Dept of the Platte muster 2018

[Sagebrush Burns]

The Department of the Platte held our first ever Department muster on August 4th & 5th, 2018 in Craig, Colorado.  In attendance were Drydock (Chuck Leutkemeyer), Bat Masterson (Steve Fowler), Dutch Al (Allen Ashton), new GAF member JB (Bob Weller), Capt Dan Blodgett (Dan Varner), Doc Murdock (Mike Davison), and Sagebrush Burns (Andy Bullen).  Administrative support and logistics were provided by Dr. D. Mento (Karol Bullen).

The match consisted of two skirmish stages, the partners stage, long range rifle and precision pistol matches.  All participants arrived in Craig on Friday afternoon and we were able to get the stages set up, painted and ready for action.  Big thanks are in order to all participants who jumped in and "made it happen".  Special thanks to Steve Fowler for providing an ATV and trailer, and to Chuck Leutkemeyer for many ideas and suggestions which really made a difference!  Friday evening we met at a local Mexican restaurant for relaxation and palaver (no BS of course).

Hostilities commenced on Saturday morning and we were able to complete both skirmish stages and the partners stage before lunch.  After a leisurely lunch of fried chicken and fixins catered by Karol B, we attended to the long range and precision matches.  The long range match proved to be a serious hardship, unpredictable cross winds and poltergeists hexing several of the shooters.  Shooters who normally excel had trouble hitting, while others (including your correspondent) were plagued by mediocre marksmanship.  After the shooting was done for the day the participants took down and put away one skirmish stage and the partners stage while the match director attended to scoring and awards.  Many thanks for high quality of their work.  Again on Saturday evening we got together (at another local eatery) to unwind and let down.

On Sunday morning we re-shot one of the skirmish stages just for fun and to give folks a chance to break out some different guns.  After that every one took down and put away the final stage and re-organized the targets and props storage while the match director finalized scoring and awards.  At 1000 hours we had the awards presentation and "de-briefed" the match.  Many excellent proposals were presented, discussed and refined, and as a result, next year's muster will be even better.  Lunch was served at 1100 hours which allowed participants to get an early start on their journeys home.


I want to thank everybody involved for their whole hearted participation and help which guaranteed a successful and fun muster.  See you all again next summer...

submitted by Sagebrush Burns, Dept of the Platte, commanding

match scores are attached below

[Pitspitr]

Out-Standing!

I'm going to do my best to get to this one next year!

[Drydock]

I had a great time, and consider this a must attend match for myself in the future.  The range is located in a picturesque Colorado high country setting, though easily accessed, right outside Craig CO.  Plenty of lodging, with pretty good local cuisine.  The local folks apologized for the unusually muggy high humidity, clear up to 30% (!?)  6700 foot elevation took a little getting used to, but had no effect on my shooting.

The range topography allows for full skirmish runs,  that while not as flexible as our NE setup,  offer a very rugged, Old West look and feel.  A prone man in the local ground cover would be invisible until you stepped on him.   This makes for adventuresome target settings.  It was simply a lot of fun to shoot!  Targets were easy to hit, but hard to find!

There is a fine cowboy museum in Craig I am told, and will try to see it next year.  Also a smaller vintage mining museum as well.  From the south you come thru Steamboat Springs, might be a good place to browse and shop for those so inclined.