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In this issue...

“Passing it forward” to a worthy cause"
Canadian Pony Club Tetrathlon “mini meet” at Range Burlington
The Fine Art of Italian Firearms Exhibition…
The Lady least likely to shoot!
Run N’ Gun... Fun Time for a Feathered Cause
Fredericton Woods and Water Show
Rocky Bunkhouse Bidness
Cowboy World Records
Economic Action Canada, Good news story!
Just For Laughs

Welcome to the May/June ON TARGET the CFI-ICAF electronic newsletter.

“Passing it forward” to a worthy cause"

Our Chair, Terry Burns is adamant about what he calls “paying it forward” and Amos from New Brunswick - our latest draw winner has done just that. After receiving his MarkII – he went to visit Ralph & Nancy Hanscome, presented them with his prize and asked that they use it to raise funds at their next annual Martin Streef Memorial Shoot.

The 9th annual Perth-Andover Rotary Martin Streef Memorial Shoot is all set to go for the weekend of August 6th, 7th and 8th at Hanscome Outdoor Adventures near Perth, New Brunswick.

A group of hunters lost a friend Martin J. Streef to cancer. To honour Martin‘s memory and in support of his love for the outdoors and his enthusiasm for the sport of hunting, a Memorial Fund was established.

Ralph Hanscome, from Hanscome Outdoor Adventures Ltd. explains. “The funds raised at this event go toward the Streef Memorial Fund that provides funding and mentoring for young people coming in to the firearms sports. The fund offers an opportunity for young hunting enthusiasts, those who might not otherwise have the chance, to experience the full upland game adventure.”

He continued, “The adventure will include transportation to and from Hanscome Outdoor Adventures' Limestone Lodge located in Perth Andover, NB., meals, accommodation, guides, dogs, safety instruction, guns and ammunition. All a successful candidate has to do is pack some clothes and get ready for a world class hunting experience.”

We can’t wait to attend the shoot again this year & look forward to seeing old friends and having the opportunity to meet new ones. $20 of every CFI membership sold at the event and on our web site - August 6th, 7th, & 8th will be donated to the fund. So if you want to support this event and the CFI – don’t forget to buy your membership on that weekend.

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Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

Canadian Pony Club Tetrathlon “mini meet” at Range Burlington

The Canadian Pony Club is an organization run by volunteers for young people up to 25 years of age who are interested in riding, learning about, and/or caring for horses or ponies. We have about 3000 members in about 180 Branches from coast to coast in Canada. World wide, the Pony Club is in at least 20 other countries with over 100,000 members!

One of the activities its members participate in is the Tetrathlon. Tetrathlon is one sport shy of the Olympic sport Pentathlon and great commitment is needed from these athletes to prepare for such varied events.

Tetrathlon is a very demanding competition with four parts: swimming, running, riding, and shooting. Tetrathlon encourages, promotes and develops a Pony Club member's interest in horses and horsemanship by combining riding with other athletic activities.

Tetrathlon is based on the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon which has been included in the Olympics since 1912. The Modern Pentathlon was based on the King's Messengers who set off across the country on horseback until met by the enemy when they had to fight their way through with a sword to finally escape and deliver their message on foot, swimming across a river on the way. The sport has been used by the military colleges of many countries to develop the character of their young officers.

The Mount Nemo’s mini meet is one of our branch's main fund raising events for the year. The use of the facility and the volunteers at Range Burlington are instrumental in helping to make this a successful event.

This year’s mini meet was a resounding success. 33 members from various clubs throughout Western Ontario participated. The day started at the Burlington Rifle and Revolver Club with the lines running smoothly and I believe we finished this portion in record time. The weather also cooperated as we were off to our gorgeous run location at LaSalle park by Lake Ontario. Our day ended at Aldershot pool with awards and snacks to follow. Mount Nemo faired quite well with 8 members participating and all in the ribbons.

Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers in helping run this event - Denise Trigatti Mount Nemo Pony Club - www.mountnemoponyclub.com

Watching those young shooters was an experience. I would strongly urge all clubs to offer their facilities and assist in the training of these young athletes. They and others like them will shape the future of our sporting community. You can locate a Pony Club near you by visiting their website – http://www.canadianponyclub.org/ or by contacting their administration by e-mail at ponyclub@escape.ca. Get Involved…Our future as a community is in your hands. Thanks Pyper

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The Fine Art of Italian Firearms Exhibition…

“For more than five hundred years, renowned craftsmen and gun makers have been creating the world’s finest sporting arms in Brescia’s mountainous regione lombardia of

Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

northern Italy. State-of-the-art technology melded with traditional hand craftsmanship contribute to Italy’s enviable reputation of being one of the most desired shotgun creators in the world.

To the impassioned hunting and sporting arms community, our shotguns are synonymous with fine engraving, spectacular woodwork and precision metal-to-wood fit”, noted Mr. Citterio.

Fiera di Brescia, host of EXA International, The Italian Fine Gun exhibit has been offering this exclusive event. For the first time ever, they are availing an international sampling of their show for Canadians to experience this June 12th and 13th at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. Canadian television host Thomas Pigeon of Canada’s most watched hunting adventure documentary series "Canada In The Rough" and his production company Dancing Buffalo Productions have been requested by EXA to appear and assist in promoting this special event. Having recently returned from EXA 2010 in northern Italy, Mr. Pigeon is quoted as saying, "Italian gun making is truly an art form. I have never, ever seen such an amazing array of superbly engineered, stunningly brilliant yet highly functional sporting arms in my life."

From the large respected brands that are well known to Canadians to the smaller boutique artisans, this collection of gun makers and their prized works are coming this June to EXA International in Toronto. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Canadian hunting and sport shooting community to interact person-to-person with these visionary artisans. You are cordially invited to participate, compliments of Fiera di Brescia, The Lombardy region of Italy and the Camera di Commercio of Brescia (Brescia Chamber of Commerce).

For more information or to receive your complimentary E-Pass to the event, visit: http://www.exacanada.com/e-ticket.php

Or Contact: Ugo Pennachietti – 905-829-5503.

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The Lady least likely to shoot!

Hi! My name is Debbie Davey alias Honey Gun and I have been involved in IPSC shooting for almost 2 years now. Prior to that time, I probably would have been voted the girl most unlikely to shoot a gun, never mind a hand gun! My interests include playing the piano, singing, scrapbooking, leading Bible studies, cooking, gardening and walking. I love being a Mom and family gatherings!

Shooting any type of gun was never on my bucket list! Two years ago after returning from 4 years away in Dubai with my pilot husband, I decided not to return to work in diet counseling and eyology and had some extra time on my hands. My husband and I were looking for something active that we could do together now that we were empty nesters-something we would both enjoy and that could be done inside or out. He had taken up IPSC shooting a few years before we left for Dubai but I didn’t think it suited me then-too dangerous and competitive! That changed when I tried shooting at a target

Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

one day when he took me along with his mother and sister to the range just to check it out! I never thought I had much hand eye coordination...I can’t golf or bowl for my life but my aim at the target wasn’t too bad for a first timer!! I got the bug! I wanted to go back and try it again! My excitement mounted as I realized that I could safely shoot a hand gun and make a decent hit!

Since my husband was already shooting in IPSC, I started going out with him and it wasn’t long before I wanted to holster up and shoot with the guys! I registered for the PAL course and then starting practicing to take the Black Badge course needed for IPSC shooting- the learning curve was HUGE! I had never handled a firearm before and knew nothing about them except that they could kill animals and people. What I learned is that safety is paramount in handling any firearm and that even more emphasis is placed on it when handling a hand gun, especially when taking the Black Badge course and while on the range. My fear of guns evaporated as I learned more about them and how to handle them properly. As I went to more and more matches, I met more and more people, both men and women from all walks of life who loved the sport-whether they shot hand guns or long guns or both!

The excitement and challenge of a match is empowering to me-I’m a middle aged woman with arthritic hands and I can do this sport and have such a good time that I always leave the range feeling better than when I came! Why didn’t I learn about this sport when I was younger and faster?! There is an adrenaline rush that happens every time you hear the ‘start’ beep and go through a set course of fire, somewhat like a runner in a marathon who sets off with the sound of the start gun and ends up exhausted but exhilarated at the end of the course because he did it! This is a sport that can accommodate those who are competitive and those who are not and both can have a good time.

There is almost always someone on the range willing to give out some good advice to help you improve in the sport and to cheer you on –how encouraging is that and how often is it found in other sports?! I have learned so much about shooting with speed and accuracy and love to take on the challenge with every new practice and course of fire! I particularly love the days in the warmer weather when we can shoot outside-it’s a great way to enjoy some fresh air and get some exercise too! So now when you call me and I’m not home, you’ll find me on the range!

PS. Now that I am involved in this sport, I am concerned about the misrepresentation of those like us who legally own and handle firearms, lumping us together with criminals who get their guns illegally and use them irresponsibly. That’s like comparing apples to oranges and saying that they are the same! I encourage everyone who loves the sport to share why they love it and educate others about it emphasizing the safety measures that are taken and followed by every shooter. We are not the problem but we will lose the sport if we don’t stand up and fight for it!

Run N’ Gun... Fun Time for a Feathered Cause

Fun, Four Wheelers, Firearms, Fellowship and Fundraising is the main Focus (that’s a lot of F words) at the 2nd annual, NWTF Run N’ Gun event. The event is on Saturday Aug 22nd at the Bancroft Fish & Game Club 27602 Hwy 62 S Bancroft Ontario. Mark it on your calendar! It is hosted by the Timberline Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)

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Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

“Come early to enjoy ATV & Conservation displays, participate in raffles and a silent auction before hitting the Range for a Shotgun Still target shoot, and then hit the 120+ km Trail on your ATV for a great tour of North Hastings County’s country side”. Explained Chris Patty Regional Director National Wild Turkey Federation “You will have a chance to shoot at three shooting stations that will help build your score card and have a chance at some great prizes.”

All Firearms and ammunition will be supplied at all firing points with safety instructors present, so if you never fired a shotgun or Crossbow before, here is a great chance to introduce yourself to the fun of our Canadian Outdoor Heritage and Shooting Sports Traditions.

“The only complaint we had last year was not enough mud. We’ll make sure there will be challenging Mud bogs to get down and dirty!!!" Stated Chris.

The grand prize for the day is a NWTF Edition Winchester Super X3 12 GA Shotgun- or Cash prize if you do not have a P.A.L.

The CFI was able to attend last year’s event and we look forward to being there this August

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Fredericton Woods and Water Show

The CFI team had the opportunity to attend and enjoy the three day Fredericton Woods and Water show April 30th through to Sunday May 2nd 2010 hosted by the The Ruffed Grouse Society of Canada.

“Outdoor activities, including firearms, hunting and fishing are an integral part of life in Atlantic Canada. Because of demand from the public and exhibitors the show was revived after a number of year’s hiatus” stated John Lockerbie the organizer of the show. “We are looking forward to next year”

The weather was unseasonably hot and impacted on the expected attendance for the event. But those that attended were treated to a great show; there was something of interest for everyone. The exhibitors included everything to do with the outdoors from firearms and hunting equipment to wildlife art, recreational vehicles, boats, fishing gear, clubs and wildlife groups, tourism agencies, outfitters and camping gear.

What a great bunch of people and we always appreciate the New Brunswick hospitality. We enjoyed renewing acquaintances and making a number of new friends that share a passion for Canada’s Firearms Heritage.

Our draw winner took home the new Remington 887 shot gun. The shot gun was supplied by Ross Faulkner and the gang at The Gun Dealer.

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Rocky Bunkhouse Bidness

By Bad Penny - Printed by permission from the May, 2010 Cowboy Chronicle

The Alberta Frontier Shootists had it made in the shade. For 10 years they’d had an Old West town (Ft. Kusk) set up at a gun club solely dedicated to Cowboy Action Shooting on private land. It was in Kelsey, near Camrose, Alberta, right in the heart of horse and cattle country. They didn’t have to say: “Aye, yes, or no,” to a single soul but could go about their monthly matches from April to October (weather permitting) and take July

Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

off to perfect plans, prepare and put on their first-class, three-day Canadian Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting match on the first weekend in August without “let or hinderance” as the lawyer fellers say.Then, suddenly, the land was sold. They had to move - and fast.

They looked a little north to a club near Alberta’s capital city of Edmonton and at a meeting of the two boards of directors there was a unanimous vote to accept their new cowboy pards. But just as everyone was backing up the yoked oxen to hitch the trace chains to the prairie schooners for the trek north, the pony express clattered up, blowing foam and waving a letter.

“They’d reneged on the deal,” recalls President B. Slim. “We were stuck.” And he means axle deep. That was the bad news. The good news was there wasn’t a cowboy shooter in Alberta who wanted those fabulous 10 years at Ft. Kusk to just disappear into the mists of memory. One posse of those cowboys called The Rocky Mountain House Rod and Gun Club its home on the range. A small group had started CAS about five years prior to this time and called themselves the Rocky Mountain House Old West Shootists. They'd shot at Ft. Kusk and cared.

Muskeg is a northern peat bog that can swallow moose calves whole. About 3/4 of Rocky's range is muskeg. Pulling a gun cart through it can be a life-changing experience.

Rocky might be a small town (pop. 10,000) tucked into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and its CAS range might have been embryonic at the time, but you can’t get much more “Western” than Rocky. 200 miles south west of old Ft. Kusk it was once a fur trading centre, where the mountain men, Indians and Couriers du Bois came down out of the Rockies with their beaver pelts, howling like wolves and intent on partying. The town’s biggest park features a row of stone chimneys and fireplaces. All that’s left from the last time the Blackfoot burned the place to the ground in the early 1800s. Yes, the cowboys here still carry lever guns in their horse's rifle scabbards. No pistol calibers, though. This is grizzly country. The .444 Marlin was the artillery of choice last time I looked.

The executive of the Rocky range invited the Alberta Shootists to make a proposal that would be to the satisfaction and mutual benefit of both clubs. To that end B. Slim and pards went to Rocky to measure the area allotted for CAS and to plan what they could design there and what else they could do for the range apart from greatly increasing the membership. A deal was struck. And in Rocky they don't renege on deals - not since the Blackfoot drew the line.

It was now April. A three day Canadian Championship of CAS was due first weekend in August. What began then, B. Slim calls, "an ordeal." Fifty to 60 members and non-members stepped right up to beg, borrow and practically steal pick-up trucks, trailers, tractors and real big trailers for the trek. One of the things that had to be trekked was a saloon big enough to be the centerpiece in a three day match's awards banquet.

Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

The Alberta frontier Shootists invested $25,000 in all new props and targets. Grants were obtained from the Alberta, Sports, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Alberta Federation of Shooting Sports. Alberta has perhaps the most pro-gun government in North America. Casinos were run by more volunteers to raise additional funds. And the people and industries of the little town of Rocky Mountain House itself donated in goods, equipment and in cold, hard cash $30,000 worth of stuff. And the range wasn't the only thing improved. Truckload after truckload of gray shale was brought in to bring not only the range but the on-site club campground up to snuff. Pulling gun carts is now a piece of cake.

While all this was going on, they were working with the new owners on decommissioning Ft. Kusk. You don’t just walk away from a gun club. There’s something called “site remediation” which means sifting out 10 years worth of lead bullets shot happily into berm and back stop one 250 grain bullet at a time.

When asked for tributes to donors and such B. Slim just shakes his head and allows that there are just too many. Mustang Heart summed it up with her special thanks to those who "volunteered countless hours, equipment, money and 'sweat'. Because of you, we have what we have." What they have is simply one of the best CAS facilities I've seen in almost 20 years traveling North America to cowboy shoots. And they did it in two and a half months. Looking south you shoot down into a ravine as spectacular as Ohio's Guns of August. North and you shoot over a flat, sandy desert as dry and dusty as Arizona. "We had no idea we could do it," admits B. Slim. "We astounded ourselves."

Rest on their laurels? Not B. Slim. "We all need to remember that in our sport, change is the key to all the excitement we enjoy," he says. Work party, ho. And he wasn't kidding. I phoned a friend of mine in Rocky and was told: "If you haven't seen the range since 2008, you've no idea. They've improved it 100 per cent since then and you'll often see B. Slim out there banging away all on his own. He's amazing."

So saddle up and go there. But you'll have to respect that weather permitting thing. These are hardy folks. The school buses don't stop running until the mercury hits 40 below. There's outside recess even for JK until it hits 20 below. But the toddlers can come in and warm up every 5 minutes until it rises to a mere 15 below. After that they're on their own. So when they say the weather isn't permitting anything, it's a veto.

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Economic Action Canada, Good news story!

The federal government has announced a contribution of $57,000 from its Recreational Infrastructure program for upgrades at the Alcan Anderson Creek Shooting Club.

The Alcan Anderson Creek Shooting Club has been in existence for about 50 years and has gone through a number of transitions. It started off as an Alcan police range. Their range was on Alcan (now Rio Tinto Alcan) property. In 2008 they got the final word-that due to a rebuilding project they would lose the range. Despondence, depression, and dismay followed. Alcan generously offered to assist in the relocation.

“We reviewed our options for property and decided that the District of Kitimat municipal Fire Mountain Rifle Range would suit us just fine-if it was up graded. So we approached the district and eventually negotiated a partnership agreement” , explained Brian Kean President of the club.

Proud of our Heritage...Protecting our Future!

The existing range Fire Mountain Rifle Range was an old "skid trail" from logging days and dated back to about 1972. It was 200 meters long and about 20 meters wide with a covered firing line with two benches.

“Our range officer, Jason Vines, unearthed a funding source with the feds-the Recreational Infrastructure Canada plan-part of the Economic Action Canada. We applied and eventually were approved for 49% cost sharing. We were notified of our success on January 10 of this year. The only problem was that the vast majority of the funds had to be in the ground by 31 March of this year. This caused some very fast footwork to be done.’ Stated Brian Kean John Kennedy (club secretary) served as project manager. The improvements include a 400 meters long four lane Rifle range, a small bore and hand gun range and a new 60 by 15 foot steel firing line shelter on a concrete pad and concrete benches.

Target stands are at 25, 100, 200, 300 and 400. There are gongs at 200, 350 and 400.

To the left of the shelter an area for trap has been cleared and construction will soon be underway. The club has been working with the BC CFO since the inception of the project and the application for final range approval should be approved shortly.

One very important part of the progress has been the recognition of our firearms heritage and the community support. The mayor (HER worship), District manager, building inspector, RT ALCAN manager and local steel fabricator company (Stewart Bols) all understood, and are very sympathetic to the shooting sports.

Kitimat has a population of about 9,000, with 4,364 total households. Research done in order to complete the grant application indicated that over 1,000 of the citizens are licensed firearms owners. Those numbers are a powerful tool when selling a project like this. Congratulations to the community of Kitimat and the Alcan Anderson Creek Shooting Club, ......got to love those good news stories.

JustForLaughs

An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, the eternal pessimist who refused to be impressed with anything. This, surely, would impress him. He invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.

As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it.

The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"

"I sure did," responded the pessimist. "He can't swim."

Visit www.canadianfirearmsinsitute.ca for more of our Gunnie Giggles.