The Kruger Western Challenge...Big Sky!

      My 9000 mile tour was coming to an end...last stop the Kruger Challenge, Montana! Of all the Shooting Events I have attended on this tour I could not of prepared myself for what I was about to see..."where the deer and the antelope roam.." is an understatement my friends. This is truly a hidden paradise.

     After leaving Bismark N. Dakota the mountain peeks seem to begin growing out of the hood of your car rising up into your windshield until eventually everything that you see is looking DOWN on you..... an uncomfortable feeling creeps around your neck hairs as if someone is watching your entrance through a secretly guarded territory. Your eyes are drawn to movement among the rocks and the tall pines but there is none...just a breeze or perhaps a ghostly image moving too quickly to identify. You have arrived...

     By the time you reach Boseman you have become totally surrounded, perhaps captivated is a better word.... no matter what you have read about it or heard....nothing..nothing has the impact of being among these mountains, valleys and rivers. Shooters this may be officially called by the State of Montana---> "Big Sky Country" but it could easily be called Gods Country because I am sure he comes here to hid out and rest peacefully in these soft rolling pastures between the peeks.

      Now having said that let me remind you southerners planning to sell your air conditioners and rush up here....that white stuff falling from the sky is not confetti from Friday nights high school football game. The temperatures can drop rapidly. Green Acres suddenly can turn to Snow White.

     But hey you don't have to be here when that happens.... I am convinced the LOCALS throw some kind of a switch when toooo many southerners are in town---->the sky clouds over, Temperature drops, snow begins to fall....I caught several of these "locals" laughing about it near a terrific steak restaurant in Livingston called the "Rib & Chop" so..it's true!

      Early one morning I entered the interstate expecting the usual morning traffic.... you could have fired a cannon in either direction and not hit anyone....and it's August!  So where is everyone??? Did someone know something I didn't...was there some kind of weather warning I missed?? Nope, just not enough people living here to have traffic problems. It was eerie. I was just not use to being alone on a freeway. Remember I have driven from Kalifornia to Rhode Island passing TWICE threw New York to get here....it took me a few minutes to relax and enjoy the drive to the range.The sun was just climbing out over a ridge of tall pines...my favorite time of day. I sat back and began noticing animals along the route, buffalo, deer and antelope ....now I remembered why people move here. If it were not for my commitment to help Jon Kruger with some radio coverage I may not of made it to the shoot. The temptation to turn into Yellowstone was powerful. I had to pinch myself. Returning to the map I pinpointed my final destination. Suddenly I spotted another early riser.... do you think he misunderstood his doctors advice when he was told to go buy a bike and loose some weight?

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     This is a magnificent part of our country. The people are warm and friendly, example---> A stone impacted the windshield on my Freightliner, not an easy windshield to replace in any town, but ANDY'S GLASS....Andy himself, stayed past 6pm to replace it....plus gave me a significant discount. " I'm not all about money..." he said as he popped the glass out and replaced it with a new one. His assistant in the office, a daughter I think....cause she looked so young stayed to help also...these are genuine people. Good Folks, as my Dad use to say. I'll bet the next time I'm through there I could stop and Andy would remember me. Probably pick up right where we left off....I'm looking forward to it next year because shooters you want to be there for the Kruger Western Classic. Good shoot, excellent targets...great fun PLUS Lois Lessing will be here waiting. What would we do without Lois! I hear she is displaying photos of the shoot along with the scores so check out her website.

     But lets talk about shooting. After a drive up the mountain I parked the Freightliner in the designated area. It did not take me long to find Dan Cook, managing director of the Gallitan Sporting Clays Range AND of course Mr. Jon Kruger himself. We did a quick radio interview. Jon was real excited about the Shoot. He had been there for days surveying the landscape and deciding on target settings. He couldn't wait for the Prelim to begin... however he did make time to try out a new stock he just had put on his K-80. Now when a guy like Jon has someone put on a stock....well you know the stock-maker had to be the best. There were a few tense moments when I first walked up on the scene...I tried to make a joke about it but it went over like a ...well lets settle for---> it was bad timing! Sooo who made and fitted the stock your asking?? None other than S&S ----> www.ssplus.biz Mike Lupold. It was a beautiful piece of English walnut.

     The main reason for the interview---->Jon wanted to create an Event in the West that would one day become a major shoot. He wanted to do it in Montana and the Gallitan Sporting Clays Club was perfect site. It sits way up in the mountains overlooking the valley....its magnificent! Just driving up to the club I saw a big antelope standing in the field... I was so excited that when I saw the first LOCAL I had to tell him. I won't mention his name but he looked at me like...."so? Yea they live here, we see them all the time, don't you have deer and antelope where your from," he asked quizzically. "ah..sure its only a short drive to the ZOO, thanks. Nice talking to you".

     The pictures tell the story. All I can add is that the LOCALS are friendly....they like Elk meat, bear and deer and buffalo meat more than beef....and they go after it themselves during hunting season. More than one tale of a hunt was discussed while I was there....and if it wasn't hunting it was fishing!Now if I start to talk about the fishing here...well we never will get to shooting.

     But you need to come for the shoot, make a few friends, scout out the country. This was the highlight of my tour. I have never felt so close to nature...a part of what was around me.  Walking the stations gives you time to think about the days when cattle drives and Indians were so much a part of the history here. You can just imagine the cowboys chasing Indians over the ridge...or was it Indians chasing cowboys? I did take a drive threw the country where Gen. Custer fell. Nothing like seeing it first hand. The battlefield belongs to the Crow Tribe. I can go into a whole sermon on this but you come see it first...then we will talk as we walk from station to station shooting some of Jon Krugers targets.

    I have seen Jon at many events as a shooter. Can't touch this guy when he has a gun in his hand and a bird in the air. But honestly I really think he was having more fun setting up the targets than I have ever seen him shooting. He has a deep appreciation for "Presentations and Fairness" to shooters on all levels.

     The officials did a good job of officiating, many were young Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Some had their mothers or fathers along for guidance. They did a great job. Everyone loved them. They called out the shots clearly and scored everyone without any flaws.

Prelim:

     I was lucky....European rotation meant just show up...wait and someone will be there to shoot with you sooner or later. I got Bill Getter! Yea the Bill Getter that won the Wyoming State Championship! It was just the two of us. It took me a few stations to warm up and relax but Bill was good company. Great guy to shoot with...thanX Bill!

Main:

     The weather you ask? PERFECT! Nice breeze, partly cloudy. Just look how my squad was dressed. The catering was done by "Travelin Vittles" Kim Howard and the girls team. Food was great. Coffee, soft drinks, ice in your cup...no problem. It was great to sit under the tent and talk to other shooters. My squad was made up of Curtis Anderson, big Texas boy with a keen eye for moving targets. Went to Prague on the Team USA. Tim, not Timothy Johnson, local guy. We quickly became a friends. Bryan " Ace is the Place"shot well on targets I never had a chance with, amazing shooter with a beautiful gun. Russ, local guy and member, another good shot. Historian for the club. Filled me in on the beginnings and future of a club that has endless possibilities. I learned from all of them. A real pleasure to shoot with these guys.

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There was also Gary McStay. SuperVet that shot in the high ninety's and walked away with the first round of the Main event! What a guy. We started talking about "release triggers" and next thing you know we walked off to the side and I was shooting his gun! Never gave much tough to it before but really liked it...especially with one once loads! Felt like a 20 gage. ThanX Gary you cleared up a lot of questions I had and I will be by to see you in Idaho. You and your wife have given a lot back to the sport.

     Thought I would get my ears ringing before I shot so I went over to the "Make-A-Break" area and saw a man I have not seen since my first shoot of 07. Wally Richardson. He was sitting alone waiting for a few good men or women to step up and challenge this targets. We sat together in the shade of his trailer and talked about our health, your health and the health of the Nation. It was a nice distraction from the shooting. But soon Wally said "get up there...let me throw you a few"...he did and it was fun. Nice to see you Wally.

     So how did it go your asking.....the winners were mostly the local guys. But my buddy Curtis Lessing from Santa Barbara did snag the Master spot. Won some money....good shooting Curtis! But the locals swept the board...Mike Wilgus took the HOA trophy which was a the coveted bowl of Jon Krugers creation. I managed to struggle into 2d place in my division just behind another local...well 6 targets anyway. I will win a bowl someday....save a nice one for me Jon, I'm right on their heals..lol..lol..

     Made a few mistakes on the course and dug a hole for myself I couldn't climb out of....but I will tell you Curtis Anderson was my biggest supporter. Not because we are both from Texas but because we had a lot in common.  Really a nice guy. I always want to shoot AFTER someone like Curt he is so natural. I learned behind Curt. ThanX buddy. Hope to give you a little more competition next year. Curt is also a AA in Trap and Skeet.

      Now there was a rumor going around that Carlo Fiocchi was there...checking the shooter list his name is there as an E class shooter?? Anyone out there who can confirm the rumor that this was THE Fiocchi ammo manufacturer??

      During my tour The Bridge disaster of the century occurred creating doubt and fear across the country. At the Washington Bridge I watched traffic crawl across....at the Jamestown bridge I actually saw people turning around. Myself I had no fear....but my best friend hesitated each time I asked him to "have a look" while I waited...

Hey next stop--->Texas State Championship! As they say..."be there or be square"!

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