Challenge to all Cowboys who can read and write . . .

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

(and haven't written a stage before)

 

a bit of background:

Oklahoma Dee, World Champion SASS Shooter is our Range Master and as part of his job writes our stages:  descriptions and pictures both.

At times members will offer to write a stage or two and he is happy to accommodate them.

My job is to put them in booklet fashion and send it out to all the club members the week before the match.

I've been working with one member who may or may not chime in here and can tell you that getting the writing and pictures correct is not an easy task.  It takes time and attention to detail for everything to fall into place (and remember once you get one perfect there are 5 more to go)

 

challenge:

If you have never written a stage and diagramed the layout of the shooting area to include props, shooting positions, targets and the like, TRY IT.

and remember to include C-D, WB directions/modifications in the mix, too (we pretty much let everyone shoot on our posses--the more the merrier)

 

Even if you never submit it for use this is a great learning exercise and will give you an understanding what the stage writers have to go through month after month and once you're done give it to a friend and see what s/he thinks or what errors are found.

 

Sorta like walking a mile in another fellow's moccasins 

 

 

. . . or you could go out a load up ammo -- fun is where you find it

 

 

 

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

4 minutes ago, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

.... previous text removed only to...

challenge:

If you have never written a stage and diagramed the layout of the shooting area to include props, shooting positions, targets and the like, TRY IT.

and remember to include C-D, WB directions/modifications in the mix, too (we pretty much let everyone shoot on our posses--the more the merrier)

 

Even if you never submit it for use this is a great learning exercise and will give you an understanding what the stage writers have to go through month after month and once you're done give it to a friend and see what s/he thinks or what errors are found.

 

Sorta like walking a mile in another fellow's moccasins 

 

 

. . . or you could go out a load up ammo -- fun is where you find it

 

 

 

 

Cheyenne:

     I believe I would like to take up that challenge.

     Going on some vacation soon and will use that time wisely in creating a stage.

     As I have never written a stage, can you tell me what a C-D is. I looked it up under Abbreviations  and Acronyms on the F.A.Q. Forum but did not find it. 

     Also, what considerations need to be addressed for both C-D and Wild Bunch (WB), as I have never shot either of them?

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

CD is Cody Dixon.

 

But most clubs do not have CD shooters or WB shooters mixed in to their main matches; so don't worry too much about that.

 

Simply try to write a stage.

Considerations:

Round count (reloads, sg count, etc.)

Complexities of Sequence (sweep, dump, rounds on plate)

Gun order

steel placement/ target arrays/ target spread/ target distances from firing line

shooter movement/ distances/ directions

safe staging/ restaging

shooter starting position

(body, hands, location)

prop (if desired)

prop action (if you have prop)

clever starting line (or shooter ready)

 

Try to consider the abilities/ limitations of every level of shooter that will be present at your match.  

Physically, mentally. 

Speed of movement, height of shooter, etc.

 

Try to consider the staging challenges for different gun types (vertical staging is different for a SxS than a 97).

 

Try to consider the shooting challenges for different propellants (bp shooters have different opinions on 8 plus shotgun than smokeless shooters do)

 

Consider how structured  (either layout EXACTLY what you are expecting the shooter to do) or how free you are willing to allow your shooters to be (allow the shooter the latitude to attack the stage their way).

 

Try to consider all the possible ways your written instruction can be misunderstood, misread, twisted or adjusted by the posse marshal. 

And then try to correct those possibilities before you allow them to read it.

 

And try to do all of this with as economical use of words as possible.

Have fun.

 

[MizPete]

Why in the name of God would you publish stages a week in advance?   Not the Cowboy Way.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

17 minutes ago, MizPete said:

Why in the name of God would you publish stages a week in advance?  Cheatin' gamey bastards worse that the Carolina Cowboys.  Not the Cowboy Way.

 

while not mentioning God's name we have done this so folks have time to read, understand and/or ask questions ahead of time.  Too often a great deal of time is spent explaining over and over again, at the stage/firing line what the instructions mean.

 

Since all our members get a copy at the same time we  don't see this as gamey, rather as a way to help everyone enjoy the sport to the maximum.  

 

respectfully we see it as part of the Cowboy Way

 

If you PM me your email I would be glad to send you a copy of our Oct 28 Match Booklet so you can see for yourself what I am talking about

 

cheyenne

[Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217]

38 minutes ago, MizPete said:

Why in the name of God would you publish stages a week in advance?  Cheatin' gamey bastards worse that the Carolina Cowboys.  Not the Cowboy Way.

If that was a joke, you should have used one of the following emoticons: ...

 

If it was serious, what is up with that language?

[CodyMaverick]

1 hour ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

CD is Cody Dixon.

5 hours ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

 

Cheyenne:

     I believe I would like to take up that challenge.

     Going on some vacation soon and will use that time wisely in creating a stage.

     As I have never written a stage, can you tell me what a C-D is. I looked it up under Abbreviations  and Acronyms on the F.A.Q. Forum but did not find it. 

     Also, what considerations need to be addressed for both C-D and Wild Bunch (WB), as I have never shot either of them?

 

Kit,

I had the same question.  Now that we know it stands for Cody Dixon, did that help you as little as it did me. 

 

Creeker,

Who is/was Cody Dixon and what is his/her relevance to CAS matches?

 

Please pardon my ignorance, it's an affliction I was born with and have spent my entire life trying to overcome.

 

[CodyMaverick]

2 minutes ago, Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 said:

If that was a joke, you should have used one of the following emoticons: ...

 

If it was serious, what is up with that language?

 

Yeah!  I just spent a fantastic weekend with those CGB CCs,  I think they're Great!

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

I would seem I live in a small, sheltered world here in Texas

C-D (Cody-Dixon) is a category where the shooter shoots the pistol and shotgun as written but uses a big bore rifle (rifle caliber) to shoot at target further out, say 75--125 feet give or take.  They usually shoot fewer rounds than the 10 pistol caliber rifles do.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

Just now, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

I would seem I live in a small, sheltered world here in Texas

C-D (Cody-Dixon) is a category where the shooter shoots the pistol and shotgun as written but uses a big bore rifle (rifle caliber) to shoot at target further out, say 75--125 yards, give or take.  They usually shoot fewer rounds than the 10 pistol caliber rifles do.

 

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

I mentioned this buried in a post above but if anyone would like to see one of our booklets just PM me your email.  

 

I don't mind making electrons work for a living

 

cr

 

[CodyMaverick]

5 hours ago, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

Even if you never submit it for use this is a great learning exercise and will give you an understanding what the stage writers have to go through month after month and once you're done give it to a friend and see what s/he thinks or what errors are found.

 

I wrote a few of my home club's matches this year and it was challenging but fun.  Received some compliments and some criticisms which were all genuine and helpful.  

 

The biggest help I had in preparing to write matches was from going to the range and helping with the setup.  You really learn a great deal about why things are like they are and what kinds of things work while others don't.

[CodyMaverick]

19 minutes ago, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

I mentioned this buried in a post above but if anyone would like to see one of our booklets just PM me your email.  

 

I don't mind making electrons work for a living

 

cr

 

 

PM sent.

 

I am not sure if you can see my email address or not.  After clicking Submit Status the email address was replaced with "email protected".

 

If you can't see it let me know, I'm sure Allie can tell me what I did wrong.  (most women can and do )

[MizPete]

1 hour ago, Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 said:

If it was serious, what is up with that language?

Sorry, but yes, I was serious, and you must know that we (Carolina Cowboys) have (proudly) been known as cheatin' gamey b---ds for quite awhile.  Seriously tongue in cheek, but I thought it was common knowledge.  You'll need to contact Jack B Nimble for details and authorization to wear the badge.  Backing away slowly now.

 

Thank you Cody Maverick, and it's welcome you are whenever to want to visit.

[Chili Pepper Jack]

16 hours ago, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

(and haven't written a stage before)

 

a bit of background:

Oklahoma Dee, World Champion SASS Shooter is our Range Master and as part of his job writes our stages:  descriptions and pictures both.

At times members will offer to write a stage or two and he is happy to accommodate them.

My job is to put them in booklet fashion and send it out to all the club members the week before the match.

I've been working with one member who may or may not chime in here and can tell you that getting the writing and pictures correct is not an easy task.  It takes time and attention to detail for everything to fall into place (and remember once you get one perfect there are 5 more to go)

 

challenge:

If you have never written a stage and diagramed the layout of the shooting area to include props, shooting positions, targets and the like, TRY IT.

and remember to include C-D, WB directions/modifications in the mix, too (we pretty much let everyone shoot on our posses--the more the merrier)

 

Even if you never submit it for use this is a great learning exercise and will give you an understanding what the stage writers have to go through month after month and once you're done give it to a friend and see what s/he thinks or what errors are found.

 

Sorta like walking a mile in another fellow's moccasins 

 

 

. . . or you could go out a load up ammo -- fun is where you find it

 

 

 

If you are supplying the crayons I am in!

[Pat Riot]

My opinion here:

I think publishing the stages ahead of time is fine if you know that everyone is going to shoot gets one. Otherwise it seems unfair to me and I am pretty sure I would let folks know that if I found out I was shooting with a bunch of folks that had a week of mental practice before I did.

 

Sure, there are usually a few club members that know the stages, like; the match director and other club members involved with setting things up but I think as a rule the foreknowledge of the stages should be kept to a minimum.

 

My $2

 

[Dantankerous]

Some people like to study for the test.

 

Others prefer a pop quiz.

 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

3 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

My opinion here:

I think publishing the stages ahead of time is fine if you know that everyone is going to shoot gets one. Otherwise it seems unfair to me and I am pretty sure I would let folks know that if I found out I was shooting with a bunch of folks that had a week of mental practice before I did.

 

Sure, there are usually a few club members that know the stages, like; the match director and other club members involved with setting things up but I think as a rule the foreknowledge of the stages should be kept to a minimum.

 

My $2

 

I am a firm proponent of stage availability prior to a match.  Since my entry into this game 20 years ago; I have always argued that the shooter has the right to know what he is getting into.  You wouldn't go to a restaurant without knowing what kind of food they served.  You wouldn't go to a movie without having an idea of the genre.

 

But if you are going to make them available (which I think you should); the stages need to be available to ALL shooters that may attend the match; not just members or folks on a mailing list.

 

Posting stages on your clubs website is by far the "fairest" method of dissemination of the stages.  Allowing anyone with interest to review the stages including any non member considering coming to your shoot for the very first time.

 

Because if you are not making them available to ALL; then they should not be available to any.

[Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804]

Father Garth;  Also keep in mind the actual number and type of targets you have avail. to you.

   We ran into a situation someone wrote a whole match and when went to set it up, found out we didn't have enough targets for what they wrote.

I used to keep a spreadsheet of targets and would make sure I didn't use something on stage 4 that I had already wrote into stage 1. 

[Ramblin Gambler]

Regarding the stages being sent out.  First off, he may get them ready a week in advance, but we normally get them the day or 2 days before.  I don't know if that makes it better or worse.  Second, I only use the descriptions for 2 things. 

1.  I read them thoroughly when I can't make the matches and it makes me want to shoot even more.  Once or twice it may have even been useful in talking me into dropping whatever else was going on and shooting instead. 

2.  I check round counts.  I guess it hasn't happened in a while, but when we first started sending out the stages, we had a stage writer who liked to shoot lots of shotgun shells.  There were some matches where i think we shot nearly 2 full boxes.   

 

I can't imagine how someone would benefit from an extra 24 or 48 hours to prepare for a stage over and above the time you get at the range while you're counting.  Do some stages require different clothes?  As long as the pre-stage meeting never turns into "You all read the stage description, this is the one with the knockdown targets ...  any questions?" I certainly don't care if everyone else reads them before me. 

 

I'll also add that since we started sending them out, the stage descriptions have been much nicer.  Not meant as a dig at anyone who did it before, but I think the whole process is just producing a more refined and standardized product.  There have been times when the members read the stages and sent in questions and it all got corrected before match day.  Heck, that might still happen every month, I just haven't heard of any examples in a while. 

[Null N. Void]

I am in NC and I always publish the stages before the match.  When I was a new shooter, I found that was a big help.  The standard sweeps that we use and can rip off in out sleep are not so standard or easy for new people.

[MizPete]

OK, really feeling bad about this. 

1) It seems I unintentionally violated my own rule #1:  don't go into somebody's else's house & complain. 

2) Please know that not all Carolina Cowboys are CGB's.  That's a sobriquet that must be "earned."  See our website (carolinacowboys.us) -- our logo says HOME of the CGB's.  The title was conveyed, cumulatively over time and distance, to Jack B Nimble (who is, I think, the only one who remembers the whole story and holds all authority over its conveyance) and Pecos Pete.  I wear the badge proudly. 

The irony is, the Carolinas were once recognized as the bastion against "gaming"  and sometimes it remains a major burr up my backside.  As one of our Founding Fathers was famous for saying at the beginning of every match:  if you want to win that bad, just let us know.  We'll assign you the winner, and the rest of us will keep on having fun playing our game.

Anyway, sorry for shooting my mouth off and hurting feelings.  That's definitely not The Cowboy Way.

[CodyMaverick]

I believe it is the newer and less experienced shooters that benefit most from having the stage layouts and instructions early.  I used to print them out and study them, making notes and scribbles on them.  Now I just look them over to see if there are any unusual pistol sequences or staging requirements that I might want to rehearse a few times to the feel of them.

[CodyMaverick]

7 minutes ago, MizPete said:

OK, really feeling bad about this.

 

Don't feel bad, we Virginians still refer to y'all as CGBs.  I just didn't know you knew about it. 

 

I assumed it was started because y'all keep slippin' across the border and running off with all the awards. 

 

[Jefro, SASS#69420]

We always send out the stages a day or two in advance. Don't think dry firing at sticky notes is gonna do a thing to help on game day, new shooters will benefit the most. This CGB never looks at them except the ones I write, it always look different when I get to the range. And if I make a mistake on one another CGB will usually call me so I can fix it before match day. Good Luck

 

JefroRelax-Enjoy

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

4 hours ago, Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804 said:

Father Garth;  Also keep in mind the actual number and type of targets you have avail. to you.

   We ran into a situation someone wrote a whole match and when went to set it up, found out we didn't have enough targets for what they wrote.

I used to keep a spreadsheet of targets and would make sure I didn't use something on stage 4 that I had already wrote into stage 1. 

 

 Reb:

     I will keep that in mind if I'm ever tasked with creating all the stages for a match.

     ( I was offered this task by my own Club, long before I started shooting CAS, based solely on the creativity in establishing my Alias.)

     My first attempt; however, is to merely accept Cheyennes' challenge to write just one stage.

     I will definitely keep your suggestion handing when creating an entire match comes to fruition.

[Lorelei Longshot, SASS #44256 Life]

When writing stages, it helps to have photographs of the actual stages so you know where things are located such as windows, doorways, bars on windows, steps, etc. on the stage when deciding on gun placement and movement.  Knowing which targets are available (and possibly already set on a stage really helps especially if you have plate racks for pistols or rifle as moving them takes so much time because you have to re-calibrate.  Besides it takes at least two or more strong cowboys to lift and move them.)

 

You also need at least one or two other members to proofread your stages (sometimes proofing them 4 or more times).  Somehow you miss at least two or three of your mistakes, sometimes more.  Different readers can make suggestions to make the stage easier or more difficult to shoot or to understand.  They can also find those mistakes you missed and offer suggestions on how to make the stage directions clearer/more understandable and the engagements go more smoothly.

 

I was told by Texas Jack Daniels when I first wrote stages for the Texas Regulators (no longer with us due to neighborhood built around the range, but now most of us shoot at Thunder River Regulators) to make the pistol and the rifle sequence of engagement the same to avoid P traps.  Make the stages simple enough to avoid P traps as no one wants to earn a P because the stage was so difficult/confusing/hard to engage, etc.

 

Try to have each stage take approximately the same amount of time to avoid having posses back-up and have to wait to shoot.  You can always have posses start on every other stage to help keep this from happening.

 

I like getting the stage descriptions early because even though I read through them, come shoot day it's all new to me again.  At major matches I sometimes take a pencil and label the shooting order (P1, P2, P3, or R1, R2, etc. ) if I am confused and think my feeble mind will suffer brain fade during the stage.  (I jokingly say I have half-heimer's where I only forget half of things as opposed to alzheimer's. ) 

 

Yes, writing stages is not as easy as some people think, but everyone should try it at least once.  Yes, I'm the one that wrote the stages and have had each of six stages proofread and diagrams checked for shooter's location for engagement, number of targets and target placement at least 7 times by an experienced shooter and myself besides Cheyenne.  Hopefully they are correct and easy to understand and shoot.  We'll see.

P.S. It doesn't help to have written the stages as I've still had brain fade and gotten a P on a stage I wrote.

 

 

[Lorelei Longshot, SASS #44256 Life]

http://www.thss.org/rules/cody-dixon-rules/  explains Cody-Dixon at THSS.  

 

There was a competition between Buffalo Bill Cody and Billy Dixon, both buffalo hunters.  

Billy Dixon is famous for his long range shooting skills at Adobe Walls, TX.    http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandleTowns/Adobe-Walls-Texas.htm  11/8/2017

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Adobe_Walls  11/8/2017

 

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hra10  11/8/2017

 

[Ramblin Gambler]

18 hours ago, MizPete said:

OK, really feeling bad about this. 

 

Don't feel too bad.  I see "gamey bastard" as a term of endearment too.  But I've gotten in trouble on the wire for using it.  I don't really understand why people are so sensitive.  Maybe they really are gamey cause they don't wash often enough? 

 

Gotta admit that adding "cheatin" to it was new to me and might have given folks the wrong impression.  Maybe just for the wire you could use Lovable instead.  Lovable Gamey Bastard Troupe.  Who could get riled up by that? 

[MizPete]

But that ain't what Jack & Petey got called.  They were not cheatin' but I expect they might have been gaming it a bit.

[Too Tall Bob]

Sooooo - there has been lots of commentary about this, that and some other thing, let’s see what your creativity has come up with!!!

[Waimea]

On 11/7/2017 at 8:54 PM, MizPete said:

Sorry, but yes, I was serious, and you must know that we (Carolina Cowboys) have (proudly) been known as cheatin' gamey b---ds for quite awhile.  Seriously tongue in cheek, but I thought it was common knowledge.  You'll need to contact Jack B Nimble for details and authorization to wear the badge.  Backing away slowly now.

 

 

There's a badge for bein' cheatin' and gamey? Apparently I need to broaden my horizons.

 

You may back slowly over to my campfire.

 

Waimea

[MizPete]

Thank you, sir; you know I will.

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

On ‎11‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 3:53 PM, MizPete said:

OK, really feeling bad about this. 

1) It seems I unintentionally violated my own rule #1:  don't go into somebody's else's house & complain. 

2) Please know that not all Carolina Cowboys are CGB's.  That's a sobriquet that must be "earned."  See our website (carolinacowboys.us) -- our logo says HOME of the CGB's.  The title was conveyed, cumulatively over time and distance, to Jack B Nimble (who is, I think, the only one who remembers the whole story and holds all authority over its conveyance) and Pecos Pete.  I wear the badge proudly. 

The irony is, the Carolinas were once recognized as the bastion against "gaming"  and sometimes it remains a major burr up my backside.  As one of our Founding Fathers was famous for saying at the beginning of every match:  if you want to win that bad, just let us know.  We'll assign you the winner, and the rest of us will keep on having fun playing our game.

Anyway, sorry for shooting my mouth off and hurting feelings.  That's definitely not The Cowboy Way.

There is no need to feel bad about this.  I do admire folks who can laugh at themselves.

 

Now let me explain:  A gamer is anyone who is more interested in shooting fast than in acquiring new guns and equipment.

 

There, that ought to put things into perspective!

 

Come in to our campfire when you are on this range.

 

Duffield

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

                Not on vacation yet, but made a quick stage that should suit everyone.

 

 

No moving to another station, either from the right or the left.

No Texas Star.

No small targets.

No reloads.

No Bonuses.

Balances right and left handed shooters.

 

NOTE: This was done in jest, as I will be working on a REAL stage while on vacation.