Dispatch from the Montana Frontier

[T-Square]

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat! What a shoot with the Gallatin Valley Regulators!

This Georgia Frontiersman finally made his first Cowboy Action Shooting match in the great state of Montana, and I couldn't have found a finer posse to ride with. If first impressions count, the Gallatin Valley Regulators have set the gold standard.

The match was held at the Manhattan Wildlife Association Logan Shooting Range near Three Forks, nestled just north of the Gallatin River and surrounded by mountains that seem to scrape the sky. The sweeping valleys, rugged hills, and endless Big Sky make you feel like you've wandered onto the set of an old Western—except this one comes with real cowboys and better scenery.

I arrived early to help with setup and was immediately welcomed by Montana itself. As the sun peeked over the hills, a young moose calf strolled by from the nearby river valley as if checking to see whether the stages were ready. You don't get that kind of range officer back in Georgia.

The morning started chilly at 50 degrees, while my friends in Atlanta were roasting in 93-degree heat. But before long the clouds drifted away, the sun came out, and Mother Nature delivered a perfect Montana shooting day with cool breezes and crystal-clear mountain air.

The stages were recreations from the Washington State Championship, and let me tell you, the steel wasn't hanging around waiting to be hit. Those targets were parked so far out yonder they practically needed passports. Every shooter had to slow down, find a proper sight picture, and earn every satisfying ring of steel. As for me, I was in fierce contention for the coveted and entirely unofficial "Most Misses" buckle—but every miss came with a grin and a laugh from the posse.

One of the coolest features of the match was the club's portable Old West storefronts. Hauled into place by forklift, complete with boardwalks and shooting windows, they transformed a simple bay into a frontier town worthy of any dime novel. After every two stages the targets were reset, creating a fresh challenge and keeping the action moving all morning long.

The Gallatin Valley Regulators aren't just putting on matches—they're preserving the spirit of the Old West with hard work, creativity, and unmatched hospitality. If you enjoy good people, good-natured competition, and enough black powder smoke to hide a herd of buffalo, you owe it to yourself to make the trip.

Their monthly matches are held on the second Saturday of each month, and this cowboy can promise one thing: you'll leave with new friends, great stories, and probably a few misses to laugh about around the campfire.

So polish your irons, dust off your boots, load up the wagon, and point your compass toward Three Forks. Under Montana's Big Sky, the Gallatin Valley Regulators are proving that the frontier is alive and well—and this smoke-loving Frontiersman will most certainly be back for another ride.

Until then, keep your powder dry and your sights steady!