Lack of shooters

ter · Post by **ter** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:39 am

Here in Pennsylvania, there has always been a strong showing of shooters at the local matches. I guess this year, there are about half the shooters at a match as compared to 3 years ago. How is attendance in your area?

Jerry G · Post by **Jerry G** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:04 am

Most of the places I have shot at have that problem. Some years turn-out is real good and other years it sucks. It does seem to run in cycles. I do think the overall trend is that we are loosing shooters.

There are a few clubs around the country that have a strong junior program and have good turn-outs. It almost seems to me that the juniors talk their parents into going to the matches.

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:30 am

As you've probably read here in washington we have the oposite happening. At one of the local ranges we were getting more every month, at least a new guy at every match and then the "board of idoits" decieded to shut down the silhouette program. Two steps forward and three steps back

Bob259 · Post by **Bob259** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:42 am

I think with high gas prices, for those that have to travel a distance to either the match or just back and forth to work and all the lay offs this last year and into 2008 will only hurt all our programs. Let us also not forget the 2x price increase of ammo/components to go along with the above and this has all the makings for a difficult year for every club.

_Shorty · Post by **_Shorty** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:44 am

The guys up here in Nanaimo, BC, have been having the same discussion the last few months. Hopefully it picks up again now that the weather's warming. I keep trying to recruit some new shooters, even taken a few out to share my rifle. Everybody has fun, then procrastinates getting their firearms license, nevermind a rifle. Oh well. Hook somebody sooner or later, hehe.

twofifty · Post by **twofifty** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:47 pm

Recruitment story:

A friend of mine, brand new to silhouette, just purchased his first hunter rifle this week (Weatherby-Anschutz XXII in 64 action/match barrel).

Next week will be his first local match, when he gets classified! Next month he will shoot the Bull River Invitational in Cranbrook, BC.

How did this miracle happen?

First off, this guy is an avid multi-species hunter. He wants to improve his offhand shots for big game...

So we started 'training' in january this year, shooting my old Anschutz SB hunter at 25 yards, on small 20yd bullseye paper. Friend notices what a fine rifle this is....

After four weeks of working on our stances, follow-through, etc, I introduced paper silhouette targets: 5 of each species per row, 20 animals per 8.5x11 paper, scaled for 20yds but shot at 25yds. So we both started improving our holds, and having fun.

After our second session of these paper sil targets, his new rifle was on order!

To me, recruitment is eased by presenting (edit - an existing) shooter with a real challenge, a challenge that will make them a better shot in their other disciplines.... So they give it a try. And when they find out how much fun and satisfying it is....gotcha!!!

YMMV. ;)

_Shorty · Post by **_Shorty** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:59 pm

Ah, but this is someone already interested in shooting and already owns firearms. Snaking someone that's a complete newbie is a bit trickier, it seems. Definitely some good tips for getting an existing shooter to improve an area of shooting though, gonna have to see if I can rangle anyone that way.

twofifty · Post by **twofifty** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:11 pm

Fair enough. Snaking is way harder than snagging. LOL.

I'm going to keep trying to snag other shooters/hunters on the basis that silhouette will give them a leg up on the competition or the game animals.
Silhouette shooters know this to be true.

This summer, our Rod and Gun club members will get to see the results at our weekly fun paper shoots. I hope to snag some of those who make the connection.

You guys got a nice sil range there in Nanaimo?

_Shorty · Post by **_Shorty** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:22 pm

Yeah, it's pretty nice. Here it is, facing west, between the shotgun and handgun ranges. The rifle range in total is just under 200 yards out to the rear berm. You can see the four silhouette stands. Nice covered firing line, too.
http://tinyurl.com/5qowgp

shakes · Post by **shakes** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:53 am

update: the board decieded to let us shoot again as long as we open the range to rimfire only during the weekdays and match's on weekends. I'm thinking once we get the range open to public I might start to recruit some junior shooters and offer a junior program after we get done with the match's on the weekend. Just have time were the kids can shoot and get some instruction and hopefully get them into match's with the adults as they get better, and hey we might even get some mom's and dad's to get into silhouette.