It was a beautiful spring day out in Casper, Wyoming - freezing, windy, muddy and snowing. Yes, we had snow! If we would have gotten to the AQT a little quicker, it would have been a legit "winterseed"!
Quote from: Thomas PaineThese are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Well I'm here to tell you, these were definitely not "sunshine patriots" up in Casper this weekend. One of our shooters mentioned she had a winch on her jeep to pull out anyone who got stuck in the mud walking downrange to change targets. Locals were well-prepared though. They pulled out their muck boots and got down to the business of marksmanship.
Our awesome host for this event was Wyotac. They sponsored our event and even payed our range fees! Not to mention showing up early to get Appleseeders onto the Stuckenhoff shooting complex. And don't think these conditions keep the locals indoors; Jason ran his Women's handgun class on the bay right next to Appleseed. Jason and his wife and Wyotac are great friends to Appleseed and this event wouldn't have happened without them! Big THANK YOU to Wyotac!
The sun popped out for a few minutes at the end of Day 1 (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49883448408_a2ca759b1c_h.jpg)
More to come . . .
We had a great crew of shooters on the line this weekend. Despite the conditions, everyone was glad to be out of the house and embracing liberty. As we pulled down the first "Red Coat" targets, we already had a shooter who "cleaned" it! As you might imagine, Jack went on to score Rifleman on only his second AQT in the afternoon! Well done sir! He is also determined to come back to a second event and join the motley Appleseed crew by taking an orange hat. On the second day of our event, he was already down on the mat as a position "model" and offered plenty of useful tips throughout the day. Can't wait to see him sporting one of those cool orange hats.
Another shooter was out to her first "seed" with her centerfire AR. It was a gift from her father-in-law and she figured Appleseed would be a great way to get out and learn how it works. And learn she did! She soaked up everything we could give. Her first AQTs were under 100, but by the end of the weekend she had made almost 100 points of improvement and was knocking on a Rifleman score! Phenomenal! Brittney also had a smile that just kept growing all weekend - she was there to the end helping us put the range back in order after the event and stayed around to talk afterwards. She already has plans for her next Appleseed with her cousin and is trying to arrange another event for Casper. I should mention that her final "Red Coat" was a clean except for "one little guy" that escaped the 400 yard "bell".
pictures will be posted by the guilty parties or I'll post them when I get 'em . . . More to come!
Big shout out to the Appleseed volunteers this weekend also. The Wyoming State Coordinator always makes it a point to be on the line when events are taking place and this weekend was no exception - Sleepy was out is force working to make the already great program in Wyoming even stronger.
We also had "The Homemaker" come out on Sunday and trade in her used and abused orange hat for a shiny new red one! Of course, the reason she couldn't make it on Saturday was due to the fact that she was actually walkin'-the-talk and participating in the political process as a delegate. Way to set the example for the rest of us and congrats on the new hat!
The additional theme this weekend was ACTION. Everyone was encouraged to find some small way to get involved and do something to advance liberty.
QuoteI conjure you by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray, but that ye act.` John Hancock
There were many comments about the awesome liberty pole at the event (but they may have all been from me) ;D Some also pointed out the the liberty pole (aka bulletin board) lacked a proper liberty pole hat. So I learned something new.
Pictures on the way . . . promise :)
I finally have a few pictures uploaded. You can "click" on them to make ‘em bigger, and "click" again to shrink ‘em back down.
The first thing you see when you cross the border into Wyoming is this huge silhouette range right on the highway.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49884526051_c9768f0615_h.jpg)
Buffalo at 2000 yards - I missed
The next morning at Stuckenhoff . . .
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49883999383_f86c4ee64b_h.jpg)
Yes, that's snow going sideways - delicious!
The sun did pop out at times and make the day pretty nice.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49884834327_02b0dccdc2_h.jpg)
Prone or nap time?
| (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49883999398_10d0117189_b.jpg)
Standing
| (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49884525291_bcbfa9fd06_b.jpg)
More prone or "criss cross applesauce?"
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Jack also rocked this Appleseed by scoring expert on his second AQT and earning his patch.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49883999908_93682755b1_h.jpg)
And I had the priviledge of presenting "The Homemaker" with her new hat - Congratulations!!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49884833762_b10ff5b77a_b.jpg)
Most everyone agreed that the "liberty pole" was the highlight of the weekend - ;D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49884833797_c70ea6292e_b.jpg)
or NOT
It was a good weekend to be out with Americans with the spark of liberty reignited in our hearts. The American Revolution is alive and well in Casper, WY!
This is an open forum, so I encourage others to post any thoughts they had about the weekend.
Captain
Looks like a good time, except I am not seeing the usual weather for this time of year... NO snow on the ground!! Maybe this weekend in Cheyenne?
Congrats to Homemaker on making the Red Hat! See you in Douglas!
Thanks to WYOtac and Lucid for sponsoring this event. We are headed your way soon( Riverton).
Awesome shooters make for an awesome shoot! We started with four, but two had other commitments (wasn't quicksand, honest), leaving us with two motivated shooters.
Brittney was like a sponge, soaking up knowledge and turning it into holes on paper. She didn't qualify this time, but I'd put money on her for next time. For a first time shooter, going into the 190s is most impressive.
Jack is a vet, and a competitive pistol shooter / instructor. He showed his stuff both as a shooter and a teacher. He qualified early on, and came back for more the second day.
Good cadre also play a big part. The Homemaker came in on Sunday and taught the whole day, marking the few remaining items off of her PC. History was the majority of the unmet requirements, but you'd never know it from the quality of her teaching. She has been with the program for a long time now, working hard, and new can contribute at a new level with her new (red) hat.
This was my first time working with Captain as shoot boss. One could get writer's cramp keeping up with his innovations; whether as shoot boss or instructor, Captain is second to none.
Wyoming Tactical was the sponsor of the shoot, and is also the forum name of Jason. He had to work this weekend, but was checking in on us frequently. To say the shoot couldn't have happened without him is a statement of fact.
I'd also like to thank the local fauna for (mostly) keeping clear of downrange while otherwise keeping us company. Hope our shooting wasn't disturbing their lunch.
My thanks to everyone for braving the elements. Where else can you get snow, antelopes, knee-deep mud, bunnyhoppers, high winds, and mosquitoes on the same weekend?
Greetings all,
Looks like a grand event for all concerned. Congratulations Homemaker n completing the requirements for your Red Hat and Welcome to the Instructor Cadre!!! :snipersmi
Thank you brother Rob for Shoot Bossing this event and for carrying the innovations which you so aptly invent to others!
Did someone say snow and mosquitoes in the same sentence? :wb:
"till we meet again", Happy Trails,
Jerry :F
This was a truly interesting weekend... snow, wind, rain, sunshine, mud, fine instructors and great companionship blended with history and the great art of the rifle! Oh, and there were mosquitoes in the mix. Welcome to Wyoming in the springtime! Anybody who doesn't love this just doesn't like having fun anymore! God Bless the USA :F