Scout’s Cowboy Action Shooting Travels

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

Good seeing you back in Texas Scout.  10horns a great place to shoot.  Hope to see you next weekend at Red River Valley Cowpokes (Albany, OK)

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

10 minutes ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Good seeing you back in Texas Scout.  10horns a great place to shoot.  Hope to see you next weekend at Red River Valley Cowpokes (Albany, OK)

Thanks Billy it was great seeing you again, been a while.  Next weekend I will be at the Wanenmacher's Big Tulsa Oklahoma Gun Show helping a friend with his exhibitor table.

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

14 minutes ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

Thanks Billy it was great seeing you again, been a while.  Next weekend I will be at the Wanenmacher's Big Tulsa Oklahoma Gun Show helping a friend with his exhibitor table.

Sounds like fun too.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

OK for those that have never been to the Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show here is some info on it and some photos from this past weekend.  The show has been held for 65 years, currently on one weekend in April and and one in November.  It is at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in the Expo Square building which is one split level building 11 acres in size with 4,200 plus exhibitor tables.

 

Exhibitor Badge

Main entry facing 21st Street that is oriented East/West

Held at the Expo Square building

You can not miss the building as this guy is outside near the main entry

Our table is on the upper level in the center near the main entry.  This is looking West from our table

Looking East from our table

There are multiple food vendors on the North and South walls of the upper level - no photo

 

This photo is from the East end of the upper level looking East at the lower level, there are stairs and ramps on the North and South connecting the two levels and one elevator on the North side.

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[watab kid]

a few from here were there , expect to catch up with them on what they bought/sold next week , maybe one day soon ill get to do this , 

Edited May 7 by watab kid

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

 

Well when I edited a photo from when I started this thread I realized that I did not post any photos of the six clubs in new states I did in 2024.  So to be fare and show them like I did for the clubs in 2025 here are those clubs before I start my travels for 2026.

 

First is Smokin' Guns at Rabbit Ridge hosted by The Mississippi River Rangers.

 

 

Edited January 18 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Next is Reckoning On the rock hosted by the Rock River Regulators in Beloit.

The lower stages are not as green as the upper stages

About the middle of the range

Behind the fireing line

The clubhouse

Upper RV parking

Eating prior to awards

 

[Eyesa Horg]

Pretty neat all the clubs that have permanent stage setups!

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Next is The Branson Classic hosted by The Butterfield Trail Cowboys.

Clubhouse above parking 

The range

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Next is Range War hosted by The Wolverine Rangers

I did post some photos of the painted figures but here are some of the stages on the range.

Awards banquet in town after the match

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Next is The Great Maine Gun Fight hosted by The Maine Marshals

Clubhouse

RV parking

Long range side match

Unfortunately no photos of awards meal at range

 

 

[Eyesa Horg]

It was my pleasure to meet you there Scout. Neat to see our rig in the second RV photo as well!

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Last is Heluva Rukus hosted by Circle K Regulators

Pavillion used for meals and awards

Vendors

Stages

A .22 side match shooting gallery

Awards at the pavillion after the match

 

That concludes my catchup photos from 2004 matches in the six new states I added that year.  I'm traveling in state next weekend to shoot a muti day match in Magnolia Texas, photos to follow.  My next out of state travel will be in April and that match will be in Price Utah at a monthly match there.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Well I traveled within Texas the end of January and shot an Annual Match "Last Stand at Thunder River" hosted by the Thunder River Renegades located near Magnolia Texas.   Had a GREAT Time!

 

The match was originally scheduled for January 23-25 but was postponed one week due to the cold weather and ice that hit Texas.  That was a good thing because I was iced in for a week and would not have been able to attend if it had not been postponed.  In the end they had 29 who dropped out because of either the change in dates or the cold weather we had during the match, but there were also some who joined because of the date change.  There were 68 who completed the 10 stage match (6 Saturday and 4 Sunday) and 4 that dropped out after only shooting Saturday.  Friday was overcast and chilly, Saturday started overcast but the sun finally came out, it was cold and the wind was blowing.  Sunday it was 24 degrees in the morning but no wind and it warmed up during the day and the sun was out the whole day.

 

The club access is from HW 1774 and is marked with a sign and flags at the intersection where you turn onto Oakwood Drive which is a wide dirt road.

At the end of Oakwood Drive there is a low water creek to cross.  Friday and Saturday the water was running but Sunday morning on the way in when I took this photo it was still.

After crossing the creek, the dirt road winds past some homes and a bodies of water and a sand pit.  Follow the TRR signs and eventually you get to the Club sign with the range in sight just down the road.

These are some photos from Friday during the side matches. 

Range looking North

Permanent restroom facilities (water pipes frozen and out of order on Sunday) porta potties at each end of the range.

Range looking South

Gathering Tent next to the permanent pavillion

Tell vending primers

This cowboy had a great Indian Wars military uniform he wore all three days and won the Military Costume award given out on Sunday.

Here are stages 1 - 9 (They only have 9 bays but shot A & B stages on Stage 6 to get their 10 stages)

Stage 1 (there were shooting a side match to the left of stage 1)

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6A & 6B

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

This is the Posse I shot with

These are some photos from Sunday after the match during lunch - far table is raffle items and near table is desserts

Saturday lunch was sandwiches and chips and Sunday was a catered Mexican Food lunch.  Both also had lots of desserts and both meals were Great!

Under the tent - the heaters were nice when it was cold.  Sunday it was 24 at the start of the match (they also had a fire pit going outside in the mornings)

Group photo of the Women who shot the match

The only Classics who shot the match (Me and Hot Tamale)

My friends Texas Mac and Texas Flower who  I have not seen in a long time

Two others I have not seen in a long time were Skinny and Doc O'Bay.  Skinny took this one of me and Doc and like a dummy I failed to get Doc to swap places and take one of me and Skinny (tired and not thinking, Oh Well)

I won my category as the only Classic Cowboy and got this Gold Badge (needed at least two to get a belt buckle), finished 22nd out of 68 who completed the match and was one of 9 who shot a Clean Match. 

I also was awarded the Working Cowboy Costume Award - the costume awards were based on what was worn on Saturday.  Best Dressed Man and Woman, Working Cowboy and Cowgirl, Best Military and there were two special awards for a man and woman who dressed depicting characters from the movie Blazing Saddles (the match theme)

There were seven who shoot with us locally who went down and shot the match.

Gummy Bear was awarded the Spirit of the Game (He is a fairly new shooter to Cowboy Action and real name is Candy)

Slowaz Molasses won Senior Champion and was actually second overall just 2.33 seconds behind the overall Champion Buckshot Sully

Wild Wendy won Women's Champion and finished 7th overall

 

Photos posted in a Youtube video that I copied from their Facebook page

 

That concludes the writeup of my trip to the Thunder River Renegades.  My next out of state trip will be the end of April when I will shoot a monthly match with the Castle Gate Posse in Price UT.  Then after being back home for only one day I head to shoot the Delaware State Championship "Sussex County Shootout" hosted by Paden's Posse in Bridgeville DE.

 

 

Edited February 25 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

OK I have started my out of state travels for the year.  Just got back home last night Monday April 27th.  This trip was 14 days and I drove 2,735 miles and traveled through 6 states. 

 

Started with the spring meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors in Santa Fe New Mexico where I spent 4 days and besides the meeting got to tour a Private Museum and The New Mexico History Museum.  Then toured the Ancient Ruins at Aztec New Mexico.  Then spent two days in Durango Colorado where I rode the Narrow Gage Railroad, toured the Railroad Museum, walked main street, and toured the Animus Museum on local history.  Next toured the River Museum in Green River Utah and toured the Prehistoric Museum in Price Utah. 

 

Then finally shot a monthly match with the Castle Gate Posse at their Cowboy Town within the North Springs Shooting Range Complex just outside Price Utah.  This was State number 40 in my Cowboy Travels. 

 

Don't have time to post more details and photos as I leave again tomorrow morning for my next trip to shoot the Delaware State Championship "Sussex County Shootout" which is next weekend and will be State number 41.  Last night and today I am catching up on things: paying bills, washing clothes, polishing brass, downloading photos, and packing for my next trip.  Maybe mowing the back yard which thankfully I did before this last trip or it would be really high.

Edited April 29 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Jet]

You're doing what I plan to do after I retire this year.  Safe travels, have fun and look forward to seeing you out there one day.    

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

Scout,

 

I was great seeing you at the Delaware State Shoot and I really enjoyed talking with you at the Banquet on Saturday night and hearing about your upcoming travel plans.  Holli and I probably won't cross paths with you for the rest of this year as you will be traveling outside of our normal stomping grounds, but I will continue to live vicariously through your blog here in the wire!

 

Safe Travels Pard, until we meet again!

 

Dogmeat & Holli

[watab kid]

i very much enjoy seeing your travels present and past , was glad to get to shoot with you in enderlin and enjoy the ND/SD state shoot on the same posse - we didnt have to design anything as it was all laid out , a good thing in  retired architects life me thinks , 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Just got back home last night Thrsday May 7th.  This trip was 9 days and I drove 3,339 miles and traveled through 8 states. 

 

Started with the Delaware State Championship which was state number 41 overall in my Cowboy Travels.

 

Then went to Valley Forge National Historic Park in PA where General George Washington encamped the Continental Army from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778.  Saw the introductory video, toured the visitor center and museum, then did the audio driving tour.

 

Final stop before heading home was Lexington VA were I toured the Virginia Military Institute Museum and did a campus tour lead by a VMI Cadet. Then after lunch toured The Jackson House Museum home of "Stonewall" Jackson and his wife, he was an instructor at VMI prior to the Civil War.

 

Last night and today I am catching up on things: paying bills, washing clothes, polishing brass, downloading photos, and next week will be loading more ammo. Did not get the backyard mowed before I left so that will also be on my list for next week, as well as starting to post photos and details of these last two trips. 

 

Have singed up to shoot the TSRA (Texas State Rifle Association) Cowboy Action State Championship to be held at Old Fort Parker near Groesbeck TX next weekend and then the following weekend the annual match Battle of Plum Creek near Lockhart TX.  So I will be teaveling within the state some this month.

Edited May 8 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Can you have a goat in the backyard in your neighborhood? 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

OK I got back from my in state travels last Monday and I think all my photos are down loaded and I am finally ready to start posting about my travels in 2026.  

 

As stated before I spent 4 days in Santa Fe NM at the spring meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors (ASAC).  Our first full day is always touring interesting places near by where our meeting is located.  We split into two groups and the group I was in took two small busses in the morning to a private museum in Glorieta NM. 

 

For you history buffs here is some info related to the Civil War: The Battle of Glorieta Pass was fought March 26–28, 1862, in the northern New Mexico Territory, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. While not the largest battle of the New Mexico campaign, the Battle of Glorieta Pass ended the Confederacy's efforts to capture the territory and other parts of the western United States. 

 

I took a lot of photos but will only post those that have no people in them.

It is in an old school building.

Lots of firearms and other items from the Southwest area.

 

 

The largest powder horn I have ever seen!!

Some non firearms in this room

 

 

In another building

 

Edited May 28 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

We stayed in the La Fonda Hotel across the street from the main plaza.

The Plaza

Around the plaza

Palace of the Governers - local artist set up under the porch selling their wares

 

All meals I did not eat in the hotel as part of the meeting were at a local place across the street from the square and everthing was wonderful.  So after getting back from the private museum and eating lunch I walked across the square and toured the New Mexico History Museum.  The group that did the History Museum in the morning took busses to the private museum for an afternoon tour.

 

Courtyard between the Museum and the Palace of the Governors

 

OK I am stopping for dinner and realized as I was posting this that there are a lot of photos from the museum not downloaded so I have to go back to my phone and download them and come back to add them into the museum photos.

 

 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

WELL those missing photos are NOT on my phone so I have no idea what happened to them.   The following photos were taken from the hotel balcony during the meeting.

The main dining room on the first floor.  I never ate there.

One of the meals I ate at the local place across from the plaza

 

My display at the meeting

One medallion for my individual display and one medallion because I contributed one rifle to a group display (one person set up the main display and 3 of use added a rifle each to his display) 

 

EDIT: Just found out today (6/22/2026) that I was only supposed to get one since I had an individual display.  The second one goes to one of the other guys who did not have an individual display.  Will give it to him at our fall meeting.

Edited June 22 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

very interesting read.  Congratulations!

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

And Santa Fe is one of my favorite places.  Another thing that made EOT at Edgewood special.

I have been there many times.  Besides times when at EOT but staying there before heading to elk hunting camp off Hwy 64 near Hopewell Lake.

One of those pics made me think of Tortilla Flats, a favorite restaurant.

I will be headed to The Shootist Holiday near Raton, and also off 64, in couple weeks. 

[Griff]

15 minutes ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

I will be headed to The Shootist Holiday near Raton, and also off 64, in couple weeks. 

Say Hi to Scott T for me.  I met a couple of others in 2008 at a shoot in Hotchkiss, CO.  

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

11 hours ago, Griff said:

Say Hi to Scott T for me.  I met a couple of others in 2008 at a shoot in Hotchkiss, CO.  

And maybe you met the Hotchkiss gals.

Not sure Scott T is still with us.  There have been so many Shootist passed on since my absence.  I have not been back since 2007 when there was a memorial for my late wife Joyce aka Miss Ann.  I am excited however to see my ol'friend Jim W (Sheriff) who originally invited me in '99.

Great memories as those Scout has created.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

After leaving Santa Fe I went north to Aztec NM where I toured the Ancient Ruins which are not actually Aztec BUT since that what someone called it years ago that is what they are named now.  Started in the visitor center with the short video, then walked the ruins (used an audio walking tour they had) and then went back inside to look at the small museum and artifacts.

 

View to the adjacent picnic area

Visitor Center

The Great Kiva has been reconstructed

Inside the Kiva

Detail of how the columns were constructed

Now walking through the Ruins

Looking back at the Kiva

Some doorway were blocked with plexiglass to prevent entry but allow viewing

Looking back at the visitor center

Hubbard Tri-Wall site as noted earlier it was backfilled for preservation

Path back to main site

Steps up to #18 on the tour

View back to visitor center

Looking down on Kiva

 

Now back inside the vistor center

 

Timeline

 

Heritage

 

Artifacts

 

Construction

 

 

 

Edited May 29 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

 

 

The next morning I went north to Durango CO for two days and started with a train ride that morning on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.  They were still on the Winter scedule so the trip only went half way to Silverton stopping at Cascade.  I purchased my tickets online back in December

Prior to time to board and start got a couple videos of the engine moving into place to hook up to the cars.  I have a lot of videos so let's see if these first one post.  Hope so!

The gift shop

One car is open and the rest are enclosed

The yellow cars have rows of seats

The red cars have tables with chairs

I got tickets for one of the red cars

This was our staff member who worked this car

Headed out on the ride

Passing a rail yard

Coming up an the river below

           

   

Waterfall

 

 

Now we reached Cascade and stopped for a break and lunch.  So before more photos at the stop here is a map I got showing the route and info about the numbers on the map.

 

This is where I ate my box lunch that was purchased as part of my trip.

After lunch walked around

Switchman at the Y switch

Shelter that nobody used because the weather was wonderful

   

End of the line

   

View from the pedestrian bridge

Railroad bridge down stream on route to Silverton

Now back on the train headed back

 

 

   

 

 

Passing the tain yard at Rockwood again.  This is also a stop where hickers can get off and board.

 

OK stopping my post for lunch and a trip to Dallas.  Will pick back up later with a visit to the Railroad Museum next to the station in Durango.

 

 

Edited May 29 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

Awesome. So beautiful and historic.

I hunted Mountain Lion in the area between Ignacio and Aztec .  Searched many a mile in that country for lion tracks.

Spent fair amount of time around Chama also.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

All right back from Dallas.  Recieved a nice tote bag and drinking tumbler as part of the trip.

After getting back to the station I went over to the museum walking past some old cars that I am not sure what they use them for. 

 

The museum is in this building next to the round house

 

 

 

 

Very Large model train layout

 

This Movie display was in a caboose. They also had a large screen playing portions of old movies with trains in them. 

 

 

 

After a long day went and checked into the motel, had a nap and then a good dinner.

Edited May 29 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

So the next day I had booked an Historic Walking Tour of downtown Durango and was supposed to meet the tour in front of the Train Station where I had been the day before, by the figures of the horses.

So walking down main street to this location I took a photo of this cowboy figure in front of one of the stores.

While waiting on a bench near the front of the train station I got this photo of the Galloping Goose as it passed.

Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 Excursions - Official Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train

 

So after waiting for almost 45 minutes past when we were all supposed to meet I called and texted the person listed as the tour guide.  She got back with me and was VERY Apologetic that she had missed my booking and that no body else had booked for this day and that she was just now on he way back into town.  I had booked this tour back in December and the writeup had stated there was a minimum number needed for the tour or it would be canceled.  However I got no notice of a cancelation and in fact had recieved an email confirmation of the tour the night before.  Seems it must have been an automated email that she was not monitoring.  She did offer to do the tour the next day but I already had plans to leave the next day.  So she contacted a couple other tour guides to see if any of them could accomodate me that day, but to no avail.  She was very curtious in our conversations and did refund my tour fees that had been charged back in December. 

 

I already had planned to visit a local Museum that day after eating lunch at a small local resturant near where I had parked my car.  So I did my own walking tour down main street and took the following photos of some of the old buildings that are still present.  This is a map of downtown on a sign next to the street right in front of the horse figures.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 30 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

So after a nice lunch went back to the motel to rest a little and took a nap.  Then went to the Animus Museum run by the local historic society.

 

So I started on the main floor in the room set up as an old school classroom.

 

Next room was set up with infomation about the history of Spanish influence and the Old Spanish Trail.  This all tied into the displays and info in the New Mexico History Museum I toured in Santa Fe.

 

Now this was a pretty cool display of a tree ring from a VERY OLD tree.

 

The other rooms on the main level were the administration offices.  So now up to the second floor for more local history.  Strating with a photo looking down the stairs to the landing. 

 

Remember the photo I posted of the Galloping Goose earlier.

 

So now down to the basement level and the displays there.

 

So now back outside to the two adjacent structures.

View back to the main musum from the other structures.

The Joy Cabin

 

The Peterson House

 

OK that concludes my tours in Durango.  On to Utah next.

 

Edited May 30 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

The next morning I drove to Price Utah, checked into my motel where I would be staying until Sunday morning after shooting a Cowboy match on Saturday.  Long drive and it was very windy when I arrived so rested the rest of the day and had nice dinner at a local restaurant that evening.  The next day drove back down to Green River Utah to tour the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. 

After paying my entry fee at the gift shop which is just inside the front door, I started with a great video on the history of Powell's expedtion down the river.

 

Then went back to the front to tour the rest of the museum.  There is a large display showing the river and it's diversity.

 

Tracks on the Land - lighted display when you push the buttons

 

Next section is about early explorers in the area. 

This anatomic figure moved back and forth and told stories when you pushed the various buttons

 

The center section is about John Wesley Powell as a person and his two expeditions down the river.

This is in the center of the display about Powell.

 

Another section about more exporers of the river and geology.

 

A model showing the surrounding area with names of the geologic formations.

 

Display about Bert Loper and a replica of his boat

 

Replica of Powell's Emma Dean

 

A separate room on the main level has a display of photos

Ther was an area set up with chairs and a screen that was supposed to show a documentary of the new photograph expedition BUT unfortunatley that video was not working, and not being shown in the auditorium. 

 

Now down to the lower where they have some boats in one room and prehistoric items in the other room which also functions as a meeting room.

 

 

 

Now back outside to the display area under roof near the entry which is availalbe to view when the museum is not open.

 

Area around the building

Several shelters in a grassy area

Figure of Powell

Large parking lot on the side of the building

Views over back fence

Passed this building on my way out of Green River headed back to Price.  Stopped for lunch before leaving town.

 

After a late lunch went back to Price and rested the rest of the day.  

 

What to thank @Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 for telling me about both The Aztec Ruins and the River Museum late last year as I was planning this trip. 

 

Edited May 30 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Alright I am now up to Friday morning in Price Utah and that day I toured the Prehistoric Museum in town.  It is affiliated with Utah State Universitry Eastern.  Started at the North entrance.

Paid my entry fee at the small gift shop just inside the door.

This is the greeter in the center of the building.

Turning to the right is the geology and paleontology sections starting on the first floor.

The Dinosaur Pit in the center of the room

 

Displays around the outer walls

The Paleontology Lab opposite the entry

 

Now to the second floor and looking down into the pit

Displays along the walls

 

Now to the other side of the building on the first floor and into the Archaeology section

 

 

 

 

Now back up to the upper level

 

Pottery

 

Basketry

 

The Museum Founding Director 

 

The center section on the upper level is Art

 

Right before I was ready to leave two groups of school kids came in and museum docents were working with them.  One group on each side of the museum.

Their busses in the parking lot

Directory type sign in the parking lot about things in the general area which is known as "The Carbon Corridor"

 

After the museum went and ate lunch and back to the motel for some rest.  Will go out to find the shooing complex later in the afternoon.

Edited May 31 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L