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VIDEO: Throwing it back to 1911 at the Vernon Fish and Gun Range

In preparation for National Range Day, a special cowboy action shooting drill was performed.

It may be 2023, but for a couple hours on Tuesday, May 16, the Vernon Fish and Game Club felt like the wild wild west of the early 1900’s.

The group hosted media, including The Morning Star, in preparation for their free event on National Range Day, Saturday, June 3.

A cowboy action drill was taught and demonstrated by club president Randy Meier, who, once entered into the range, transformed into the Antelope Kid, who is a cowboy from the early 1900’s.

“It is why the cowboys dress like this as we were born 120 years too late,” the Antelope Kid said, clad in cowboy attire.

The role playing continued throughout the afternoon, as participants were transformed into being a cowboy panning for gold, and the bandits (shooting targets) were coming to take your gold, so you had to fend them off.

First up was firing rifles, as you got five shots. Then, five shots on a pistol followed lastly by blasting two bullets from a shotgun.

Among the several weapons used on the day were 12 gauge and 22 gauge shotguns, M22 and M38 pistols along with Winchester 22 and 1873 single action rifles.

This cowboy action drill is one of several that will be provided on National Range Day.

Hosted at the Vernon Fish and Game Club (a 20 minute drive from Vernon’s Polson Park) past Lavington from 10 a.m- 3. p.m on Saturday, June 3. The free event will give attendees both the chance to view the supervised presentation of a wide variety of shooting disciplines, and for the opportunity to actually participate in shooting a variety of firearm types.

Adults and children are welcome (no pets), as free hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided. Among the numerous events will be a balloon pop and ice blast targets, and much more.

For more information, visit vernonrangeday.ca

Armstrong’s Fish and Game Club will also be hosting their own free open house, on Sunday, May 28. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

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@B0B0Assman
bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com

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Bowen Assman

About the Author: Bowen Assman

I joined The Morning Star team in January 2023 as a reporter. Before that, I spent 10 months covering sports in Kelowna.
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