Spring Has Sprung

Spring has broken winter’s grip on the land. And it hasn’t come soon enough! The herd is rounded up, chores are caught up, and now the hands are just waitin’ for the grass to start growin’. So, your boss has given you a month off. As you pack up to head to town, you formulate a plan of how you want to spend your time. Having been subjected to beans, bacon, hard tack, and worse vittles over the winter from your posse’s cook, you think about dining on some fine kwizeen at Rosie’s Real West Restaurant. Having been drinking only burnt coffee all winter, you want to head over to Badfinger’s Once In A Blue Moon Bistro for an after-dinner drink. Since you’ve been honing your card-playing skills with the same guys all winter, you start thinkin’ about puttin’ your skills to the test with a game of poker. And, you want to buy a present for your aging Ma; a rockin’ chair she’s always wanted, so she can sit on the front porch of her little house on the prairie and knit while pickin’ off the prairie dogs that invade her parsnip garden every spring. Finally, your good friend, Wild Will Bartell, has made a name for himself out west in the town of Phoenix, so you’ve decided to take the train out to pay him a visit. As you silently settle into your saddle on your pony, Slick, you are happy with the thoughts of your good intentions. But, good intentions are often met with obstacles!

Stage 1 – Rosie’s Real West Restaurant

As you settle down to your sizzling steak, fried potatoes, and greens, at Rosie’s Real West Restaurant, you hear horsemen ride up outside. It’s some dirty, drunk drifters who got the same idea of havin’ a good time in town, but they’re makin’ their entrance known by cussin’ out loud in the public streets. You feel that it’s your duty, as a member of this community, to ask these guys to quiet down, but as you get up, a round comes through the window and puts a hole in your favorite and only hat! You might have excused this any other time, but the hat was on your head when the bullet passed through it, creating a new part in your already thinning hair!

Starting Position
The shooter starts sitting at the table with a fork and knife in hand.

Procedure
When ready, shooter says, “Keep this warm for me, Rosie. I’m gonna wrest those Rugers from them raucous riders!”

At the buzzer, the shooter stands and goes to the window, pulls his pistol and engages the two pistol targets in this order; 1, 2, 1, 2, 1. Two-pistol shooters shoot in reverse with second pistol.

The shooter holsters pistol, moves to shotgun and engages two shotgun targets; 1, 2, 1, 2. Misses can be made up IMMEDIATELY after the target is missed.

The shooter retrieves rifle and engages the three rifle targets, sweeping left to right three times (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3).

Upon completion, shooter places his open and empty rifle in the rack. Last shot stops the clock.

Stage 2 – All I Wanted Was A Friendly Game Of Cards

After the fiasco with the rowdy ranch hands, you returned to Rosie’s and finished your dinner. You head over to Badfinger’s Once In A Blue Moon Bistro for an after-dinner drink. You join a group of card players there for a little poker to pass the time, and enjoy the change of company from the wranglers you’ve wintered with. Everything is going fine until you see the player across from you drawing a card from out of his sleeve. You call him on it, and realize the other players are partnered with him. They go for their guns, and you commence to shoot.

Starting Position
Shooter is seated at table, holding cards, derringer/pocket pistol on table, pointing safely downrange.

Procedure
When ready, say “That Club card came from your cuff!”

The rest of the posse yells “Whaddya gonna do about it?”

At the sound of the buzzer, the shooter picks up derringer/pocket pistol and proceeds to engage target.

Shooter lays derringer/pocket pistol on table, draws revolver, engages targets in order 1, 5, 2, 4, 3.  Two-pistol shooters engage target with second revolver in same order.  Swinger must move to be scored a hit. If swinger is missed shooter must re-engage until hit.

Shooter holsters revolver, proceeds to shotgun. Shooter engages shotgun targets 2, 1, 2, 1. Misses can be made up IMMEDIATELY after the target is missed.

Shooter places shotgun in stand, moves to rifle, engages targets 1,2,3,3,2,1,1,2,3.

Shooter places rifle in stand. Last shot stops the clock.

Stage 3 – Your Mother’s Day Gift

On your way to Raunchy Rick’s Rockin’ Palace to make the purchase of a rockin’ chair for your Momma, you’re accosted by several of the town’s Mavericks who want to take your money. You thought you could talk your way out of the confrontation, until you see one of ‘em reachin’ for his weapon.

Starting Position
Standing at firing line with safely holstered pistol(s), Rifle and shotgun racked.

Procedure
When ready, say “You’ll be rockin’ in no time Ma!”

At the buzzer, Engage pistol targets in the sequence 5, 5, 4, 2, 1. Two-gun shooters, shoot the reverse with the second gun; 1, 2, 4, 5, 5.

Missouri Hillbilly Sweep the rifle targets, starting at either end (1-1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1-1).

Make rifle safe and engage shotgun targets 2, 1. Misses can be made up IMMEDIATELY after the target is missed.

Shooter places shotgun in stand. Last shot stops the clock.

Long Range – Game On

After seeing you in action, the locals challenge you to a more friendly shooting contest. With a pile of money on the line, you decide to do some fancy shooting to help off-set the cost for your trip to see your friend, Wild Bill Bartell.

Starting Position
Standing with safely holstered pistol(s), Rifle safely held at Cowboy Port Arms, or Shooter in position with single-shot rifle.

Procedure
When ready, yell “Let the games begin!”

At the buzzer, pistol shooters engage the appropriate target for their caliber.

Pistol targets are in the following order 1 2 1 2 1.  Rifle caliber rifle, engage targets in the following order 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2.  Single-shot rifle shooters engage targets in the following order: 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2. Last shot stops the clock.

POSSE MEMBERS: you will keep your same work assignments on this stage!
POSSE LEADERS: Keep the action moving- run this stage like any other. Try to accommodate two shooters at once, shooting different banks of targets. Position shooters so brass falls on mat.

PLEASE NOTE that there is a SEPARATE scoring sheet for this stage! Do NOT put scores for Long Range on the regular sheets. Time is not the primary scoring method, hits are. For this stage, the shooter must announce his/her caliber choice to the scorer before the stage begins. .22 rifle shooters are scored in repeating or single shot rifle OPEN category, depending on action type. Shotgun Stampede is also scored separately.

Counters count Hits only, last shot stops the clock. Time breaks ties in number of hits only.

If time allows, shooters may shoot a second gun of a different caliber, but after all shooters have completed their first gun.

***THIS STAGE IS OPTIONAL!***