I wish Rich and I could make this shoot this year, but it's not in the cards for either us this year. But if it was, we would only be going to Mike's because he was the first one to setup up this shoot on this date, period. The Vintagers do not "own" this weekend, that they abandoned for the last couple of years. Now they want to split a very small community of SxS shooters because of their egos, and not for the betterment of the shooting SxS community. I thought the original concept of the Vintagers was to bring awareness to the shooting fraternity about SxS guns and shooting. Guess I got that wrong...

OK, so the dates are the same next year too. What a tragedy. I was told today that George Hopkins had a ten dollar five stand that some of my shooting buddies said was a great alternative to the "competition" events. Can we hear more about the bargain events at both venues? Some are apparently becoming weary of the trophy events and want to shoot some targets, volume targets, for less money. How about a multitude of five stands? Everyone likes cheap practice five stands. The PGCA guys are deserting the competition events at the Spring Southern to go to Drake's Landing. The writing is on the wall. No one is impressed with dollar birds for four days straight. I'm sure the vendors were a bit stressed about the thin crowds, too. I know vendors who left on Saturday from the events, a first in our "sport". Vendors, shooters, it's your move. Maybe one or more of the greedy promoters will get the message and begin to cooperate.

I don't know any "greedy promoters" at Rock Mountain, Hausmann's Hidden Hollow, Addieville East Farm, or any of the venues I've attended in the last five or six years.

Maybe I don't get out much...?






.

Me either Dean.

I will add this, if we don't attend and support these events, regardless of whether they are at Rock Mtn, Hopkins Game Farm, Deep River, Hausemanns or any of the other big SxS venues, these events will go away. Don't "hear", go see. ---Matt

Mike, my terminology may have indicated that I am addressing "greedy promoters" in reference to you, Ernie, and others who have pleased us for decades. I was and am only referring to the Vintagers promoters who doubled up on the dates this year. Someone mentioned that the two shoots share a date in 2017 again. I hope he is mistaken. Mike, I am firmly on your side in this situation. Thanks for the private message.

Thanks for that clarification Bill.





.

I personally think that charging $600 to $800 for a vendor booth consisting of a couple tables is a little "greedy".

When the going rate at most gun shows is under $100 per table.

And i am not talking about Mike or Ernie. Their table prices are VERY fair.

And though $1.00 per bird targets can seem high, it is in line with what every other event charges, so it simply is what it is.

I'm not one out to shoot for score and as mentioned on another thread there are lots of us who just like to shoot for the sake of shooting. I don't need a belt buckle, Hell I could only see it in a mirror anyway:rotf:
With travel, lodging etc. The Rock would have been a thousand dollar week IF I didn't buy anything. It would be nice to do a venue where you could shoot just for the fun of shooting both targets and the bull with friends. IMHO I think this is one reason our spring outing at Drakes has grown so much.
I think a competition rate and a fun rate would be welcome by all shooters. I'd rather shoot 100 targets for fun than 50 for competition.

I agree Rich, that would be nice.

I am not a great shooter and most times I don't bother to keep score. I enjoy each shot for its singular challenge. I know months before any shooting event that I have exactly no chance of winning, or even being in the top ten. So I go to enjoy a round or two and hang with friend that I have made over the years at these events. I like to socialize, watch the people and look at "eye candy" in the tents. Obviously, for me it's not the competition that attracts me to these double gun events.