April 2007 Newsletter

PRESIDENT"S MESSAGE. The first-ever National Bench Rest Shooters Association Hunter Rifle Match held at the club’s range is history. It went well: 11 shooters participated, coming from as far away as Montana, and East Wenatchee, Washington. Jeff Jetter of Stevensville Montana (south of Missoula) won the aggregate, with a 497-21x score. Wind was a factor, especially as it is very difficult to place windmills/flags at adequate height between the 100 yard berm and 200 yard target line. Two local shooters, the Prines (father and son), competed. Many THANKS to Glenn and Joy Sampson, who ran and scored the match. Photos of the match will be available to see at the April 4 meeting and later at the range.

A LOT of work went into this first match. Particular thanks are owed to Frank Perkins and Dean Narramore, who built all the target frames and holders and storage locker, and to Joe Metz, J.J. Jones, and YT for the concrete work. Thanks also to Idaho Fish and Gamers Casey Waters, Dave Person, and Craig Holmberg (and their truck) for helping with the 200 yard concrete effort. Our range vehicle has also done very well, hauling concrete, forms, tools, mixer, water, target holders, gravel, and people, prior to this and the Garand match. Photos of the concrete work will be shown at the April 4 meeting and later at the range.

Our first Garand match of the year, March 18, went well: 8 shooters participated, with Scott Rinebold of Lewiston winning, with a score of 262-4x. New Garand shooter Mike Lorenz donated 8 sheets of soundboard, pre-cut to target board size. Thanks, Mike!

The club was chastised at the last meeting by two local members of Friends of the NRA for not applying for range improvement grants. It was noted to them that two years ago a grant application was made for a range vehicle (which was later rejected, after the application deadline, because it was for "rolling stock"), and last year none was made because there were club funds available for the dirt work at 200 and 300 yards and the club had already purchased a range vehicle with existing funds. There is now, on the counter at the range, a notebook for range improvement grant ideas. Please put any ideas you may have into this book, and they will be useful for making a grant application later this year.

Thoughtless individuals have shot up the 6-bench bridge railing. If you see this happening, let the RO know so the shooter can be ejected from the range until restitution is made. Thanks.

Upcoming events: March 24 Silhouette match; April 4 membership meeting at 7:30 PM on the LCSC campus, preceded by a Board meeting at 6:30, (at which all in-town Board members are expected to attend); April 15 Hunter Bench rest match; April 21 CMP/Garand match (Course A); April 28 Silhouette match.

THIS CLUB THANKS CAL GROEN, IDAHO FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT, FOR ALL OF HIS SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RANGE, AND WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AS NEW DIRECTOR OF IDFG.