Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Check out the GGP Sponsors!
Categories
Check out the GGP Sponsors!
It's SHOOTEN' Time!!
2024 Match Dates
2nd Saturday 4th Sunday
May 11 May 26
June 8 June 23
G.A.F. June 29
July 13 July 28
Aug 10 Aug 25
Sept 14 Sept 22
Oct 12 Oct 27
Nov 9 (???)
Registration 8 A.M. Safety meeting 8:45
How to Get to the Dry Gulch Ranch Cowboy Range
Hope to see you there!!
2024 Match Dates
2nd Saturday 4th Sunday
May 11 May 26
June 8 June 23
G.A.F. June 29
July 13 July 28
Aug 10 Aug 25
Sept 14 Sept 22
Oct 12 Oct 27
Nov 9 (???)
Registration 8 A.M. Safety meeting 8:45
How to Get to the Dry Gulch Ranch Cowboy Range
Hope to see you there!!
NEW GGP RANGE!
dd
Gnome, gnome on the range!
We promised our shooters and members of the Good Guys Posse that we would actively look for a new range for our monthly matches. Several shooting clubs were willing to host a cowboy shoot and JJ investigated some abandoned gravel pits. But nothing seemed to jump out and grab our attention.<br />
<br />
Then early last week, I was contacted by a long-time cowboy shooter who invited us out to look over a piece of his land for a possible new range. Six of the Rough Riders went out today to take a peek. It turned out to be an ideal location. Yes, it will take some work but nothing we can't handle. There will be trees for shade, plenty of parking, a pleasant, "woodsy" atmosphere and a large natural berm that can eventually be opened up into individual shooting bays. The new range is very close to where the Rockford club used to hold their cowboy shoots and is close to the four-lane highways that converge around Rockford, thus providing easy access from all directions.<br />
<br />
We are aiming to have our first match there in September, 2007. As further details become available, we'll be posting them here, along with maps, schedules, etc.<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />
<br />
Then early last week, I was contacted by a long-time cowboy shooter who invited us out to look over a piece of his land for a possible new range. Six of the Rough Riders went out today to take a peek. It turned out to be an ideal location. Yes, it will take some work but nothing we can't handle. There will be trees for shade, plenty of parking, a pleasant, "woodsy" atmosphere and a large natural berm that can eventually be opened up into individual shooting bays. The new range is very close to where the Rockford club used to hold their cowboy shoots and is close to the four-lane highways that converge around Rockford, thus providing easy access from all directions.<br />
<br />
We are aiming to have our first match there in September, 2007. As further details become available, we'll be posting them here, along with maps, schedules, etc.<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />
Comments
<br />
As DD has said, the property has great potential and a landlord that seems to be more than willing to work with us in many ways financially and otherwise. We could have ended up further north and lost some of the shooters from IL or close to the same location, but really anywhere we went, this option provides more than a location as the commitment to establishing a long term cowboy range set up seems to be the objective. Other ranges and landlords would not have us as their primary focus.<br />
<br />
Regarding the location and its proximity to major expressways, it makes it easily accessible to all the previous shooters along with the addition of the quad cities. Win, win. <br />
<br />
Starting over again will in some ways be painful, but it will have provided a better knowledge of what's involved along with the fact that the trailer, props, tables, etc. have already been purchased or built. I see expansion with comfort in the investment of time and money that was in question before. More work and lots of it, but that's what some of us signed up for. Work you choose over assigned is not a chore.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all for your previous support and we will do best to get this one up, running and continue to improve as we strived for in our previous endeavor.
Grunt <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/usabig.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':usabig:' />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Great news!!! <br />
<br />
I think your new motto should be, "Never give up!"<br />
<br />
Thanks for all y'all do,<br />
<br />
<br />
WR<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />
Not to mention that you'll be able to almost walk to the shoots.
<br />
Thank you again for your work in find the new place.<br />
<br />
Any address so I can look at the map?
<br />
Thanks for your offer of help. We'll be putting out the call for help as soon as we get a few of the preliminaries taken care of. One of the first things we'll need is a dozer operator and a machine to do some opening up of the natural berms that are there. After that is done, we'll need to do a general cleaning up of the brush, etc., around the range. We may wait a bit on setting up the props as they may get in the way of any further work we may need to do. But once we get 5 safe stages ready, we'll have a match - even without props.<br />
<br />
I think you and Wyatt were having the same dream. He's already planning his next prop. Eventually, we'd like to see a full western town, with boardwalks and all the trimmings. But that will take time.<br />
<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />
Congrats to the GGP on finding a new location and a BIG thank you to DD for his efforts. I am not as capable as I once was but I hope to be as much a part of this as I can possibly be. Let me know as soon as I can see this new location. Longdrink<br />
<br />
<br />
I won't be wronged<br />
I won't be insulted<br />
I Won't be laid a hand on<br />
I don't do these things to other people and I require the same<br />
<br />
John Wayne from the Shootist
<br />
Longdrink,<br />
<br />
I truly appreciate your kind words. No need for you to work, we'll just be very happy to see you out there shooting with us or just dropping by to chew the fat (we do that a lot!). Sometimes things work out for the best, no matter how dark it looks at first. We're very pleased and enthusiastic about the new range as it has a lot of potential and will keep us busy for awhile.<br />
<br />
I like that quote - it says a bunch!<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />
<br />
Thanks for the offer. We may give you a call on down the road.<br />
<br />
Right now, a friend of Dan's has a smaller machine that he is going to bring out and do some of the easy stuff. Then we may need a larger machine for a few hours.
<br />
Sure hope that "smaller machine" is not a shovel!!!<br />
<br />
Can the location be announced? I tried to find it elsewhere on the boards, but can't seem to locate the location. I bet a lot of the group is curious.
<br />
Neo,<br />
<br />
It's out just west of Rockford, a few miles north of Winnabago. Real easy to get to. When I get the chance, I'll be getting some maps posted. But, as you might guess, things are real busy right now. If all goes as planned, I'll be asking for some help - a work party - on the 11th. Everyone will have the chance to come out and see the new range then - and do a little work, too!
<br />
Thanks for the effort!!<br />
<br />
Jim Balaya
<br />
Thanks for the offer, Jim. We appreciate any help we can get. Right now we're looking at Aug 26th, but that is NOT FIRM. There are some things we need to get in place before we ask folks to come out for a work party.<br />
<br />
<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />