3rd Annual Durand Outing Date?????

[Hunter333]

Time to get this thing back into your minds..... Anyone have any suggestions for a date for Durand #3? June 8-August 20 is good for me :) Maybe we can get Trout or Curdog to get a date from the club and go from there. lets get the date set SOON and start spreading the word!! Lots of advance notice will help a lot of people.

[QueenSalmon]

Is the Durand Club still having trouble? Have there been any suggestions for another site to have it? I was thinking maybe the Ionia State Rec Park...( I think that's what it's called) It's on I96 in the middle of the State. They have nice camping facilities. There's a big lake for fishing and they have hunting area where we could target shoot. They also allow people to bring their horses and camp. It's just a suggestion. It would be nice to have it in the middle of the State so everyone could attend. I would like it to be in June also that way we might beable to have TJ with us (my stepson). Hope to see you all there!!!

QS:p

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-
I've only been to one Meet-N-Greet, but I met a dozen of the nicest people you could ever hope to imagine! I would implore all to set a date with Steve's schedule in mind. I want an opportunity to shake the hand of the man responsible for bringing so many disparate personalities and opinions together, and allowing us to 'agree to disagree' if that's what it comes down to. I spend a lot of time on this site; I'd like an opportunity to say thanks to the guy who started it.
Les

[Hunter333]

We had the first one in Durand because it was a place suggested that would allow us to shoot skeet/trap, has a 200+ yard rifle/pistol range, gave us access to the kitchen, allowed us full use of the facilities AFTER normal hours, etc. They were MORE than friendly so we went back. It was not packed with members As for another location, I am up for anywhere that would afford us at least skeet/trap and range shooting. We can all bring grills for cooking so we dont really need access to a kitchen. If anyone has a detailed description of another place, post it and we can vote if we get more than a few.

[Sarge]

I have an email out to Bud Kashuboski, who is the club pres at durand. Haven't heard back yet.

[Hunter333]

Cool, please keep us informed!

[DaYoop]

When is this usually held? I've missed the previous ones and can't remember when it usually is.

[Sarge]

The last 2 have been mid and late august.

[Hunter333]

Summer is in the air this week, thats for sure. Time to start getting some things organized for Outing 3!! Have not heard from anyone about a date for Durand. I am not set on the club in Durand but they have everything that we want: trap, skeet, pond, facilities, range, etc. I wouldnt mind going to a place more centrally located but we need some specifics before we can vote on it, if thats the best way to decide. As I am done with school June 7th at 12:05 :) I am good to go any time after that. I wouldnt mind something at the end of June or in July but early August is open too. If you have any suggestions, comments, or relative thoughts, please email me, Sarge, Trout or just post it and all will read. I am getting the itch now :)

[stelmon]

I would really like to make this one since I have missed the last 3 and it is driving me crazy. How about before july 20 or after august 10th. I will be on my dream vacation those days but if I have to I will miss anotehr one.

[Sarge]

I am not able to get info back from the president of the club. I don't know if his email changed or what. I will look into getting a snail mail off to him and see what's shakin. Meanwhile, has anyone heard from Curdog?

Trout, do you have any info??

[BowDad]

If Durand falls through, I would suggest a place like Pontiac State Recreation Area. They have camping, shooting (throw your own clay, rifle and bow range), fishing, and a swimming beach. Don't know if the location is amenable to all (Oakland County), but maybe we can find a similar type of place near the center of the state. Let’s get the ball rolling!

[Hunter333]

Is there a charge for the Pontiac spot? Can we all just show up or do we need to make reservations? Is it a busy place? One thing I liked about Durand is that there werent a whole lot of people there besides us.....

[Sarge]

I placed a call to the club Pres. at Durand today and left a voicemail. We'll see if thats out for good or what.

If we go somewhere that we have to throw our own clays, it might give the rifle shooters a better chance. If that happens I have a spring thrower, we can rig some kind of a saftey zone and take turns throwing for 2 or 3 shooters at a time. I think 5 would wear a guy out. its 125 clays to load cock and launch. Also the launchers don't cost all that much for the hoppes model, and maybe there could be 2 or three launching in sequence to ease the load.

[Sarge]

Here's a thought, its not a formal invitation yet because I'd have to clear it with my Pastor, but worth thinking about.

Our church Property is about 20 acres on US 27 in Dewitt North of Lansing. (just north) we have a nice woods and the Looking Glass river, and a gravel pit drain that run along the edge of the property. There is room for archery, fishing, camping, eating, and on Sunday morning, Worshipping. The river and the drain are full of panfish, and some huge carp. Some big bass and a few 30" plus pike.

There is ample room for Trap shooting, too, but no rifles and pistols. The problem there, is that I will need to get permission from all of my neighbors to have guns and shooting going on in their vicinity. That might not fly, not even the trap. Everything but firearms is a snap though.

PM me if interested, its not worth the work of getting the church and the neighbors approval if only one or 2 want to come. In that case they can just come to visit me personally and I won't need permission. I live in the Parsonage at the church and I'm the grounds keeper so some of the approval is on me anyway.

[Sarge]

The good news is that Durand is shooting Trap on saturdays again. Just not registered shoots and being completely volunteer, it is possible to get there and find no one home. Mostly they are going to be shooting though.

The bad news is that we are pretty much uninvited for this year. Our connection with the club was via Curdog and he hasn't renewed his membership as of today. I was just on the phone with the club Pres. and he is not willing to take us on as a personal project, and without Curdog as a member we have no advocate there right now. It looks as if someone getting on their membership waiting list right now though, might make it into the club this year.

Thats all I have for now.

Cya

[BowDad]

Hunter - We would probably want to reserve a picnic area. The fee for shooting is $4.00 per day for unlimited use of all of the ranges. Camping is by reservation and I assume that there is a charge. The facilities are run by the DNR so a state park sticker is also required.

Sarge - I applied for membership at the Durand club last year but haven’t heard anything yet. Maybe I should call the Pres., would it be possible for you to send me his number?

Thanks!

[Hunter333]

The sooner we figure this out the better. As long as the Pontiac area is nice, thats fine with me, it doesnt really matter to me what part of the state we go to. Bowdad, let us know if you find anything out from the club, they have a really nice set up for our Outing so it would be nice to be able to go there too!

[Sarge]

Bowdad I have his number, and I'll PM it to you. He said yesterday, that his list was 40 some long and so far it looks like he has over 120 slots open. You are most likely in.

As for Pontiac, It sounds like a good place. I'll be trying to bring the Sniper, he wanted to come last year and something came up. The year before he had to work. He lives in Howell so this should be a snap for him to get to.

Cya.

[BEAGLEMAN]

Sarge,
I don't know if I can make it to the outing but I have a skeet thrower you guys can use. It's the type that sits on the ground (spring loaded). If you need it just let me know and I'll make arrangements to get it to someone that is going.
It' not real big so not a problem hauling it.
Tom

[Sarge]

Thanks Beagleman, we'll keep that in mind. If we came up with 5 altogether, we could devise our own official size trap layout.

Thanks again.

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-
Pontiac works for me, too. Anyone have any objections to making that the 'Official' spot? Time's a-wastin'.......

[BowDad]

Here is a link to Pontiac Lake.


Pontiac Lake Rec Area (http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/ParkDetail.asp?LinkID=110&sec=camp&ParkID=87)

[Hunter333]

As I said before, I would like to stay at the club in Durand for a few reasons, the biggest one being that when we go there, it is mostly us MI-sportsman people at the skeet, trap, and rifle range. We supervise ourselves and dont have to worry about getting in anyones way. We have been able to have "our own" station at the skeet as well as being the only ones at the trap (or was that vise versa) LOL. Also, it is not a large area so it is easy for people to find us when they pull in the parking lot......
I am not saying that Pontiac is off limits, but based on the website info, I would just rather go to Durand if that is an option.

[QueenSalmon]

Pontiac is also good for us. When are we looking at? Will they allow us to bring our dogs? We would like to camp over but can't if we can not bring our dogs.

QS:p

[BowDad]

Hunter - I would rather go to Durand also, but don't know if it's going to be possible. I suggested Pontiac Lake as an alternate in case we don't get the invite to come to Durand. As it stands right now I don't think we have a member here who is also a member of the Durand club, which I believe is a prerequisite for us to use their facilities. Do you have any other suggestions?

[Sarge]

I agree Hunter333, I truely have enjoyed the outings at Durand. If there is any way we can do it, lets, but if not the area in Potiac sounds real nice too. There are others, like the IONIA rec center and I'm sure there are some places centrally north too. We need someone interested from each direction looking in their own areas for possibilities.

Best yet, one of us should win the Publishers Clearing house thing and build a perfect spot for outdoorsmen to gather and play their games. Someplace with a lake, a stream, open area for rifle shooting another for archery, woods course for sporting clays, and several trap houses and a couple skeet layouts. Yup I sure can dream. Now to just find a place to fit the dream..

[heavy sigh]

[Hunter333]

Any word from anyone concerning Durand?

[Sarge]

Bowdad and I are still waiting to hear if we get chosen to be members. IF THAT HAPPENS and IF we have the right kind of privileges we may be able to pull it off. Maybe not though, and if we don't get in then for sure not.

It looks like we need to find another spot for this summer. I am looking as well as others and haven't been able to pin anything down yet.

[Sarge]

Bowdad and I are still waiting to hear if we get chosen to be members. IF THAT HAPPENS and IF we have the right kind of privileges we may be able to pull it off. Maybe not though, and if we don't get in then for sure not.

It looks like we need to find another spot for this summer. I am looking as well as others and haven't been able to pin anything down yet.

[BowDad]

Hey Sarge - Just received my invitation to join the club. Maybe there's hope for us yet. Check your PM's.

[Hunter333]

Bowdad....."Sarge..there is hope for us yet..." NOT! You two are far too out there to have any hope :) however, it does give the rest of us hope that we can invade the club again LOL :) Please let is know if anything sounds promising!!

[Sarge]

Well I got my invite too, and sent my cash so after June 2nd I'll be a member. I think Bowdad is orientating that same day too. IF they allow new members to sponsor such a thing as the outing, we will share the responsibility and get the job done. If not, we'll let everyone know and see about a new location for this year at least.

Yeah I'm wayyy too far out for there to be any hope left for me.

[Hunter333]

Hopefully they will remember how we conducted ourselves in the past and allow us to spend time there. I think that we all did a great job the past 2 times so........ Please keep us all informed.

[Sarge]

When I talked to the Pres. he didn't have any negative words about the MS people's conduct. What he did say, was that the member who was supposed to be on hand to oversee, didn't stay and do that. He was referring to Curdog. I wasn't there when that supposedly happened. Other than that his only comment was that there weren't any members to sponsor us yet this year.

[BowDad]

Sarge - your PM box is full ... I sent you an email through the site. Hope to see you in Durand @ 4pm tomorrow!

:)

[Nimrod]

Hope we can get it sounds great!!!!!:D

[Sarge]

Bowdad and I got into the Durand club yesterday. It has been improved a lot in the pistol/rifle range area. New distances, much higher berms and something that was always there but we never saw, is a trail to the rifle range from the clubhouse. Its a 2 track and they don't encourage driving on it, but one could. It has a sporting clays course along it, and its about a 5 minute walk to the rifle range.

Anyway, they told us we will be able to use the club for out outing again this year.:D It will take a couple weeks to get my hands on the event schedule for this summer so I know what dates are availabe, then we have to quickly decide which date to request. The only trick is requesting a date that doesn't have something else scheduled and getting it approved before some other event gets it.

Bowdad and I will be learning the Trap/Skeet equipment in the meantime so that we can have shoots outside the normal hours of their Saturday schedule. Of course we can shoot inside their scheduled hours too, but if none of us has been checked out on their equip., we would have to stop at 2:00 pm and some shooters might not have even made it there by then.

Anyway we have the permission, and we just need to work out the details. Give us till the end of June to tie it all down. That shoud be long enough.

Meanwhile lets start a new thread with everyone's preferred date in the list. It won't need long posts, just everyone reply with a date or two that work for you, and I'll see how many are duplicated and go for the majority of participant. That is, of course if it fits with the club's calendar.

I will open a thread named. "Durand preferred date" put your dream dates in there.;)