THE 2011 BADGER MOUNTAIN RANGE WAR attracted a record attendance of 92 shooters!  Thank you all for coming and for putting up with Saturday's rain shower (and any other shortcomings)!

On Friday, Whiskey James ran the first Long Range event the club has had in many years.  It was better attended than we imagined it would be and we quickly learned that we need to start earlier next year, plus add a few categories!  Results of the PISTOL, LEVER RIFLE, 200 YD & 300 YD.

Saturday was a fine day for shooting for the first 4.5 stages....then it rained, hard.  We sheltered for about  a half an hour and when the rain let up, the bangin' and clangin' resumed.  Big Dave was thrilled that all his caps ignited on his last stage!  Frontiersman is tough in the rain!

The M Lazy C steak dinner on Saturday night segued to music by Tincup Al and the door prize drawing briskly run by Painted Filly!  Thanks to the generosity of match sponsors (King of the Mountain, Dandylion Designs, Aspen Filly, Sportsman's Warehouse, Long Hunter, uniqueTek.com, the Cowhand, Mountain Man, Ruxton's Trading Post, Big R, and the M Lazy C), every ticket was drawn!  The tickets of everyone present went back in the hat to be drawn for a GUN!  The lucky winner, Anxious Annie, won.......a P-22 airsoft type pistol!

Sunday started off with a BANG!  The winner of the 300 yard Long Range Single Shot Rifle got to shoot two sticks of DYNAMITE!  That was fun!  Thanks, Randy!  Then we went straight into  stages 7 through 12 and on to side matches.  We lucked out again and the afternoon thunderstorms held off until after the awards ceremony. 

Congratulations to Cobra Cat for winning the Overall Match, and to Camptown Lady, the Top Lady Overall!

Here are the RESULTS    and by     CATEGORY  and for those who are curious  AND HERE ARE THE STAGES!  Side Match scores: Pistol; Rifle; SxS; & '97. 

The Top Gun Shoot-Off had some interesting twists!  Kitty Carbine found herself  first facing Buckarette Tattle Tale Tai for the ladies' final, and then bracing son Cobra Cat (who had won the men's division).  With some good natured handicapping, Kitty Carbine prevailed, winning the Top Gun Overall.  Kudos are due Kitty and Cobra not only for winning the Top Gun Shoot-Off, but also for maintaining that sense of FUN that is the core of Cowboy Action Shooting!

AND FOR CLEAN MATCHES, CONGRATULATIONS TO: Rosita Gambler, Wichita Wayne, Dastardly Dan, Marshall Lomondo, Big Dave (shooting Frontiersman for the first time!), Bayou Bob, California, Texas Tumbleweed, Calico Calie, Anxious Annie, Owen and Tattle Tale Tai!

Many people devoted hours, days, months and money to planning and execution of all aspects of the Range War.  Kiowa Kid, Painted Filly, Whiskey James and Anni Roc deserve the lion's share of the credit!  yet everyone who helped set up, moved the gallows and jail, carried water and ice, and moved steel whenever, and all the myriad other jobs involved in putting on a match this size ~ it could not have been done without you!

On a personal note, muchas gracias to all the members of Posse 5.  Not only do you make the Posse Marshal job almost nonexistent, but your reminders to me of "SHOTGUN!" and "TWO MORE RIFLE ROUNDS" and subsequent grins and laughter not only saved my bacon, but made this a most enjoyable event for Calico Cass and me!

And to Jamie, Brenda, Randy and all the staff of the M Lazy C Ranch, and big THANK YOU for making it all possible: for allowing us to hold our shooting matches on your property, for all the work you put in to make our events a success.  (and thanks for the DYNAMITE!)

iF ANYONE HAS DIGITAL PIX, please e-mail me a few good ones.  Please don't send a whole batch of unsorted photos.  I will post what I can here.  And Posse Marshals, please turn in your badges to Kiowa or me so they can be used next year.

THANKS FOR COMING, EVERYONE!