What do ya think about "invitational" shoots?

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy,

As we see CAS grow and splinter, it makes sense to have opportunites to shoot with like minded folks, if you choose.
So, would it be ok with you if there was a match and you had to meet certain criterias to shoot, be it BP, warthog, modified or stock guns, clothing categories or whatever?  What are the limits that you would accept for exclusion, no matter if you'd be inside or outside the fence?

Gracias all,

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Howdy, Hext!

I know I'd enjoy seeing what a WartHog shoot was like. Other than that, it doesn't make much difference to me.

I don't know how EOT is, but my understanding is that it is open to everybody, depending on their getting their applications in on time. I'd like to see each State and Regional Champion get free admittance to shoot at EOT. They'd still have to pay for their hotel, airfare, etc., but would shoot for free. If SASS wants to have a "World Championship," I think it should include all the champions. I think I'd also give free tickets to the State and Regional Top Junior shooters. I'd still let them shoot in the Posse of their choice and not force them to shoot with the "Top Guns".

I know some folk would think this would make CAS even more competitive, but the competitive folks are going to be competitive no matter what, it's their nature. Giving them the free admittance would be a reward for their efforts and what is the point of having a World Championship if not all of the Champions are there?

Yep, I'd make EOT an "invitational," with the remaining slots open to first come, first serve.

My wooden nickel,

AnnieLee

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Well... that's an interesting take on it..
Maybe my words aren't clear.  Maybe "restricted" is better (even though that sounds like a 1950s country club).
What I mean is if there are shooting events at a local club but you can only participate under XYZ conditions.

Adios,

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

The BP shoots are already "exclusionary" and I have no grief with them. I see no problem with other such events as long as they are special events and do not take the place of the regular monthly shoots. I'd love to shoot in Manatee's fantasy shoot that he wrote about on TFS, and as I said before, I think WartHog shoots would be fun. But... I'll repeat myself, I'd want them to be extra or special events. I enjoy shooting with folks making up all the categories of CAS.

AnnieLee

[Lou Graham]

I have to say Hext, that All-BP shoot in Texas was the highlight of my life (OK, so I don't get out much )  It was so fun to have EVERYBODY belching smoke and flames!  I would think the GAF muster would also be included in your "invitational" definition.  Lot's of period-correct costumes and equipment, no shotgun, 1 each on rifle and pistol, etc etc.......  I'd love a Warthog shoot, too.  That would be a hoot!

It all sounds good to me as long as it doesn't replace a regular shoot.  These "invitational" or "specialty" shoots are for those of us that have been playing the game for awhile and have settled into what we like and have spent the time and money to outfit/equip ourselves to play it our way.

We need the open, general, everybody's welcome kind of shoot to be able to include new shooters and introduce folks to this game.  As a side bar, I think the introduction of .22 for the younger kids is a great idea.  I've even seen clubs that let a lady new shooter use .22 for a few matches until they are confident enough to move on to .32 or .38  -- I'm all for helping and encouraging folks that are just getting into CAS or shooting sports in general.  The specialty shoot gives us "old hands" an opportunity to do something different with our like-minded pards.

[Stump Water]

Hext,

There's a club around here that is on a private farm.  Beautiful, wonderful place to shoot.  Ya have to run the cows out of the country before we can shoot... but it's not period correct 'cause it's done on foot.     Aaaaanyway some folks have been trying to get the club to have a two-day shoot:  Shoot Saturday, camp out (it's out in the sticks), shoot Sunday. They say, "We don't want hundreds of people stomping around here... vendors, awards, there are some people we don't want to come here [for different reasons], we don't have enough targets to put on a match like that... No!"

Well, at the liars circle after the last match one cowboy said, "We're not talking about anything like a State-level match.  Just two days of shootin' and a night around the campfire swappin' more lies.  We don' need no steenkin' awards.  And, if you want to limit the number of shooters, make it an 'invitational'."

"You mean.... send out invitations?"

"Yep."

"You're gonna make some people mad."

"Yep.  Maybe.  But this is y'alls sandbox.  You get to do what you want to."

Much chin rubbin' and head scratchin' ensued.  Then plans begam formulating.....

I don't know whether I'd get an "invite" or not.  But I don't have a problem with it. 

I'll let ya know how it works out.

 

 

[El Peludo]

Heck, Big Hext, if you want to throw a party, you get to make the rules.  If I don't want to abide them, I can just stay away - respectfully, of course.

[Micheal Fortune]

A invitational shoot is just that.  Someone puts together a special shoot, post the criteria, invites everyone and it's up to you to decide wether or not you want to go.

All of my club shoots are invitational.  Post it in the paper and lot's of curious people show up every month.  Some stay, some come back, some you never see again.

If your referring to Special shoots that a club may put on, again it's up to you to decide if you want to go.

As long as the restrictions aren't based on gender or race I personally don't care.  If I'm invited then I get to choose if I want to go or not. If I don't have the right equipment then maybe I'll just go and watch.

It's always a great way to meet new people and get ideas.

[Matthew Duncan]

Sure why not.  Host invited who ever they want ...

[Doc Shapiro]

Great idea!  And a wonderful way to test something out with a limited group.

Doc

[Howdy Cowboy]

If it's a "special" shoot, like Warthog or something then I'd have no issue since every one can enter as long as they meet the specifications. On the other hand, I don't care much for the concept of an "invitational" shoot as it implies that you have to have an invitation and that just doesn't seem very Cowboy to me.

The downside of a special or invitational shoot is that you are potentially limiting the attendees and therefore the fun you might have. If you want to be restrictive why not have a "special" posse, say only those people shooting 40 cal or above, or only BP, or only Gunfighters. That way you still get the fun of other people being at the shoot. We had a special "Hip-Shooting" posse a couiple of years ago in which everyone on the posse shot all guns from the hip. (NOTE: we were at a range up in the mountains in which the mountains are the berms so no issue with rounds over the berm)

[Standpat Steve]

Howdy Hext,

I don't know how I feel about an "Invitational" shoot . . . nobody ever invited me to one

Standpat (Rodney Dangerfield) Steve

[Boston John Doucette]

I'm all for invitational shoots...

From a shooter's standpoint, it allows me to compete with like-minded individuals insofar as gun caliber, powder or clothing is concerned;
Insofar as the overall match, it becomes a special opportunity to develop closer ties and friendships.

I've been trying to get my local club to hold a "Fat, Bald and .45 Caliber" Match... but some of the women seem to draw a line at shaving their heads.
Go figure 

BJD

[Silent Joe]

Why not. Here in Holland are different Matches for BP only or BP and nitro.
Open air matches and matches inside. Matches for pistol only or pistol and gun.
For all these matches is one thing important, dressed up in Western Style and have F U N ! ! !

Silent Joe

[Stoney Pete]

If they're having a CAS match, any club can do as they please.  It is their property.  If they're having a SASS match then they gotta do was Yorba Linda says.  Not sure SASS allows for that type of shoot.

If you have a large enough crowd wanting and invitation shoot then go for it.  However up here in the north east we get between 30 and 50 shooters total.  If we made requirements too strict then we'd only get 10 to 15 shooters.  That's a whole lotta work for a poor turnout.

Your milage may vary

stoney