Why is the attendance at SxS events down?

[Opening Day]

Well said Frank, I go to the shoots to have fun, I will never make it in the top ten and I don't care. I shoot some guns that at 14" lop and others that are 15'lop because I want to shoot all of my guns pistol grip, English, POW don't care I want to shoot them all.... Most of the times we don't even take a score sheet we are just shooting and having a great time!

Now the timing that is a problem, you start getting into mid Sept and you are hitting hunting season in many of the northern states, so this is a major problem. Also when two great shoots post their shoots on the same weekend, knowing full well they are dividing a very small group of SXS shooters, plus dividing the vendors and making them choose which shoot, this is where egos are coming into play and this must Stop. For the sake of SxS shooting this ego thing has got to go, discuss it privately and setup your shoots so everyone has a chance to go, shooters and vendors to both of the shoots not just one Ok that was my rant and now I'll shut up

[C.O.B.]

I don't know if the target prices are really that out of line but it's not inexpensive either. When I was shooting registered skeet it was $35 per 100 targets (or more depending on the venue) plus purse fees per gauge and that was almost 15 years ago. I stopped shooting registered birds due to the fact that IMHO there were to many shooters who would drop a bird or two to get into a class where they could win money.

Look at the Parker/Smith challenge it seems to me it has become more about winning and less about the fun. it's the same people for the most part competing every year. Years ago I mentioned that it would be nice to have teams made up of different classed shooters to make it more fun, and fair to everyone who wanted to try to make a team.

Lets put the fun back in these shoots. One of the nicest things about shooting at Drake's Landing is we are all out for the same thing...a good time with friends. As Eric mentioned most times there are no score cards involved, you don't need a score sheet to tell you if you have had a good round or not.

[Gary Laudermilch]

I'm usually pretty reluctant to comment on this sort of thing because it is too easy to offend someone. I pretty much agree with the comments made thus far. Do away with the score keepers, prizes, etc. Just have fun at reasonable cost. I can afford $1 per target but refuse to pay it out of principal. I know at least 5 guys that would love to shoot but will not for the same reason. Far too much emphasis on competition.

[edgarspencer]

Am I the only one who sees the white elephant in the room?

I have been to Hausmann's three or four times, and have been to maybe twice that many Vintagers events.

I have had to miss out on going to Rock Mountain twice because of some G-D ailment, it flat out pisses me off. From what everyone has said, RM is much like Ernie's, in the fun department, and Vintagers, not so much.

Never one to shy away from pissing someone off, to speak my mind, I'll continue my winning ways; Vintagers events are too much "Look at Me" in a snobbish way.

[James L. Martin]

I must say that I agree with most of the comments, I have been to most of the Vintagers, many Hausmanns , and the last two at the Rock. Four days is too much and there are way too many events , how many shoot 24 & 32ga ? , why is there a hammer and hammerless in each gage. One dollar a bird is too much. I would just like to shoot my old guns and have fun for a reasonable cost.

[Craig Larter]

The Vintage Cup had 30 events just for shotguns!!!!!

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by James L. Martin

I would just like to shoot my old guns and have fun for a reasonable cost.

Jim come shoot with us at Drakes Landing in April during the Southern. Lots of shooting, lots of camaraderie and reasonable target costs and the best bunch of people both shooters and the staff of Drakes. You won't be sorry I guarantee it

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

... Lots of shooting, lots of camaraderie and reasonable target costs and the best bunch of people both shooters and the staff of Drakes. You won't be sorry I guarantee it

Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like "fun" to me!

(NO slight against The Spring Southern, one of my "can't miss" events.)

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by John Campbell

Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like "fun" to me!

(NO slight against The Spring Southern, one of my "can't miss" events.)

John, we don't miss the Southern either, shoot Drakes Thursday, Fri and Sat Morning and spend all of the rest of the time at Deep River seeing friends and vendors that we didn't see at Drakes, best of both worlds.

[Bill Kekatos]

Any SxS events in the Midwest? I live in Illinois and it seems most of the SxS events are in the east cost or southern states.
BillK