Rumblings in the Desert - EOT 2024

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Preparations for EOT 2024 have been going on for months.  Work parties are scheduled well in advance so people can mark it on their calendars and at each work party a list of tasks is laid out to make sure all planned work is completed on time.  This past Saturday (January 6) the weather was sunny with no wind and a temp of 56 degrees.  Under the direct rays of the sun that 56 actually felt a LOT warmer.  This week there were two primary tasks.  Building carpet covered tops for the loading and unloading tables so the tops can be removed at night to avoid them getting wet in case of any night time rains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was to refurbish the mining tipple.  New colors are selected and the parts removed from storage for reconditioning.  EOT has six storage containers full of props.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what the tipple looked like the last time it was used.

 

 

Looks like the Rough Riders have everything on schedule for a fantastic EOT 2024.

[Sixgun Seamus]

Thanks Larsen. We always enjoy your progress posts for EOT. I wish we lived closer to be able to help. We enjoy seeing not only the progress but also our "friends and family". Headed west in a couple of weeks. See you then.

[Rattlesnake Slim]

Thanks Larsen, I've been really bad this year about taking photos.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

A slight update on the preparations for EOT 2024.  Last week the temps were in the 70s.  Yesterday (January 21) it was drizzling and the temps only got into the low 50s.  So several groups gathered under any available cover and spent the day gluing carpet to the shooter table tops.  Not glamorous and downright nasty but something that could be done even in the rain under cover.

 

 

 

At the last work party a front that is going to be used downrange was set up and the targets set to make sure they can be placed as planned.  The match director continued to go over the stages to make sure the proper targets go to the proper stages.  This is a two-step process as the Wild Bunch stages have to be set up first and then torn down and the CAS targets set up.  Since resetting the targets has to be done Tuesday afternoon after WB finishes everything has to be placed and ready to set up for the start of the CAS match on Wednesday morning.

 

 

Even though it was raining and work limited everyone still needed to be fed.

 

 

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Set-up starts the morning of Wednesday February 21, 2024.  A goodly number of shooters usually show up to look at the stages, find out they are not set up yet and stay to lend a helping hand.  If you are in the area stop by for a little companionship and lunch.

 

The two local clubs both still have space in their EOT warm-up matches.  The Arizona Cowboy Shooter's Association will be hosting a match at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on February 16 - 18.  Cowtown Cowboy Shooters will be hosting a match at Cowtown on February 24-25.  Cowtown is just a few miles to the west of Ben Avery.  Many shooters go directly from Cowtown on Sunday February 25 to Ben Avery to register for EOT.  Registration opens at 11:00 am on the 25th.

[Vail Vigilante]

Looks like a nice job.

Is the wheel system in the mining prop something the competitors interact with?

Thanks

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Every year Larsen posts a bunch of setup pics.  It's always a lot of construction, steel, painting, hauling. I think he just has one set of pics that he posts every year! 

 

 

Seriously, thanks for the work and for letting us know of the magnitude. 

[Hells Comin]

1 hour ago, Vail Vigilante said:

Looks like a nice job.

Is the wheel system in the mining prop something the competitors interact with?

Thanks

Yes you pull the rope which releases the mine cart. The scenario is you jump in the cart and shoot the stage as it moves down range. 

 

Oh I forgot it's 10-10 +6

[Yellowstone Vic SASS#32968]

45 minutes ago, Hells Comin said:

Yes you pull the rope which releases the mine cart. The scenario is you jump in the cart and shoot the stage as it moves down range. 

 

Oh I forgot it's 10-10 +6

Ohhh Boy…here we go…

[Shooting Bull]

54 minutes ago, Hells Comin said:

Yes you pull the rope which releases the mine cart. The scenario is you jump in the cart and shoot the stage as it moves down range. 

 

Oh I forgot it's 10-10 +6

 

Has anybody told you you're evil? 

[Assassin]

5 hours ago, Hells Comin said:

Yes you pull the rope which releases the mine cart. The scenario is you jump in the cart and shoot the stage as it moves down range. 

 

Oh I forgot it's 10-10 +6

Just like the Widow Maker that San Juan use to have at his range. The ambulance and EMT's camped there for the weekend.

 

[Rattlesnake Slim]

21 hours ago, Vail Vigilante said:

Looks like a nice job.

Is the wheel system in the mining prop something the competitors interact with?

Thanks

 

No

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

On 2/1/2024 at 9:03 AM, Rattlesnake Slim said:

 

No

Really?  How sad would be damn be fun to get into a squirrel cage and run to lift up a 2000 lb ore car and use shotgun to bust clay pigeons falling out.

[Buckshot Sheridan]

The competitors can certainly be involved in manipulating that thing. Just come help setup and tear down for the match. You will become familiar with it. 

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

On 1/31/2024 at 5:51 PM, Assassin said:

Just like the Widow Maker that San Juan use to have at his range. The ambulance and EMT's camped there for the weekend.

 

San Juan range & the stages they were outstanding. Those were good times. Jumping on bed springs and walk on the bedspring bridge. Yeeeeh, Haa. I think also we had to jump on spring to mount the horse if I remember. Another Yeeeh Haa!

Again when the whole posse ran down the hill and shot the targets.

Found some info on shoot there 1997 took 1st Place Senior category. Then again in 2011 took 2nd Place Elder Statesman. Also 2011, my better half (Sly Puppy) took 2nd Place Ladys B-Western.

 

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

5 hours ago, Jackrabbit Joe #414 said:

San Juan range & the stages they were outstanding. Those were good times. Jumping on bed springs and walk on the bedspring bridge. Yeeeeh, Haa. I think also we had to jump on spring to mount the horse if I remember. Another Yeeeh Haa!

Again when the whole posse ran down the hill and shot the targets.

 

Who is this San Juan you speak of?  

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

12 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Who is this San Juan you speak of?  

AKA Paul Miller from Montrose, Colorado.  Who had the famous Widow Maker fantastic range back in the great days. still at it.

San Juan Range, Colorado State match check scores for 2022.   Colorado Cast Bullets

 Wild Bunch Champ shoot Jun 12, 2024.  State Cowboy match June 13, 2024, Revenge of San Juan City..

Info contact Kid Kodiak at (970) 417-6247

Hope this helps yah pard.  By the way this is Paul Miller aka San Juan.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Paul in his younger days.

 

[Sixgun Seamus]

Last work Day. After a safety meeting, the crew tore into the remaining projects. Prop trees were drawn out, cut out and painted. Props were painted. Target were changed to correct height stands. Boxes repaired and painted. Props were powerwashed. Everone stayed busy for the morning. All followed by a Captain Dan lunch.

[Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728]

Did you happen to see all the "gray" on the folks doing the work?  

God bless all the "seniors", 60+ in SASS.

If not for them, there might not be SASS.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

A few extra shots to add to those posted by Sixgun Seamus.  Today was the last officially scheduled work party before EOT.  Nice bright sunny day with a very mild breeze.   The work was broken down into two main groups.  One was doing some finish work on the props, building trees, dynamite plunger boxes, etc.

 

 

 

 

The second group was working on the targets to make sure the right shape, height and type of target will go to each bay during set-up.  Since I retired from the Board a couple of years ago I am no longer privy to the secret codes used to identy the targets.  They told me they could tell me but then they would have to kill me.  I will just wait until the match starts to see what the scenarios look like!

 

 

 

[Old Man Graybeard]

How come every time I see Kid Rich in a picture...he's just standing there doing nothing...and every time I see Shirt Tail Bess in one ...she's working?

[Hells Comin]

19 minutes ago, Old Man Graybeard said:

How come every time I see Kid Rich in a picture...he's just standing there doing nothing...and every time I see Shirt Tail Bess in one ...she's working?

He's in upper management,  just ask him. 

[Sixgun Seamus]

46 minutes ago, Old Man Graybeard said:

How come every time I see Kid Rich in a picture...he's just standing there doing nothing...and every time I see Shirt Tail Bess in one ...she's working?

And your point is?

[Rattlesnake Slim]

Thanks again for the pictures Larsen. Saturday's turnout was the largest yet this year, quite a way to go out with a "bang". Many of our volunteers and Rangers that follow along on the Wire have arrived and can't wait to get to work. We appreciate every one of them and could never pull this match off without their help. Their generosity and willingness to give back to our fellow Cowboy shooters will always amaze and humble me.

 

Setup starts Wednesday February 21st at 8:00. Anyone in the area, regardless of ability or experience is invited to take part. Our "family" always has room to grow. We have lots to do, and you are welcome to show up for a couple of hours or the whole five days.

 

By the way, once you get Kid Rich started on that boardwalk, you can't stop him. I bought him 900 screws this year and he wants more!

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

On 2/3/2024 at 6:39 AM, Jackrabbit Joe #414 said:

AKA Paul Miller from Montrose, Colorado.  Who had the famous Widow Maker fantastic range back in the great days. still at it.

San Juan Range, Colorado State match check scores for 2022.   Colorado Cast Bullets

 Wild Bunch Champ shoot Jun 12, 2024.  State Cowboy match June 13, 2024, Revenge of San Juan City..

Info contact Kid Kodiak at (970) 417-6247

Hope this helps yah pard.  By the way this is Paul Miller aka San Juan.

Hey Joe,  I was joking with you.  Known Paul for over 20 years.  (Met you about that long ago too, I believe we shot together at a Winter Range).  I attended SHOT shows for long years and often hung around the Freedom Arms booth.  One year I was there and there was a SASS National Championship bronze on table that friend Handsome Valentine had won with some "first" run" Model 97s.  This nice gentleman in coat/tie walks up to chat and says, "I have one of those".  I then met Paul Miller and we have been friends since.  Always enjoy seeing him and his wife at events.  Remember him in shoot out with English Andy in 2000 and also remember him sticking that motor home in RV parking at Ben Avery (2006 I think), I stuck my Freightliner ,mine in the road before trying to park.  Great guy.  

[Sarival Slim]

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

7 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Hey Joe,  I was joking with you.  Known Paul for over 20 years.  (Met you about that long ago too, I believe we shot together at a Winter Range).  I attended SHOT shows for long years and often hung around the Freedom Arms booth.  One year I was there and there was a SASS National Championship bronze on table that friend Handsome Valentine had won with some "first" run" Model 97s.  This nice gentleman in coat/tie walks up to chat and says, "I have one of those".  I then met Paul Miller and we have been friends since.  Always enjoy seeing him and his wife at events.  Remember him in shoot out with English Andy in 2000 and also remember him sticking that motor home in RV parking at Ben Avery (2006 I think), I stuck my Freightliner ,mine in the road before trying to park.  Great guy.  

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

15 hours ago, Jackrabbit Joe #414 said:

23 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Hey Joe,  I was joking with you.  Known Paul for over 20 years.  (Met you about that long ago too, I believe we shot together at a Winter Range).  I attended SHOT shows for long years and often hung around the Freedom Arms booth.  One year I was there and there was a SASS National Championship bronze on table that friend Handsome Valentine had won with some "first" run" Model 97s.  This nice gentleman in coat/tie walks up to chat and says, "I have one of those".  I then met Paul Miller and we have been friends since.  Always enjoy seeing him and his wife at events.  Remember him in shoot out with English Andy in 2000 and also remember him sticking that motor home in RV parking at Ben Avery (2006 I think), I stuck my Freightliner ,mine in the road before trying to park.  Great guy.  

Yep, they are great friends both of them. Hope to see them EOT. Try to meet up with yah Billy.. Shot there at his range 1997 and 2012. Have you fever shot at Cortez, Colorado? That was a pretty good shoot there. I think it was put on by Windy Gap regulators. Mid 1920's or earlier.

[Hells Comin]

1 hour ago, Sarival Slim said:

Looks pretty good considering all the Rain we've had lately. Is this photo before or After the rainfall we had today?

[Sarival Slim]

Before, about 10am. Town starts to go up on Monday. 

[Sarival Slim]

Aldo Carnage wins the first place Dry Camper to Arrive award. 
 

Main tent is going up…

 

[Rattlesnake Slim]

 

Well, they got this far today. More to come every day. Setup for the match starts 2/21 at 8:00am, stop by if you are in the area.

 

 

[Sarival Slim]

Two weeks from tonight is Side Match awards and the World Championship of Bingo in this tent.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

The Arizona Cowboy Shooter's Association (ACSA) shoots its monthly shoots at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.  Yesterday they had a warm-up match and today and tomorrow is the club's annual pre-EOT match .  Ben Avery is a very active range and just to the west of the CAS match a silhouette match was going on and just to the east a benchrest match and a high-power match on the 1,000 yard range.  (All of these ranges are used for EOT.)  The main tent and vendor tents were also still being worked on so it got to be quite crowded for this weekend's CAS match.

 

 

 

 

Some people were getting a jump on the EOT swap meet with several tables full of goodies.

 

 

The weather is sunny and 75 and the crowd is having a good time on the stages.

 

 

 

Cowtown (located about ten miles west of Ben Avery) is having Fire and Ice this coming weekend and as soon as the shooting is over pretty much everyone heads over to Ben Avery to pick up their shooter packets as EOT registration opens on Sunday, February 25.