A Flatlander's Journey To Da Yooper

Bruce Day · 06-22-2009, 10:23 AM

Many of my Michigan and Minnesota friends have encouraged me to come north, north , north to da' Yooper shoot. So I drove north by northeast for 13 hours and found myself in a land of trees and more trees and lakes that were actually clear. Dave Miles had assured me the mosquitos were not truly bad, just misunderstood.

Photo 1, the Sagola Township Civic Center and Advanced Education Campus.
They served health foods, all fried, and liquor, which Yoopers of all ages drink, as I am informed that UP water is bad for you.

Photo 2, the PGCA was in attendance. Dave Wunrow, a wonderful host, at our gathering point. Steve Cobb of course looks distinguished. I think I need to buy a tie.

Photo 3, I cabined with Mike Koranda, Chris Johnson and Jay Schachter. Chris sells that wonderful luggage made by Hulme.

Photo 4, Mark Beasland was there selling guns and giving out business cards.

Bruce Day · 06-22-2009, 10:33 AM

The shooting events were a lot of fun and consisted of a 120 round sporting clays course, a two ring simulated pigeon event and a flurry, where you shoot as many as you can as fast as you can. I did OK, not outstanding, and if I were to do it over, I would wear an oven mitt on my barrel hand.

Photo 5, what the course topography looks like.

Photo 6, Eric Eis, who has more than a few wonderful Parkers was there.

Photos 7,8,9 Eric recently bought the C M Powers AAH, an early Pigeon Grade gun, so marked on the rib and with Whitworth barrels. A great and significant gun, and I held and lusted. These guys back in Michigan get all the good guns.

Bruce Day · 06-22-2009, 10:57 AM

They hold a banquet on site.

Photo 10, Eric Eis, Dave Miles, Rich Anderson.

Photo 11, our friends from RST were there. Alex Papp in the shadows. I bought a case of their new 20ga 3/4oz cartridges. Worked fine for sporting clays and minimal recoil in a light gun.

Others that were there and I neglected to take photos of were Pete Day, John Chamberlain, Jack Jansma, my cabin mate Mike Koranda, and undoubtedly many others. Had a pleasant conversation with Nancy Muderlak, always a gracious lady.

On the minus side, we were hoping to get Bill Bolyard there, and didn't, (actually we just wanted to meet Noelle) and of course that darned Dunkle didn't come.

We'll probably see some of the same crowd at the Duluth Puglisi shoot at the end of July. Hope you all can make it. Mike Koranda is the organizer. Charlie Herzog and I will be there and will do the tabulation for an all sxs doubles competion. Rules are simple; minimum 5 shooters of a make and we average the scores of each make. Dosn't matter if its a Parker repro, a Galazan Fox or a Turkish Smith, its what it says it is.

Bill Bolyard · 06-22-2009, 03:07 PM

Bruce,

Wished I could of made it, I have been down with the flu since last friday. I should have listened to Mom and got the Flu shot.

Bill

james van blaricum · 06-22-2009, 10:00 PM

Bill; while you are getting a flu shot, you should also get a shot for the shingles and Bruce
you should get one too. james van blaricum

Bill Bolyard · 06-22-2009, 10:05 PM

Doc,

Had the shingles when I was younger didn't think I would get them again, am I wrong?

Bill

james van blaricum · 06-22-2009, 10:13 PM

There is a possiblity. jvb

james van blaricum · 06-22-2009, 10:21 PM

Just got home from CSU. My e-mail has been down so have been out of touch. What is the Yopper Shoot? I am going to my grand son's EAGLE ceremony in Tn. and then I hope
to go to PUGLIS (sp) shoot the last of July. Are you still planning on Colo in August?

Bruce Day · 06-22-2009, 10:30 PM

The Yooper Shoot is a kind of strange shooting tribal primitive gathering held waaay up north. Michiganders come out of the woods and make a person drink beer and shoot guns. It was last weekend. See the posts.

The Duluth Double Gun shoot sponsored by Jack Puglisi is held at the end of July. Me, Charlie Herzog, hopefully Greg Dershem, and bunch of us, Dave Wunrow, and more will be there. A fun time and it gives a person an opportunity to visit Jack's store and buy a Parker.

If you are seriously thinking about coming, call me.

Derrick Stewart · 06-22-2009, 10:57 PM

Eric,

Tell me more about the newly aquired AAH. Would Mr. Ed be it's previous caretaker? An AAH with Withworth steel barrels is my dream Parker... Nice gun by the way..