Coeur d'Alene, ID – AAR – 13-14 Jun 2026

[Iborche]

Eight Shooters joined us for a sunny Flag Day weekend event celebrating our common heritage and love of marksmanship at the Fernan Rod and Gun Club! After the rain showers the evening before the bright blue skies were very welcomed for a weekend outdoors bettering ourselves - sore muscles count as leaving stronger than when you arrived! This month's event was especially important as 250 years ago to the date, the Lee Resolution was being hotly debated by the Second Continental Congress, and a declaration of independence to the world was imminent, which the shooters (and volunteers) got to hear all about, both why it was important then, and why it's still important today.

Most all shooters showed up with beginning to intermediate skill levels – the best for absorbing a lot of new information or trying something new after having already learned a bit previously. The first hits count of the weekend confirmed this, as all shooters were only able to successfully engage the largest sized targets with any consistency. That's where our fellow Appleseed Instructors got to shine!  Schooner was working on his final Progress Check of his IIT journey and his instruction was as if he'd already been a fully qualified Instructor for some time – shooters group sizes started shrinking and we diagnosed a lot of rifle fit and sight alignment issues. As the day continued, shooter continued improving and started diagnosing their own shot groups and making adjustments when needed.

On Sunday the shooters returned and showed great improvement over the previous day's Hits Count target, after starting the day learning about the Mary Katharine Goddard printing of the Declaration of Independence (not MK Goddard, as she typically would sign her prints as), we worked a bit more on rifle fit, made some equipment changes, and practiced the seated positions more before starting the AQT grind. Sunday aptly brought a lot more sun, which did wear on the shooters as the day went on. Schooner kept spirits high all weekend and the smile on his face with that new red hat on it was an inspiration for all – three big HUZZAHS for his work leading up to, and during this event.

All showed persistence and willingness to learn, with scores steadily increasing until the expected drop Sunday afternoon. First time Appleseed-er Tyler shot the weekend's high score with a 208, with other shooters not far behind. For an event with so many first timers, the progress and improvement shown was impressive and we have no doubt that these shooters are capable of a Rifleman score. Remember, a Rifleman persists and it is not abnormal to attend another event(s) later before all the material presented can fully absorbing and 'click'. Until next time shooters, work on smooth NPOA shifts, position transitions, and rifle manipulation, all of which can be done with dry fire (and no ammunition in the room with you)! We look forward to seeing you again down the trail.

[Iborche]

Photos!



Schooner leads the group talking about the Six Steps of Firing the Shot


Lots of Talking Targets at the target line!


The shooters team up to scheme a strategy for those Redcoats coming back to Lexington


Schooner proudly shows of the hole riddled orange hat he no longer needs!


What a great group of Instructors to get to work with!


Here's one for the nerds, during a break I watched this bee fly try for a while to (unsuccessfully) get nectar out of the flowers on this shooter's mat. 


More here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/e4cTJKW5yvw7GJPv6

[Schooner]

Thank you to all the Shooters who answered to the call to show up, work on our marksmanship, and show appreciation for our common heritage.  I can think of no better way to enjoy a beautiful summer weekend than to be on the line with fellow Americans who are learning the history of our Nation and rekindling two of the values that the Founders left us: Freedom and Marksmanship. The Rifleman Patch is a worthy goal for all of us.  Remember: "A Rifleman Persists".  Practice at home what you were shown this weekend: the positions, the discipline of the 6 steps, and the rhythm of the Rifleman's Cadence.  With persistence, the Patch will happen. Tyler: next time my advice will be: "SEND IT!".

Thank you to all the Shooters and Instructors I have shared the line with over the years as an instructor-in-training.  It is an honor and a privilege to put on the Red Hat of an Instructor.  "There is no place I would rather be, than right here, right now".  ~~~ Schooner