The Second Anual Durand Outing... all about the F word

[Steve]

And that is FAMILY!

Thank you all for coming. It was great to see all your faces and connect them to names. It was also great to see all the families there together. It's great to talk to young sportmen like Moe and his little brother who don't act like they know it all (like some young posters we've had on this site), even though they have wisdom beyond thier years.

Some thanks you's before I forget, and I know I will forget someone so please forgive me. Curdog, thanks for getting us into this beautiful club, Trout again thanks for being one of the primary organizers of this event and for the continual work you do on this site (please post that chili recipe including how many days you marinate what). Moe's mom thanks for the great dutch oven treats. Salmonsmoker and Livn4Huntin thanks for being there again and helping as you did with the food. Sorry about the chili cook-off disappointment Al.

Now for some pictures:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/two_future_bowhunters.jpg
Two future bowhunters

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/sarge_getting_serious.jpg Sarge getting serious

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/moe_sarge_bowdad_trout_on_range.jpg
On the range

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/future_gun_hunters.jpg
The future of our sports, we must nurture it

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/future_archers_on_range2.jpg
Future archers

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/future_archers_on_range.jpg
More future archers

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/images/outings/byron_moe_sarge_bowdad_on_range.jpg
Another range shot

[jpollman]

.Just got back from Durand.
Had an AWESOME day out there folks. Thanks again to everybody who pitched in and made it happen. I'm SERIOUSLY considering going back again tomorrow. I'd love to shoot but the way my shoulder feels tonight, I better not. :(

I encourage anyone else from the site that has the ability to get out to Durand to do it. I guarantee you'll have a fabulous time with a bunch of great people.

By the way, the road that runs North and South off of I-69 (I think it's Lansing Rd.), BE CAREFUL ! The speed limit it THIRTY FIVE miles per hour !!! I wasn't paying attention and got nabbed. :( Actually just at the split second I realized I was in a 35 mph zone I looked at my speedo and realized I was doing 50, I touched the brakes to slow down and the blue lights came on.
BIG TIME BUMMER ! Actually, it worked out ok. The officer was very polite and I explained what happened and was prepared to take my punishment. I told him I had never hadn't been pulled over in over 15 years and had never had a ticket. As he left to walk back to his car he said he appreciated my honesty and would try to keep my record clean. Well, he was true to his word . He let me off with a warning.
Well officer, if you're a michigan sportsman and are reading this, Thank you very much AGAIN. I really appreciate it.

Hope to see more of you out there tomorrow.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Looks Like alot of fun...I was gonna make it today (Sunday) but my back and the Wedding I went to had other plans for me. ( I feel Like crap!!) Sorry, next year I will make it for sure!>>>Don

[Moe]

I'd also like to thank everyone who came!!! I know what my family had an awesome time! It was really nice to finally but some faces to names, shoot a little, and talk about hunting! I don't know of a place where you could go and get a better meal than that was yesterday, that was just awesome!
Thanks to all who helped me with the trap and skeet! Hey Sarge, I'm sorry that I shot that clay in the first round that was yours, I didn't know what I was doing! I enjoyed it very much and I am now going to join the local club around here and hopefully start going there and shooting atleast 2 rounds of trap every weeks! Bowdad... thanks for letting me use that thing to keep my shells in, I appreciate it very much.
Finally, thank you to everyone who organized this event! It was an awesome time! I already can't wait until next year!

[Steve]

I must apoligize that I did not partake in the shooting rounds with the rest of you guys. All of that is new to me but looks like tons o fun. Wouldn't do my shoulder much good at this point though. Plus I need to go through all the gun saftey stuff again as it has been many years since I have been through it. Maybe next year. Anyway I had just as much fun helping run the kid's "shooting ranges".

[jpollman]

I'm kind of in the same boat Steve.
I'd have loved to shoot a little but it's been a long time since I have done it. I'm gonna get a little more familiar with it before I start up again. It is fun. My shoulder also is giving me trouble.
I'm probably headed to the doctor if it doesn't clear up soon.
Thanks again for showing my son how to shoot the bow. He's still talking about his "Bullseye".:) He had a great time.

I'm really looking forward to next year.

[Sarge]

I'm truly glad that I got to go again this year. I had a really successful day. Moe don't worry about it, you can shoot my clay anytime. The real hero of the day was MOE. For his youth and lack of experience he was one of the best shooters out there. In a few years no one will ever be able to catch him.

What a happy bunch of folks. We all did the things we love, as much as we wanted to, pretty much, and one of the things that makes me happiest is that my wife attended again and had a real good time again. I have to mention the food. (slurp) Boy what a meal.

Sorry sniper didn't make it, we still don't know what happened there.

I also want to appologize for my competitive attitude. My wife has mentioned that it sounded a lot like boasting and I may have offended some. I actually was only officially competing with myself and unofficially with bowdad. The competition with bowdad is really not true competitiion either. I know he is a much better shooter than I, and I've had some very good days shooting with him and have come out ahead more than my share of the time. When that happens I come out with friendly boastful banter, and I guess it sounded like real boasting. I don't mean to come across that way. I have the greatest of respect for everyone there and would not offend anyone knowingly. BTW thanks nimrod for giving me that last clay. LOL

Kirt and Jenny, (hunter333) were a pleasure to be with again as usual. Kirt didn't have a bruised shoulder this year and he is an exclent marksman. They are fun to spend time with.

Thanks to Kurk (I think I got the spelling reversed on the 2 K guys but they know who they are) and Cindy for organizing this year, and for running back and forth to the Club guy for info and paying etc.

I'm proud of Stalker for the time he spent with the children. (and grateful he kept them busy)

Bottom line? another great outing. A really long day and old guys get tired but more fun than should be legal.

[rrbuckmaster]

Sure looks like you all had a great time! Sure wish I could have made it. Great pictures, do you have any more to post?

[BowDad]

WOW!!! What can I say? That had to be one of the best weekends so far this year.

It was great to meet everyone and put the faces with the names. Thanks to Curdog and Trout for all the work they did to make the event possible and thanks to all that showed up as it was a real pleasure to meet all of you.

One of the highlights of the weekend was meeting some great young sportsmen. Moe and Nimrod's son Justin are a couple of the finest young men that I have had the pleasure of meeting in quite some time. Two thumbs up to their parents as you have done your job very well. I can only hope that my children will grow up with such class.

The food was awesome, and worth the trip alone! Thanks to all who took the time and extra effort to make it a world class meal.

Sarge - There is nobody in this world that I would rather have beat me than you! My wins are mostly luck, while yours are garnered through hard work and determination. I am the student.

Can't wait till next year!!!

[ESOX]

Byron and I were just discussing what a fine bunch of people we are, I am proud to be a member of this site!:) And we sure know how to eat right too! I have to say that Moe is certainly one of the finest young men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I hope my young lads should turn out so well. (maybe it's that great food his mother turns out:) ). It was very nice meeting all of you, I am looking forward to the next outing. I cannot even begin to tell each individual how much I enjoyed your company, but I would like to say to ALL, it was a great pleasure to meet you.

[michiduck]

Although I wasn't able to stay long, I had a great time shooting a couple of rounds of clays and trading hunting stories, and meeting the few people that were there on Sunday morning! It was a pleasure!

Thanks to Everyone that helped make it such a great time!!!

[Stalker]

What a great day. Thank you Steve for starting this site, that led to meeting all these good people. It was great to see all the youngsters there. As you can see in the pictures above, there were several under 10 years old.
Moe I'm sure you know it and tell her often. Your mom is one special lady. Tell your brother thanks for being such a great score keeper.
Thank you Trout & Curdog for making the Durand Sportsman's Club available. It is a great place to hold an outing. I'm glad to hear the club was happy to see us again.
The Food. Well it was heavenly. By that I mean there as just no words that can describe it. I didn't think last years spread could be outdone, but it was. I am happy and honored to be a part of such a fine group. See you all next year if not sooner.

[Moe]

Thank you all for the compliments that you've given me and my family! Hopefully next year my dad and sister will be able to make it and maybe we'll get to camp with all you fine people! I am so glad that I went and shot with you all! Before we got there I was worried that I wouldn't do well and that I would look bad, but I didn't! I loved shooting so much with all of you that I'm going to join the local club here and start shooting every week! Thank you again for everyone who was there, I really enjoyed meeting everyone. Right now I'm trying to get my mom to join the site and I think I'll be able to get her to. Thanks again to everyone, I had a great time and am already looking forward to next year!

[Hunter333]

OK, my turn now that the little lady is still at school..... WOW, yet another great time had by all!!! To all shooting, great job. Thanks Moe for doing something that you werent sure you wanted to do, it encourages us all to try new things!! Food...AWESOME. Shooting.....AWESOME!! Friends....Nah, I would have to say FAMILY!! Thanks to everyone that came, shot, ate, cooked, watched, laughed, shared, and dared to try new things. Thaks to Moes mom and Jenn for cleaning while the rest of us shooters did our thing. thanks to trout for his cleanup, setup, and takedown.....It takes everyone here to make these things happen so one thanks is not enough. I am going to petition for an earlier date next year, say the begining of August. jen and i would like to make a week of it and not have to jump right back into school.
Sarge, Ruth, Pete and gang, thanks for coming to the fire friday night!! Nimrod and son (Justin?) thank you for coming over Saturday, it was nice to get to talk to you without having to yell over the shooting. Daves son......... kick some butt in the service and remember what you learn, you will be getting quite an education. Thanks to all of the kids for being there, I had so much fun just watching them shoot, run,and play. best of all, I dodnt have to be responsible for any of them :) See you all SOON!!

[rrbuckmaster]

Trout, I hope it worked out ok(stand)As for the banner, thats my donation to the site so it might be better if you hang on to it. The stands I can use or if you want you can keep them to, Not hard to make. Once again sure looks like you all had a great time!Give me a call anytime, maybe you and the wife and my wife could catch up for dinner sometime.

[NEMichsportsman]

I am one of the unlucky ones who could not attend! I am glad to see that everyone who was able to attend had such a great time! As a newcomer to the site I have been able to observe and learn a lot, and would have loved to have been able to meet those that were at the outing....I will anxiously await the next get-together, and to (maybe) have the opportunity to actually meet some of the great people who frequent this site. Thanks to everyone who makes the site possible either with their time,technical abilities, or their postings......

jp

[Nimrod]

Justin and I did'nt get there untill 4;15 Sat. I was'nt sure what to expect but we got a round of trap in and got settled down. I was'nt disappointed at all!!! I am teribble with names but never forget a face, some of you have 2 names so I won't even try to rember them all and for that I'm sorry!!!

Curdog, thanks for stickin your neck out and gettin the club!!! What an awsome facility, nice layout!!! I had a great time with you on the rifle range Sun My son got to shoot my 44 mag and we got to watch you shoot your flint-lock, we never saw that in person, thanks!!!

Trout, thanks for makin it happen and the grill!!! I had a blast shootin with ya!!! Let me know when you get serious and use something besides a SxS!!!

Byron, you have a wonderful family!!! Thanks for not out shootin me in trap!!! I didn't want to scare any one away, so I kept it at 20!!!

Sarge, you can have my last bird any time!!! It was a pleasure meetin you and the Mrs. God made us to be competative so don't worry about it!!!

Moe, it was great to meet you and your family, your a geat kid because you have great parents!!! It was fun shootin with ya and I know you could have out shot us!!! I think you felt sorry for us old duffs!!! Glad you and Justin had time together, he enjoyed that!!!

Mom Moe, (I can't remember your name) thanks for the elk roast, what a treat!!! You and the Mr. have some fine young men there!!!
Good job!!!

Mini-Moe(moe's brother), thanks for helpin on the trap range and being so excited about life!!!

Michiduck, it was fun shootin with ya, you really are part duck!!!

Bowdad, what can I say, it was fun!!! Glad you came back Sunday!!!

Splitshot, you shot like a pro at the trap range, but just not all the time:p Thanks for helping Justin!!! I really enjoyed shootin your pea shooter, it makes me want a Ruger mark II even more!!! I hope you got the drool off of your chin from shootin my 44!!!

Hunter333, thanks for you and the Mrs. for sharrin your real camp fire Sat night, we really enjoyed that. At least you guys stuck it out!!!! Hope the first week back wasn't to brutal!!!

I would be honored to hunt/shoot with you all any time. I know that there is more to be said but I can't remember all the names!!! Dave

[Hope]

:( Cant believe I missed it!!! Whens the next one? :rolleyes: :(