June 11, 2011 – Mormon Lake, AZ

Group

We are back up in the cool pines of northern Arizona for these next 4 months and the temperature change was certainly noted and appreciated.  While it is hovering around the 100 degree mark in the valley, it was pleasantly cool at 7200 feet elevation.  Acclimating to a 6000 foot elevation change does have its own set of challenges, and several of the group were huffing and puffing in the thinner air, myself included.  It still smelled great in the pines with the sun filtering through the trees from the cloudless sky.

This is a small herd of elk in the shallows of Mormon Lake about one half mile from the overlook where I took the picture on my way to the match site. Herds like this are always present in the early morning hours and late afternoon hours near dusk in this area

I got to the site at 8:00 AM to find that Steve and Robin had everything set up already.  Larry Nelson traveled the day before and assisted with the set up of 12 lanes.  Steve camped in the back of his truck overnight to ensure that nothing would be disturbed.  He and Robin had an interesting time earlier in the week when they were evacuated from their home in Flagstaff due to a wild land fire burning about 400 yards behind their house.  All ended well for them with the firefighters quickly gaining the upper hand with this blaze, but the communities and families displaced far to the east side of Arizona are having a time of it with the wild land fires burning in that area.  We can only hope that they can be contained, controlled, and extinguished without anyone getting hurt.

We had 15 shooters this month, which included yet another new shooter.  Tony Antonovich lives in nearby Flagstaff and was able to finally make it to a shoot and try out his new Marauder, which he shot very well.  Also Ron and Bonni Jo were able to make a match after not attending since last year due to other commitments and responsibilities at their ranch.  It was good to see these folks again.

Steve had the lanes set up within close proximity to the parking area to avoid a lot of walking.  In addition to our usual 10 lanes with 2 targets per lane, he added two additional lanes.  One lane had the double headed snake target waaaaaay out there at 55 yards, hidden in the deep shadows of pine trees at the edge of the pit.  This target was shot twice for a total of 4 points.  What made it interesting were the wind currents coming around and out of the pit and the small area around the kill zone.  You either hit it, causing a knock down, or you missed the target entirely.  There was no room for error.

Here is Doc Shrader setting up on the 55 yard double headed snake.... ....and here is what he is shooting at. The target is to the left of the tree, almost to the top of the incline, and virtually hidden in the shadows

The other lane had a single target, an alligator with a one inch kill zone set on top of a stump at 28 yards.  One shot each sitting, standing, kneeling, and prone was required for this lane.  Shooting this offhand with the wind present and a small kill zone was a real whooly-bugger.  I only know of one shooter to drop the target shooting offhand.  That was 80 year old Doc Shrader!  He missed it sitting, kneeling, and prone, but nailed it standing.  Go figure.

Here is Larry Nelson setting up for his offhand shot at the alligator.... ....and here is what he is shooting at. That is a one inch kill zone at 28 yards. Nasty!

We had another standing target positioned elsewhere on the course, and a 13 yard lane with our two shoot-off disc targets.  One had a 3/8 inch kill zone, but the other had a tiny ¼ inch kill zone!  That little sucker rings pretty good when you miss it too; a nice, high pitched “TING”.

Here is club prez, Larry Piercy setting up for a shot. Looks like a normal shot until.... .....you see where Steve had the firing line set up. The targets were positioned in such a way that you barely missed nicking the tree trunk.

We didn’t have any shoot-offs this month.  We could have, but Dale conceded to Debbie for 2nd place after both shot identical 36’s.  We almost had another tie, but Ron bested his wife, Bonni Jo, by a single point.  I promised Bonni that I would not disclose the reason why that happened in this match report.  However, anyone really wanting to know can always email me.  LOL

Here are the scores:

Position Shooter Total/48 Airgun Scope Pellet
PCP Division
Match Winner
Mark Kauffman 42 Daystate CR-X ST Bushnell 6-24 JSB 8.44
1

Larry Piercy

 41 Daystate CR-X Cust/Superb 8-40 CP 14.3
2
 Debbie Keiser 36 Daystate CR97 SE Burris 8-32 CPH 10.5
2
 Dale Keiser 36 Daystate CR-X Burris 8-32 CPH 10.5
4
 Robin Montgomery 33 USFT Nikko 10-50 JSB 10.3
5
 Larry Nelson 32 Daystate Huntsman Hawke 6-25 CPH 10.5
6
 Steve Timarac 31 USFT Nikko 10-50 CPH 10.5
7
 Carl Shrader 29 Daystate Mk4 Hawke 8-32 JSB 10.3
8
 Ron Drye 28 Daystate Mk4 Centerpoint 8-32 JSB 10.3
9
 Bonni Jo Drye 27 Daystate Mk4 Centerpoint 8-32 JSB 10.3
10
 Ray Horneman 26 Daystate Platinum Bushnell 8-32 JSB 10.3
11
 O.B. Morales 22 FX Whisper Hawke 10-24 CPH 10.5

Hunter FT Division
1
James Stringer 22 Daystate Air Wolf Bushnell 12X JSB 16
2
 Tony Antonovich 14 Benjamin Marauder Nikko 6-24 CPH 10.5
Spring Piston Division
1
 Steve Montgomery 31 AA TX-200 Bushnell 6-24 JSB 10.3

Some of the most enjoyable times are sitting around while eating lunch and chatting. Of course Arrow is close by mooching for a snack too.

We will be back here next month on our regularly scheduled 3rd Saturday; July 16.  We had to alter our schedule for this month due to a conflict with the Boy Scouts using this area for the next two weeks.

Many thanks to Steve and Robin Montgomery for volunteering as match directors this month and once again to Larry Nelson for assisting with set up.  They laid out an excellent course where there was only one lane where I threatened to duct tape Steve to a tree.  His devious little grin was evident each time he heard groaning from shooters who came upon his target placements.  It was all quite fun.

OB setting up for a shot while sitting in the shade. Good times don't get much better than this.

Airgunners of Arizona will once again host the Arizona state championship at this venue on the weekend of September 17 & 18, 2011.  We are currently working on plans for this and should have information forthcoming in the next month or so.  Please mark your calendars accordingly and contact me if you would like more information and if you are planning to attend.

Until next month, practice, practice, practice.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Kauffman
Secretary, Airgunners of Arizona