I wanted to follow up with a report on the Search & Rescue shootin' match held June 14th on our property overlooking the Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
These folks are some of the most extraordinary people I have ever met. Beside being avid and accomplished shooters (this is Idaho, remember) - these people possess a wide range of incredible skill sets such as cadaver dog handling, scuba search, boating, tracking, rope climbing, mountaineering, etc. They are often on call 24/7 to go out into the great wide open to save the bacon of those that are unprepared or just unlucky - or both.
They don't get paid - in fact it cost them to participate. The only thanks they get comes from a tearful rescuee or the relative of someone they have brought out of danger. Some times it is just a thankless body recovery. But they love what they do. I was also surprised to learn that many of them are retirement age.
We set up a three-stage "cowboy" style shoot on our property. This included a store-front with a board walk, an old buggy. and an outhouse.
At station one, the store-front, the shooter had one minute to pick up an antique .22 rolling block rifle and load and fire each shot. We shot at five steel "cowboys" set between 25 and 75 yards. On one of the targets was an orange sticker the size if a quarter.
At station two, the buggy, the shooter climbed up and donned an old top hat. At the signal, the shooter picked up a replica Henry repeating rifle (also .22) and had 20 seconds to hit the five targets.
At station three, the outhouse, the shooter sat on the privy with a single six next to him. When the door swung open, he commenced firing and had 20 seconds to hit the five targets.
There were some good shooters, and even I manged to not embarrass myself too badly.
Unfortunately, my camera battery gave out quickly and I discovered I'd left the charger at home. :banghead:
I'll try to post a few that I did get.
After the shoot, the fellow who had set it up allowed a few of us to shoot his ol' "buffalo gun". This was a rolling block 45-90 with a peep-sight and his own custom loads. I had never in my life fired anything like this and wasn't sure what to expect. I could see from watching the others that it had a pretty good kick to it. When it was my turn, I looked through the sight and let 'er rip. The sight came back and "kissed" my nose! It stung - but no damage was done. It would have been hard to explain to my wife why I came back with a broken nose or a chipped tooth. I never did see where my shot went, and I was given a second chance to make good. I kept my face out the way this time and was rewarded with seeing that shot hit the middle of the stump I was aiming at about 100 yards away. Kaboom!
What a great time - with a great bunch!
