Hi everyone. As I write this, it is really starting to green up here in Illinois. Soon trapshoots will be springing up like mushrooms across Illinois and the Midwest. I can hardly wait to see my friends and shoot some targets.
Congratulations to Kenneth Mitchell for shooting 100,000 combined targets. When you think about this, Kenneth has shot a lot through the years. As I always say, I really admire dedication to our sport. Good job Kenneth!
I have been reading the results of some of the major shoots down south this year. Illinois shooters have been winning their share of categories and yardage groups, I am happy to report. However, it seems to me the numbers are down some at these shoots. This is understandable when you consider inflation, Covid and shell shortages. What really concerns me is the impact of all these forces on the small clubs across our country. This same situation happened in our country seventy years ago after WWII. The solution back then was to have a lot of 50 bird events to keep costs down for the shooters. I think it is time for our sport to emphasize Big 50's more than we have in the past. If it worked back then, it could work today. I would like to encourage all the small clubs across our country, if they don't already have Big 50's, to throw some of these programs. I think shooters would love to keep shooting by reducing costs this way.
I'll get off my podium now. Brittany Shooting Park and the Illinois Board of Directors are busy working to prepare for the Illinois State Shoot in June. We are the first State Shoot in the Central Zone of our country, and we would love for you to come out and shoot some birds with us. I'll see you on the line.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate