RELOAD!

JUNE 2000 NEWSLETTER © Bruce Buck, editor

THE TAMARACK CAFÉ by Vinny La Scalza...

How does Tamarack manage to throw the most interesting and
technically challenging targets year after year? They are right
there in your face, but you always seem to miss. Is it the hills and
valleys, gravel pit, flat fields, or the genius of the course setter,
Bob Vanacek? How about all the above! At least this is what the
consensus of opinion was for the 150 Connecticut Travelers who shot
this course on May 21, 2000. Shooting at Tamarack is like eating a
resplendent, multi-course feast. After you finish, you are deeply
satisfied and prone to reflect on the various courses that you
enjoyed.

Lets start with an appetizer. Station #13 was through the parking lot
and right across from the clubhouse. It was three, black simo pairs
of targets from a trap behind the left shoulder of the shooter thrown
over his head and down range. This presentation is seen and shot
everywhere, but Tamarack has its own recipe. The targets are 90’s,
not standards. They take off very fast and get small in a hurry.
Sure they are not as far as they look, but hitting gnats at 25 and 30
yards is just plain difficult. The natural tendency is to speed up
the shot. One shooter canted his body slightly sideways in the box
hoping to take the first bird directly overhead thereby making the
second shot easier. This is usually a good strategy if the birds are
moving straight away, but not here. You see, Tamarack added one more
thing to this presentation. The birds were thrown downrange so that
they drifted slowly but steadily to the right. By the time the
second shot was fired, the target’s flight was over the right
shoulder of the shooter. If you turned slightly left to jump the
first bird, you ran out of turning ability to hit the second one
easily. Better to take them in the traditional facing down range way
keeping in mind to hit the right edge of the targets.

Now for the entrées. The Tamarack Club has a road that runs along
the side of a hill and that is the meat (sorry) of their course. Any
station placed on one side of the road has a background that climbs
up a hill while the stations on the other side of the road play with
the down sloping ground. If you keep most of the targets at these
stations 15 feet off the ground, it becomes impossible to tell if the
targets are rising or falling. Is the target falling into the ground
or is the ground coming up and smashing the target? What’s worse is
that you can’t judge the speed of the target easily. Is it screaming
along downhill parallel to the ground or is the target totally out of
gas but magically kept up in the air by the quickly falling away
ground? Lets take a look at a station that illustrates this.

Station #6 had the uphill ground as a background and was comprised
of two simo birds quartering away right to left from a trap off the
shooters right shoulder. The birds were slightly angled in the air
so that you saw a lot of the dome as they moved away from you. This
is a much encountered presentation and many of the shooters
confidently struck the first bird with a heavy, fast first move.
But, oh that second bird. While you are congratulating yourself on
the first hit, the second bird has gotten out about 30 yards and is
fast approaching the ground. Well, how much lead is the question
now. Does it need much forward allowance as it is still under power
or do you carefully place a lot of space directly under the target
since it is spent and falling almost straight down? You do not know
the answer to this question because you do not know how quickly the
land is rising to the bird. Is the land gradually rising or is it
jumping up and striking the bird?

I noticed inconsistency on this bird by shooters of all levels.
Sometimes there is no definitive answer or secret to a target.
People just guessed. If I only had time to shoot a box (two boxes?)
of shells at this station…

Anyone have room for dessert? No discussion would be complete
without the signature Station #1 of Tamarack, "Targets à la mode."
Two simo targets are thrown off a hilltop and are allowed to fly
forward and drop forever. Waiting below is the shooter who first
sees them as a hazard to aviation, fires two shots, and then properly
humbled, sees them pass out of sight at a treetop height. Now, I
have spent much time, money, and shells at this station, and can
proudly say that I have found out its secret. This station is mine
now! After much careful deliberation, however, I do not think it
would be fair of me to share this information with you, my fellow
Travelers. Having mastered this station, I am here to tell you that
it takes a lot of fun out of the game.

Perhaps you would be interested in what Mike Horodyski, who shot a
sizzling HOA 84 on the course, has to say? He shot a 7 out of 8 on
Station #1 and used a light mod choke and #8s on the targets. He
said that the key to this station was patience. The birds start off
very far away horizontally and vertically. You must wait and give
the birds a chance to fall closer to you. He waited to mount the gun
for the first shot and took the second bird as a going away bird.

HOA Mike Horodyski 84*
I-1 Mike Luppino 84
I-2 Vinny La Scalza 83
I-3 Gene Csicsak 80
II-1 Brian Flanagan 80*
II-2 Doug Robare 80
II-3 Paul Fostini 79
III-1 Martin Schroeder 77
III-2 Lyn Narins 75
III-3 Ira Conklin 73
IV-1 Mike Canale 68
IV-2 Scott Tweedie 67*
IV-3 Joe Sproviero 67
V-1 Ed Ahern 61
V-2 Dan Walter 60
V-3 Barry Corwin 55
VI-1 Chris Harvey 51
VI-2 Jeanne Conroy 40
VI-3 Jordan Zeyher 37
Vet-1 Bill Tennison 83
Vet-2 Paul Elia 81
Vet-3 Zaid Siddig 80*
Vet-3 Al Anglace 80
Jr-1 George Kaiser Jr. 56*
Jr-2 Bob Quarterone Jr. 56
Jr-3 Kieran Farslow 46
Jr-4 Paul Lockyer 40
* Ties decided by tie-breaker station

WAITING LIST POLICY… At well over 400 members, your Travelers’
membership is chock-a-block full for the year 2000. We are accepting
2001 waiting list applicants. Each new applicant must have a current
member as a sponsor.

Due to the popularity of the Travelers, we have to limit membership
to keep our shoots at a manageable size. With our larger shoots
anticipated to be well over 200, we risk exceeding the capacity of
some of our favorite courses. Although we did take everyone on the
waiting list this year, we can’t promise that we will take all, or
even any, next year. It depends on how many non-renewals we get. We
hope that those on the waiting list understand.

SHOOT RESERVATIONS… Of course you and I know what the rules about
reservations are, but sometimes it is helpful to go over things for
the benefit of others who might lack our steel trap total recall.

If you would like to be one of the elite attendees at a monthly
shoot, simply snip, clip or nip off the handy coupon on the last
page, fill everything in, make your check out to CTSCA and send it
all off to The Man so as to arrive no later than 5:00 PM the Thursday
preceding the Big Day. It’s all pretty simple, but…

No phone reservations! No fax reservations! No email reservations!
Sorry. Only the coupons accompanied by checks and delivered by
someone who has gone postal. If you think that phone, fax and email
reservations using credit cards would be an improvement, you will be
put in charge of the process. And yes, that is a threat.

COURTING CLAYS by Charlie Troy…

Maybe it was the shorts-and-T-shirt weather, or maybe just the
growing interest by youngsters and significant others in sporting
clays. Whatever, this year’s version of the Traveler’s Couples Shoot
at East Mountain Preserve saw attendance double that of last year’s.

On a perfect, sun-drenched Spring day the 60-plus shooters alternated
shots at simo and report pairs from dual shooting stands at all but
one where a four-bird flush had both guns going at once. As usual,
East Mountain set a superb course that mixed birds that were
breakable by beginners, with a few that had the more seasoned
shooters putting on their thinking caps. And, in Courting Clays
tradition, mentors were on hand to offer advice and/or encouragement
to newer shooters.

When the shooting was done, the next order of business was one of
East Mountain’s famous lunches complete with a peach shortcake
desert. The day was topped off with presentation of gifts to the
women shooters: Crane notepaper, sunscreen, and three varieties of
wine. Before passing out the vino, Al Anglace noted that it might be
used later in the day to soothe the egos of male shooters who somehow
managed to break fewer birds than their female partners.

LADIES CORNER by Sue Foster……..

When asked to write about "The best way for a guy who shoots to get
his non-shooting gal interested in the sport" I thought 'piece of
cake', not true. My situation is different. I began shooting at work.
Yes, we have a trap and skeet field here at my job. No one guy (or
gal) was instrumental in getting me started. But my
co-workers/shooters were. I still find it intimidating to go to a
range by myself but I do it and it is getting easier.

I think a few guys just view Sporting Clays as an escape from the old
lady, but many (most?) recognize that the future of the sport demands
that new shooers be recruited. This means ladies and kids as well as
more guys.

Most men welcome ladies to the sport. I can not give the guys advice,
but I can express my feelings about how I would like to be treated as
a woman, a new shooter, and maybe spending time with my loved one. If
he offered to bring me to the range I would go and try it. Many women
have. I must suggest though that you try it more than once.

For men who really want to have their special partner join them I
think they must always make her feel welcome. Remember it may be her
first and last impression of what shooting is all about. We all were
beginners at one time. Do mention that more and more women are
joining this sport every day. Have lots of patience with her, praise
her hits and never mention the misses. Yes, suggest what she may be
doing wrong. If she sticks with it in time she'll learn. You may have
to bite your tongue, more than once. Devote this time to her, she
will be impressed with how you shoot but she needs a chance to test
her wings. If it is a pleasurable experience she may want to come
back often. Encourage her at every opportunity. She will respond
favorably. Respect for each other as human beings improves most
situations. If you enjoy her company lighten up on the need to score
high. And most of all have fun. The love of outdoors is a must. You
know your spouse better than anyone else let her decide for herself,
let her enjoy herself.

For women; it's easy for me to say don't feel intimidated but I've
been there myself and until you build up confidence you won't feel
comfortable. Remember no one really cares about your score but you.
Try it more than once, determination is essential. So what if you
fall on your face, pick yourself up, dust yourself off (the range is
dusty anyway), and start all over again. Women are open to learning
and respond well to lessons. Good things never come easily. If he
really wants to spend this time with you, try to re-capture a
closeness you may have lost or desire to find.
.

NEW OLD GUNS…

It’s that time of year when clay target guns, whose magic has
evaporated for one owner, can find that magic again in new hands. We
all shoot better with a new gun. At least for a while. People who buy
my used guns definitely do better because all the misses have already
been used up.

I always thought that the Travelers should have a Round Table. Simply
assemble eleven of your shooting buddies. Once a month hold a big
dinner. Everyone always take the same seat at a circular table.
Somewhere between the port and the Stilton, each member passes his
current clay target gun to the shooter on his left.

This processes assures a number of things (other than at least one
good dinner per month). You will get a new gun once a month. This
means that it will always have new magic. It also means that you will
never get used to any one particular gun, a magnificent excuse if you
need it. At the end of the year, your original gun will come back to
you, but you will have forgotten what it felt like so it will have
new magic.

Best of all, it’s completely free (other than the dinner). You get a
new magic gun each month and you don’t pay a cent. Gotta love it.


CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <CTSCA@email.com> (by far the best way) or
telephone 860-354-9351 if you absolutely must.

Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class status: Contact Cyndi
Dalena at 860-584-1083 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Leave message.
Or Email shotguncyndi@prodigy.net

Reload! To place an ad or post a shoot date, contact Bruce Buck at
203-454-1080 (worst way) or <bbuck@juno.com> (best way). The current
and previous issues of Reload! are posted on the internet at
<www.shotgunreport.com>. You will also find megs and megs of other
useless Technoidal drivel there. Like an aggressive mold, great
literature never dies.


*** 2000 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

JUN 18 MID HUDSON- BUSTIN’ OUT
JUL 16 ORVIS/SANDANONA-SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME
JUL 30* MID-COUNTY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CLAMBAKE
AUG 11-13 ADDIEVILLE-GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC
SEPT 17 FAIRFIELD F&G- SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
SEPT 30,1* FALL TRIP TO CANADA
OCT 15 MILLBROOK R&G-OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 12 FRIAR TUCK-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOV 26 EAST MOUNTAIN- KOEHLER SOCIETY FUND-RAISER
DEC 17 MID-COUNTY- CHRISTMAS PARTY
* Signifies a proposed date and venue. As we confirm additional
dates, we will note it on the schedule.

*** OTHER SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

JUN 7 PAWLING, NY (203-222-3800) DU SPORTING SHOOT
JUN 10 TAMARACK, NY (803-637-3106) NATIONAL WILD TURKEY S.C.
(Note: Connecticut Travelers are co/sponsors)
JUN 10 NEWTOWN, CT (203-531-4548) WOMEN’S BEGINNERS CLINIC
JUN 17 FIN, FUR & FEATHER, CT (860-429-6566) DU SPORTING CLAYS
JUN 17 SANDANONA (914-677-9701) GAME CONSERVANCY USA
JUN 25 MIDDLESEX, NY (716-385-9725) RGS NY CHAMPIONSHIP
JUL 22,23 MIDDLESEX, NY (716-385-9725) FINGER LAKES CLASSIC
JUL 29,30 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) NEW ENGLAND FITASC CH
AUG 5,6 SUFFOLK, LI, NY (631-924-4490) NY NSCA STATE CH
AUG 6 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) SCA SC OPEN
AUG 20 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) 100 REGISTERED SPORTING
SEP 10 FRIAR TUCK, NY (800-232-7600) GREEN COUNTY OPEN
SEP 21-24 SANDANONA, NY (413-339-4377 VINTAGE CUP SxS EXPOSITION
OCT 1 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) 100 REGISTERED SPORTING
OCT 8,9 FRIAR TUCK, NY (800-232-7600) COLUMBUS DAY 200
NOV 11-12 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT TO AID WOMEN’S CANCER
NOV 12, 13 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) FALL FITASC CH
NOV 19 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) FALL SC OPEN

Call (203-454-1080) or Email <bbuck@juno.com> if you know of any open
shoots in our area, which might interest our members.

EXTRA REMINDERS… Please give some consideration to attending the
Saturday, June 10th National Wild Turkey Federation benefit shoot at
Tamarack. The Travelers are co-sponsoring this one and your support
is appreciated. Besides, as you know from last month, Tamarack throws
great targets and most definitely has gourmet chow.

As part of the NWTF "Jakes" program, young shooters 17 and under,
will have a special very low entry fee for the shoot. Tamarack’s NWTF
shoot is always one of the best of the year. Call 803-637-3106 for
reservations.

Also, your Travelers are already gearing up our BIG shoot this
summer- The Great Eastern Lobster Classic at Geoff Gaebe’s
Addieville, RI shooting grounds on August 11-13. As requested in the
survey returns, we’ll be using hired refs this year so that everyone
can shoot. There will be more side games and a new course too.

There’s a new hotel in the area (built especially for our shoot, of
course). If you want to get your room reservations taken care of
early, contact Geoff or Paula Gaebe at <addievil@ix.netcom.com> or
401-568-3185. They will put you in touch with the hotels. We will
also list them here in Reload! at a later date.

**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****

SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2000
BUSTIN’ OUT
MID-HUDSON TRAP AND SKEET
NEW PALTZ, NY

"June is bustin’ out all over" said Rogers and Hammerstein in
Broadway’s Carousel. Well, June makes its way to Travelers’ Turf too,
only when we say "bustin’" it means something a little different.
You’ll be bustin’ them birdies near and far, high and low. Mike
Maglio’s Mid-Hudson courses have proven to be among the best in the
East at bustin’ a few egos too. Since this is our second visit to
Mike’s this year, you will certainly recall all the presentations and
bust ‘em all this time, right? Yeah, right. Just bustin’ your chops.

Show up at 9:00 AM for sign-in, donuts, coffee and a little
socializing. You will be presquadded because you will have
preregistered by sending in your check for $55 to be received no
later than 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 15. Naturally, there will also
be the usual tasty catered lunch and lavish prizes to reward you for
your efforts.

Our usual Travelers sub-gauge handicaps will be in force: 16 ga =+3,
20 ga =+5, 28 ga = + 10, 410 bore = + 20, pumps and SxS get another
+5.

GUESTS ARE WELCOME AT THIS SHOOT.

Directions to Mid-Hudson Trap and Skeet Club, New Paltz, NY: Take NY
State Thruway to Exit 18 "New Paltz". After the tollbooth go 100
yards to the traffic light on Rte 299. Turn Right onto Rte 299. Go
about 1/2 mile on Rte 299 to the next traffic light. Turn LEFT at
that traffic light onto N. Ohioville Road. Go 2.7 miles on N.
Ohioville Road to the Mid-Hudson club entrance on your left. If lost,
call Mid-Hudson at 914-255-7460.


NOTE: EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ARE MANDATORY AT TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!


INTERNET READERS: The Connecticu Travelers are a private club and
their shoots are not open to the general public. The one exception is
the August 11-13 Great Eastern Lobster Classic in Addieville, RI. If
you are curious as to what "Travelers Tough" sporting clays targets
are all about, we’d love to entertain you.