno manned the reins the whole round trip, 2889 miles and I want to thank he, Dixie and Papa Dave  for a fantastic trip. I think they and Papa Dave will join me in saying if you can go to EOT, it is a great experience. I also have to thank Misty Moonshine, Mose and Bella Spencer, without them making it possible to win entries this trip would not have happened this year.
                                                                       
I also have to say a big Thank You to the Wild Bunch, T.A. Chance, SASS employees, the Waddies and everyone involved in making my first trip to EOT  one I'll never forget.   I hope to get back to EOT someday and hopefully it will once again be with Dodge City Dixie, Reno Mustang, Papa Dave  and hopefully we can recruit  some more Wartrace Regulators to make the trip.                                                        
Here are some links to videos and pictures.

Videos by Dodge City Dixie

Photos by Dodge City Dixie

Videos by Reno Mustang

Photos by Randy Saint Eagle

Videos by Randy Saint Eagle

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Uprising At Swearing Creek, North Carolina State Championship

My wife and I loaded the wagon and headed to Mocksville, NC to visit our daughter, son in law and 2 of our grandchildren. As luck would have it I just happened to plan this trip for the same time  Uprising at Swearing Creek was going on in Salisbury, about 30 minutes away.

It was really nice to shoot during the day and play with grandchildren at night.

Thursday was side match day with all the usual speed events and long range as well as warm up matches and Wild Bunch. The pistol, rifle and shotgun speed matches were in the same bay so you could load up and shoot all 3 each trip up. I spent a couple hours there shooting with Widder and Key Hay. They were better at it than I was, Key Hay won Speed Pistol Duelist and Widder showed out winning Speed Pistol Gunfighter, Speed Rifle and Speed '97. I on the other hand won nothing.

I spent the afternoon shooting the warm up match which gave me a chance to try out a few stages and get the feel of the range. I have to admit I was a little nervous when I first saw the shotgun targets, I could cover one with my hand, but after shooting them I liked them. They were set up light and if you hit them they fell. I'm pretty sure a .22 LR would take any of them down.

Friday morning brought the welcome from J.M. Brown, Safety Meeting from Royal Barnes and a Prayer and Pledge led by Lash Toru. Then we headed to our respective bays to start the first 5 stages of the Main Match. They use 5 shooting bays and shoot 2 stages in each bay so you don't have to do a lot of walking. I shot the morning wave on Friday  on Posse 8 with Widder and Key Hay. Posses 7 and 8 shot together and I can't begin to name everyone but Tracker Mike was our Posse Marshall. We also had 2 very nice Buckaroos, Blue Bay Boy and Hot Diggity Dawg. We had a fun posse and everything ran well. The stages were all based on Radio Cowboys and were fun. A few you had to think about but all shot well. I got through the first day "clean" and was very excited.

Saturday I shot the afternoon wave and our 2nd 5 stages were just as much fun and a little faster. I made it through the match "clean" but I was really nervous on my 9th and 10th stages thinking about getting a "clean match". It has been a long time since I did that at an Annual Match.

 It was amazing watching Red River Ray shoot a "clean match" as fast as he shoots.

I didn't go to the banquet so I can't tell what went on there but I heard it was a very good time. I played with my grandkids and worked on a few things around their house.

Sunday morning was the Awards Ceremony with Side Match, Wild Bunch, Costume and Main Match Awards.

Red River Ray was the Top Gun of the match and North Carolina State Champion, followed by Cowboy Junky, Christian Mortician, Kid Ray and Three Cut rounded out the Top 5.

Sixgun Sallie was the Ladies Top Gun and Ladies North Carolina State Champion, followed by Sue Render, Shamrock Sadie, Carolina Girl and Kill 'em All Kate rounded out the Ladies Top 5.

They had 144 shooters and 29 shot "Clean". 20% clean is huge.

Complete Scores

I had a good match for me finished 1st Senior Duelist, 21st Overall.

I was only able to take a few pictures.

My Pictures

Also thanks to Ktown for taking pictures at the match and making them available for free.

Ktown's Posse Pictures

This is a match worth looking at and I hope it will be a good warm-up for EOT. Reno Mustang, Dodge City Dixie, Papa Dave and I are planning to go this year. Papa Dave has been several times but this will be the first trip for Dixie, Reno and I. Hopefully we can get some pictures and videos to post.

The next match at Wartrace will be the Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match June 21st. for more info on any matches at Wartrace always check out our website.

Happy Trails until we meet again.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Wartrace Regulators May 17 Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match

18 Cowboys, Cowgirl and Wild Bunch shooters ignored the 80% chance of rain forecast and rode into Wartrace to help free the area from bandits and thieves. There was a light rain when we started rolling in but it quit long enough to get our gear unloaded.

Papa Dave welcomed everyone, Randy Saint Eagle did the Safety Meeting, Branchwater Jack offered a prayer and led us in the pledge. With only 18 shooters we just had one combined posse. A light rain started back up before we started the first stage.

We started on the Gallows where gun order was shooters choice, rifle not last. With pistols and rifle you shot 1,2,3,3,3,5,4,3,3,3 and 2 shotgun knock downs. P3 target was a SASS cowboy and I managed to put 2 shots in the dirt right between his legs.

The Line Shack was also shooters choice with  1,1,1,1,4,4,4,4,3,2, on rifle and pistols and 4 KD's for the shotgun. The rain quit while we were shooting the Line Shack.

At Grafton's you started outside with the swinging doors closed, gun order shooters choice, rifle staged in one window, shotgun in the other, pistols shot from either. With the pistols you triple tap each of the 3 pistol targets and put the 10th round on any rifle target. With the rifle triple tap each of 3 rifle targets and and put the 10th rifle round on a small round target on the berm. 4 shotgun KD's.

The Cemetery gun order was rifle, shotgun, pistols, with the rifle staged on one coffin, shotgun staged on the other. You started at the rifle, alternating double taps on 2 rifle targets for 10 rounds then make rifle safe. Move to shotgun and shoot 6 shotgun KD's and make shotgun safe on center table then alternate double taps on 2 pistol targets for 10 rounds. The rain started back while we were at the Cemetery and was coming down pretty good by the time we got to Wells Fargo.

At Wells Fargo the rifle was staged in either gun rack and the shotgun was staged on the center shelf or the other gun rack, pistols holstered. You started in either side doorway with hands on door frame, at the beep with the rifle shoot a 9 shot Nevada Sweep on 3 rifle targets then make rifle safe. With pistols do 2 separate 5 shot Nevada sweeps starting on any of the 3 pistol targets. Then 6 shotgun KD's in any order.

Papa Dave was the Top Gun of the day followed by Randy Saint Eagle, Dodge City Dixie, Reno Mustang and Big Six Henderson rounded out the Top 5.

Dodge City Dixie was the Ladies Top Gun.

 Frank Buckshot was the Wild Bunch Top Gun, followed by Hatchie Kid, Deadwood Miner, Branchwater Jack, Gunbutcher and Tom Horn.

The weather may have had something to do with it but no one shot a "clean match".

Complete Scores

With the rain it was hard to get any pictures but PeDe was able to take 3 videos, I think you can see them on my Facebook home page.

Several Wartrace Regulators are headed to Mississippi next week to shoot Smokin' Guns at Rabbit Ridge, the first leg of The Triple Crown., don't forget Wartrace will be the final leg this year.

The following week I'll be headed to the North Carolina State Match

The next match at Wartrace will be the May 24th Long Range.

The next Cowboy Match will be June 7th.

For more info always check out our Website.

Happy Trails until we meet again.


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

U S Open

Papa Dave rode up to my homestead well before dawn Thursday. We carefully packed the wagon to be able to get everything loaded. I've been accused of packing a little heavy but I think Papa Dave might have said it best. He got to the end of the driveway and stopped, I asked why, he said " I forgot to unhitch your garage".

We headed to Bethpage  to meet up with Buck Dodgers, Tombstone John and Sheriff Frank Canton. After loading down the covered wagon and hitching up Bucks team we headed north to Sparta, Illinois.  We rolled into Sparta before noon and in plenty of time for the Warm-up Match.  We met up with Dodge City Dixie, Reno Mustang, C W Knight, Cumberland Drifter, Jailbreak Jake, Blackwater and Shaddai Vaquero to give us 12 Wartrace Regulators at the U S Open. With the wind and the temp in the 40's we didn't warm up much.

Friday morning started with a welcome from Mose Spencer, the National Anthem, the Pledge and Mose also offered up a prayer. After the Safety Meeting we headed to our starting stages. 10 of us from Wartrace were on the same Posse, while Shaddai was on another Posse and Blackwater was vendindg so he did a shoot-thru.

Tennessee Tombstone was our Posse Marshall and if you have a chance to be on his Posse jump at it, we had a ball. We also got to meet and Posse up with some new friends, Big Horn, Crotchety Ol Bart, Eleanor Jewel, Faygo Kid and Riverview Rattler. It was a really fun Posse and everyone worked and we had a great time. Tennessee Tombstone believes in leading by example so on stage 4 he was kind enough to show us what not to do. It worked, none of us did it.

Mose had some interesting and fun stages with some fun sweeps I had never shot before, like a Chimney Sweep, and a Military Shuffle. All starting lines were based on the match theme, The County Fair. On stage 6 the starting position was holding the rifle rifleman style at the hip. Tennessee Tombstone shot the first 3 shots from the hip and hit them all.

I had a horrible first day, 5 misses, and I wasn't alone, but after the main stages were finished we had lunch and then had a ball at the Team Match. There was a Texas Star, a plate rack and a ton of knockdowns. First round was a blind draw and Papa Dave, Knob Creek Drover and I were on a team. Then you could pick your own teams and Buck Dodgers, Papa Dave and I teamed up. We had a ton of fun. Mose always has a fun Team Match.

Friday night was County Fair night and Mose, Bella and all the gang had it set up looking like a Midway. There were lots of games set up including a SASS Scholarship booth where you shot a poker hand with a pellet rifle on miniature poker cards. MJ Spencer was running this and pointing out cards if you told him what hand you wanted. I think there were 6 or 8 of us that shot a Spade Royal Flush and got a US Open buckle and a chance at some other prizes. The most fun at least for me was a chance to shoot 5 knockdowns with a pellet rifle off a mechanical horse. I spent all but 1 of my tickets on the horse. It is amazing how hard it can be to hit 4" targets off a moving horse. T-Bone Dooly, Copperhead Joe, Cowboy Carty, Titus A Gnatsass  and others were manning this booth.

Saturday morning started the last 5 stages of the Main Match and it was cool again but it warmed up quickly. I started off bad again with a "P" on the first stage, but I finally found out my problem. I had a loose nut behind the triggers. I finally got my head straight and shot the rest of the match clean. These 5 stages were just as much fun as the other 5 and many of them had a lot of options on how you shot it. Mose likes to offer options and you can pick what suits you best. In my case you pick what you think is best until you see someone shoot it differently and then you think, why didn't I think of that? After these stages were finished and everyone had lunch they had a Shoot-off that everyone could get in, but we all decided to go check out the vendors instead.

Did I mention food? If you left this match hungry it was your own fault, Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday lunch and the Saturday night Banquet were all included.

Saturday night was a busy one with dinner, Side Match Awards, raffle prizes, and Main Match Awards.  In the spirit of the Dooley Gang everything went pretty quickly and was always fun.

There were 158 shooters, which surprised me, I was expecting twice that many for an all inclusive Mose Spencer match and especially since winners of all qualifying Categories got a free entry to EOT.
Thanks by the way to Misty Moonshine for making that happen.

Lead Ringer was the "Top Gun" of the match, followed by Missouri Lefty, James Samuel Pike, Duke Skywalker, Two Gun Tuco, Copperhead Joe, Frisco Red, Cowboy Carty, T-Bone Dooley, Don Jorge, Knob Creek Drover, Dusty Darryl, Shell Stuffer, Faygo Kid, Bent Barrel Betty, Prestidigitator, Missouri Traveller, Asleep At The Wheel, Let's Go and Mose Spencer rounded out the Top 20.

Bent Barrel Betty was the "Ladies Top Gun", followed by Dew R Dye, Sixgun Sallie, Snazzy McGee, Dodge City Dixie, Lady Viper, Kow Katcher, Lefty's Lady, Elpaso Suzie and Honey B Graceful rounded out the Ladies Top 10.

Complete Scores

The Wartrace Gang fared pretty well:

Buck Dodgers    6th Wrangler, 21st Overall
Cumberland Drifter  4th 49r,  23rd Overall
Shaddai Vaquero  2nd Duelist,  32nd Overall
Papa Dave   1st Range Boss,    46th Overall
Randy Saint Eagle  1st Senior Duelist,  51st Overall
Dodge City Dixie  1st Ladies B-Western,  57th Overall
C W Knight   3rd Silver Senior,  58th Overall
Tombstone John  6th Silver Senior,  78th Overall
Jailbreak Jake  5th Duelist,  85th Overall
Sheriff Frank Canton  7th Silver Senior,  92nd Overall
Reno Mustang  3rd Senior Gunfighter,  101st Overall
Blackwater  3rd Outlaw,   153rd Overall

Now Dixie, Reno, Papa Dave and I are trying to figure out how to make it to EOT. It will be a long trip but I'd really like to go at least once.

With only 16 on our posse none of us were able to take any pictures but here are a few Dodge City Dixie took at the Awards.

Dixie's Pictures

Daisy Dee was everywhere taking pictures and hopefully this link to her pictures will work.

Daisy Dee Album 1

Daisy Dee Album 2

Randy Saint Eagle Pictures

We had a fantastic time and again I'd like to thank Mose, Bella and everyone involved in making the US Open a great match. If you've never been to a Mose and Bella match I suggest you go to one, you're in for a treat.

Don't forget the Triple Crown, Smokin Guns at Rabbit Ridge, Midwest Classic and The Regulators Reckoning (The Tennessee State Championship).

Triple Crown

The next match at Wartrace will be the May 17 Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match. For more info always check check out our Website.

Happy Trails until we meet again.










Sunday, April 20, 2014

Wartrace 4/19/14 Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match

20 Cowgirls and Cowboys and 5 Wild Bunch shooters rode into Wartrace for some of the best weather we've seen this year. It was this first match in a while that I haven't either been wiping sweat or needing a coat or both.

I welcomed the shooters to the range and Latigo Jim gave the Safety Meeting. Buck Dodgers offered a prayer and we recited the Pledge. Then we divided up into 2 posses, 1 cowboy and 1 combined Wild Bunch and Cowboy.

Posse 1 started at the Cantina, a Stand and Deliver stage where with pistols and rifle we shot a triple tap, triple tap, double tap, double tap on 2 targets, then had only 2 shotgun knock downs. Buck Dodgers shot this one in 16.17, I shot it in 17.16, the only problem was I had to add 2 misses to my score.

Stage 2 the Jersey Lilly was a better stage for me, I had the top time on this one of 19.75. This stage was a shooters choice for the gun order with the rifle staged in the center window, shotgun staged in either outside window. You started at any window with hands at low surrender. With pistols and rifle shot from the center window with the same sequence. Triple tap each outside target then quad tap the center target and engage 2 knock downs from each of the 2 outside windows with the shotgun.

Stage 3 the Fort was Dodge City Dixie's time to shine, she won this stage with a fantastic 18.07. This was also a shooters choice stage where you started at the center table with long guns staged on it. The rifle and pistols were shot with a 2-6-2 sweep and 4 shotgun kd's in any order.

Stage 4 the Jail had long guns staged on the office table and you started either there or in the cell with hands on pistol butts, gun order was shooters choice. Pistols were shot thru the cell bars with a 5 shot Nevada sweep on the bottom 3 targets and a 5 shot dump on the top target. Rifle was shot in the same sequence from staged location and 4 shotgun kd's in any order. I won this stage with a 18.97.

Stage 5 the Mine was also all Buck Dodgers. Rifle was staged on the right table, shotgun was staged on the left table. We started at the right table with hands touching table, at the beep you triple tap the center target then single tap each outside target, then repeat. Make the rifle safe, move to the shotgun and engage 2 kd's, move back to the right table and engage 4 more kd's. Make shotgun safe and engage the pistol targets with the same sequence as the rifle targets. Buck blazed through this in 20.01.

Buck Dodgers was the Top Gun of the day followed by Dodge City Dixie, Randy Saint Eagle, Sheriff Frank Canton, Imis Twohofon, Reno Mustang, Alchemist Belle, Dirtwood Dobber, Tom Cassidy and Buzz Pike rounded out the Top 10.

Dodge City Dixie was the Ladies Top Gun followed by Alchemist Belle, Doc Kay B May and Ida Shot'em.

Congratulations also to the only 2 Cowboys to shoot Clean Matches, Dirtwood Dobber and Sheriff Frank Canton.

Branchwater Jack was the Wild Bunch Top Gun followed by Frank Buckshot, Papa Oso, Deadwood Miner, and Tennessee Roadrunner.

The Wild Bunch seemed to be a little more accurate than the Cowboys. Congratulations to Branchwater Jack, Papa Oso and Tennessee Roadrunner for shooting Clean Matches.

Complete Scores.

I have to say a big Thank You to Dirty Nerdy and Jersey Bratt for staying and helping all day even though they didn't shoot.

Thanks also to Dirty Nerdy for taking lots of videos.

Dirty Nerdy Videos

Thanks to all who came and helped make it a great day.

The next match at Wartrace will be the April 26 Long Range, for more info always check out our website.

The next Cowboy Match will be May 3rd.

I, along with several others, will miss the May 3rd match, we'll be at the US Open in Sparta Illinois.

Don't forget, if you can, travel to a match somewhere, it's always fun to see how other clubs do things.

Happy Trails until we meet again.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Wartrace Regulators April 5 Cowboy Match

59 Cowgirls and Cowboys rolled into Wartrace to try to rid the area of all manor of rif raf. We started the day celebrating Vaquero Jake's 17th birthday, Perfecto Vaquera  and Shaddai Vaquero his proud parents even brought cake.

At Wartrace we like to recognize the club member who shoots the most "Clean" matches in a year. It was my privilege to present the 2013 Eagle Eye Award to Reno Mustang.



Papa Dave gave the Safety Meeting and Jagged Rock offered a prayer and led us in the pledge.

We had 4 posses and shot the Cantina, Jersey Lilly, Fort Sweeney, Jail and Cash Jackson Mine. As always Whiskey Hayes wrote some fun and fast stages. The top 2 shooters were under 95 seconds.

We had 2 first time shooters and I think by now they are hooked. Welcome Sunrise Carson and ToyBoy Bandito.

We also had pards come in from East Tennessee, West Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. The weather was a little cool but definitely not bad. Several of us started out a little fumbly, it took me 2 stages to get started.

Cumberland Drifter was the Top Gun of the day, followed by Buck Dodgers, Papa Dave, Will Reilly, Widdowmaker Hill, CW Knight, Shaddai Vaquero, Randy Saint Eagle, Dodge City Dixie and Tombstone John rounded out the Top 10.

Dodge City Dixie was the Ladies Top Gun, followed by Perfecto Vaquera, Garnet Gal, Alchemist Belle and Buxom Boo.

I have to brag a little on Birdshot Pete, while listed as a Buckaroo, he shot the match Outlaw and was the highest finishing Outlaw shooter.

As stated earlier we always like to recognize shooters who keep it all together and shoot "Clean" matches, Congratulations Branchwater Jack, Cumberland Drifter, Deadwood Miner, Dirtwood Dobber, Frank Buckshot, Hardluck Hudgens, Imis Twohofon, Papa Oso, Whiskey Benton and Will Reilly.

Complete Scores



Who was that Masked Man?


Videos by Reno Mustang

It's the time of year where many folks will be travelling to matches, this coming weekend Dodge City Dixie and Reno Mustang are headed to the Louisiana State Championship and with Slick McClade running it, it should be a great match. We may have other members headed that way also.

If you can travel somewhere and see how other clubs do things, it's usually a lot of fun.

The next match at Wartrace will be the April 19 Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match, come join us if you can. For more info always check out our website.

Wartrace Regulators

Happy Trails until we meet again.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Wartrace Regulators 3/15 Cowboy/ Wild Bunch Match

31 Cowgirls, Cowboys and Wild Bunch Shooters rode into Wartrace for a great day of shooting. We were blessed with fantastic weather, the best we've seen in quite a while. The day started with me getting to do a walk thru with a Buckaroo preparing to shoot his very first Cowboy Match, welcome Mustang Lewis.

Whiskey Hayes welcomed us and had the Safety Meeting, then Jagged Rock offered a prayer and led us in the pledge. The Cowboy shooters shot the same stages as the March 1 Match and Papa Dave modified them for the Wild Bunch shooters.

We shot the stages in the Old Town, Train, Depot, Wagon, Livery and KO Corral. The stages were fast and fun. I especially liked the Corral where we had 20 knock down targets and the Texas Star. On this stage you started with your hands on your hat, Pistols loaded with 5 rounds each, holstered or staged on the table in front of you. Rifle loaded with 10 rounds and staged on the table, shotgun oped and empty and staged on the table. At the beep you could shoot any target with any gun, you had to fire 10 rifle, 10 pistol and 5 shotgun rounds. Any targets still standing could be made up by reloading any guns, you just couldn't end with the rifle. The only way to have a miss on this stage was to run out of ammo and you could stage as much ammo as you wanted on the table prior to starting the stage. Duck River owned this stage shooting it in  22.08 seconds, much faster than I could type this.

Cumberland Drifter was the Top Gun Cowboy of the day, followed by Duck River, Randy Saint Eagle, Whiskey Hayes, Dodge City Dixie, Sheriff Frank Canton, Tom Cassidy, Branchwater Jack, Scrub Oak Willie and Reno Mustang rounded out the Top 10.

Dodge City Dixie was the Top Cowgirl, followed by Alchemist Belle, Garnet Gal and Ida Shot'em.

CW Knight was the Wild Bunch Top Gun, followed by Sunflower Kid, Frank Buckshot, Jagged Rock and Gunbutcher rounded out the Top 5 Wild Bunch.

Doc Kay B May was the Ladies Wild Bunch Top Gun.

Congratulations to the Clean Shooters for the match, Branchwater Jack, Cumberland Drifter, Ida Shot'em and Whiskey Hayes for the Cowboys and CW Knight for the Wild Bunch.

Complete Scores

Thanks to Dodge City Dixie and Reno Mustang for the pictures and videos from the match. Also Dixie sent me a link to 3 videos from the March 1 Match.

March 1 Videos

Reno's Videos

Dixie's Videos

Dixie's pictures from last years State Match

You can also see other match pictures by clicking on other album links, Thanks Dixie.

The next match at Wartrace will be the Long Range March 22 and the next Cowboy Match will be April 5th.

For more info always check out our Website.

If you're looking for some matches to travel to don't forget the Tennessee State Championship is the final leg of the Triple Crown this year. You can get 3 Great matches for only $300. Click on the Triple Crown in this State Match link.

Happy Trails until we meet again.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Ocoee Rangers 2-22-14 Cowboy Match

Sheriff Frank Canton drove the stage over to my spread well before the crack of dawn. After loading my gear I took over the reins and we headed to Manchester to meet up with Cumberland Drifter and Papa Dave. After some careful packing we were able to get everyone's guns and gear loaded and head on the Cleveland.

We rolled into range and pulled up beside Dodge City Dixie and Reno Mustang. It was looking like a beautiful day and a crowd was gathering. It had been over a year since I was able to make the trip so I was glad to be back. As always they started with a Prayer and the Pledge and a Safety Meeting. Then we divided into 5 posses and started shooting.

T-Bone wrote some good stages and we were able to see some things we don't normally see. 72 Cowgirls and Cowboys were there to test their skills. The Ocoee Rangers allow 1 re-shoot per shooter for ammunition or gun problems and on our posse several shooters needed it. Unfortunately there is not a re-shoot for dumb mistakes and before the day was done I needed that.

It was good to see lots of Cowgirls and Cowboys I hadn't seen in awhile. Yankee Dutchman was our Posse Leader and did a good job. Tom Cassidy, Tarheel, Bad Eye Tom, Hurricane Charley, Dirt Water Fox, Typhoon Bob, Delta Desperado and all the Wartrace gang along with Yankee made up posse 5. I probably left out someone and if I did I apologize.

Reno Mustang and I both managed to get Stage DQ's for different things but we'll both remember not to do those things again.

Unpleasant was the Top Gun of the day followed by Cumberland Drifter, Hurricane Charlie, Marshall Too Tall, Pleasant, Ocoee Red, Clancy O'Connell, Tabasco Jot, Barkeep Casey and Purly rounded out the Top 10.

Cumberland Drifter definitely fared the best of the Wartrace crowd with 1st 49'r,  2nd Overall.
Papa Dave 1st Cattle Baron,  17th Overall.
Dodge City Dixie 1st Ladies B-Western,  25th Overall.
Reno Mustang 4th Senior Gunfighter,  31st Overall.
Sheriff Frank Canton 1st Silver Senior,  32nd Overall.
Randy Saint Eagle 1st Senior Duelist,  39th Overall.

Complete Scores

With a small posse I was only able to take a couple of videos.

Thanks to Ocoee Red and all the Ocoee Rangers for welcoming us for a great day of Cowboy Action Shooting. If you find yourself in East Tennessee on the 4th Saturday check them out.

The next Wartrace Match will be this Saturday March 1 and I hope we have close to as nice of weather.

Hope to see you at a match.




Sunday, February 2, 2014

Wartrace Regulators Feb 1 2014 Cowboy Match

39 Cowgirls and Cowboys rolled into Wartrace to help Yosemite Sam in his exploits both good and bad. Due to the iffy weather this time of the year Whiskey Hayes wrote some fast stages with not a lot of movement. 4 of the 5 stages were shooters choice on the gun order.

At the Gallows you had to double tap the 5 rifle targets and 5 pistol targets and only 2 shotgun knock downs. Vaquero Jake had the fastest time  with a 16.21.

Stage 2 you quad tap each outside pistol target then single tap each inside pistol target, same sequence with rifle on the rifle targets and 4 shotgun kd's any order. The starting line for this was "I'm the fastest gun" and Vaquero Jake was with a 14.79.

At Grafton's you started behind the bar with the rifle on 1 window shelf and shotgun on the other, pistols were holstered and could be shot from either window. You shot the rifle and pistols in a progressive sweep on 3 targets (1 on target 1, 2 on target 2, 3 on target 3 and 4 on target 2, then 4 shotgun kd's any order. Vaquero Jake was again fastest with a 16.94.

At the Cemetery you started behind the table with pistols holstered and shotgun and rifle staged the table. With the rifle you had to put 10 shots on 2 targets any way you wanted, same with pistols and 6 shotgun kd's any order. Many of us decided to do 9 and 1 and as you can imagine with a dump on 1 target a few of us messed it up ( I thought I could count to 9). Cumberland Drifter had no trouble counting and shot this in a 21.42.

Stage 5 Wells Fargo Bank, you started behind the center gun shelf with pistols holstered and both long guns staged on the shelf. You had a 9 shot Nevada sweep on the 3 rifle targets, 2 5 shot Nevada sweeps with pistols and 6 shotgun kd's in any order. Shaddai Vaquero pulled out all the stops and shot this in a 19.37.

Cumberland Drifter was the "Top Gun" of the day followed by Shaddai Vaquero, Vaquero Jake, Double Nickle, Papa Dave, Duck River, Ben T Iron, Leadbone, Da' Lighnting and Randy Saint Eagle rounded out the Top 10.

Dodge City Dixie was the "Ladies Top Gun", followed by Doc Kay B May.

Congratulations also to Ben T Iron, CW Knight, Double Nickle, Duck River, Frank Buckshot, Papa Dave, Papa Oso, Randy Saint Eagle and Tennessee Roadrunner for shooting "Clean Matches".

Complete Scores

We were blessed with a great day, however the the wind kept it feeling a little cool. I was able to get a few Videos

The next match at Wartrace will be the Feb. 15 Cowboy/Wild Bunch Match. For more info always check out our website.

If you're a Wartrace Regulator don't forget it's time to renew your dues.

It's also time to start planning your travel matches. This year The Tennessee State Championship,at Wartrace, Oct. 16-18, will be the final leg of the Triple Crown of Cowboy Action Shooting, Smokin' Guns at Rabbit Ridge in Byhalia, Mississippi, May 23-25 will be the first leg and Midwest Classic in Sparta, Illinois, Sept 12-14 will be the 2nd leg. This will be a great series and a bargain way to shoot these 3 matches. For more info click on Triple Crown. Also read about the matches and special door prizes on the SASS Wire Thread.

Well, I'm sure you're tired of reading by now so Happy Trails until we meet again.



Saturday, January 4, 2014

Wartrace Regulators Jan. 4,2014 Cowboy Match.

22 Cowgirls and Cowboys didn't worry about the cold and came out for a great day of shooting. If you were dressed for it it was a really nice day.

We started the day with something I was almost a year behind on doing. For the last few years we've recognized the Wartrace Regulator who shoots the most "Clean" matches at Wartrace. Papa Oso shot the most "Cleans" in 2012 and we presented him with his Eagle Eye Award today. Hopefully I won't be as far behind on the 2013 award.

Papa Dave gave the Safety Meeting and reminded us of the new ruling on Long Guns closing on re-staging.
Cheyenne Thornton offered up a prayer and led us in the Pledge.

Whiskey Hayes wrote some fast and fun stages. I especially liked stage 4, The KO Corral. You started with the rifle safely pointed down range, pistols holstered and shotgun staged on the table in front of you. There were 20 knock down targets in a figure 8 pattern. At the beep you started on a center target and went clockwise or counterclockwise around for 10 shoots then continued around the figure 8 with pistols for 10 rounds. Any targets still standing were cleaned up with the shotgun. The fastest on this stage were those who cleaned it without having to use the shotgun ( I wasn't one of them).

We also shot stages at the Fort, Jail, Mine Shaft, and Livery. I think all the stages payed tribute to Cash Jackson.

Cumberland Drifter was the Top Gun of the day. He was followed by CW Knight, Ben T Iron, Randy Saint Eagle, Papa Dave, Sheriff Frank Canton, Whiskey Hayes, Frank Buckshot, Slug Vermin and Fort Knox rounded out the Top 10.

Ida Shot'em was the Ladies Top Gun, followed by Itchy Vermin.

Congratulations as well to CW Knight, Cheyenne Thornton, Cumberland Drifter, Dirtwood Dobber, Fort Knox, Sheriff Frank Canton and Slug Vermin for shooting "Clean Matches".

Complete Scores

We had 2 small posses so I wasn't able to take any pictures or videos.

Papa Dave went to the SASS Convention and accepted the 2013 Club of The Year for Wartrace and here is a video of him accepting the Wooly Award.

Happy New Year to everyone and Happy Trails until we meet again.