Archive for Events
Upcoming Events
Posted by: | Comments5/19/12 ‘FCS Open‘ Sporting Clays Shoot and Lunch
On Saturday, 5/19/12, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM FCS will host our ‘FCS Open’ Sporting Clays Shoot at the Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club (address, directions, and phone number are located below). We’ll shoot a round on the Hunter Course and a round on the Master’s Course. Shooters can shoot only one round if they wish. We routinely shoot “on-report;” however, shooters can shoot true pairs, both targets as singles, or just one target if they wish. After the shoot we will eat lunch at the 290 Cafe in Manor.
Schedule
09:00 AM – Sporting Clays
12:30 PM – Scores and upcoming events
01:00 PM – Eat
02:00 PM – Depart
Note that the larger the group, the longer it will take to shoot; however, if we have eight or more we’ll break into two or more groups.
The cost is $21.65 for a round of 50 sporting clays (includes tax but does not include shells). Capitol City has given us this price because one of our members (Bruce Crockett) is also a member of Capitol City. However, they could revoke their generosity at any time and charge us non-members prices ($27.06; includes tax).
Capitol City requires eye and ear protection (available free of charge at Capitol City). They sell shotgun shells if you need them (but you can get them much cheaper at Academy, Wal-Mart, etc.). You’ll need to bring four boxes of shotshells if you’re going to shoot both rounds of sporting clays.
I recommend Winchester Game Loads/Federal Game and Target Loads and Remington Shur Shot Heavy Dove Loads/Winchester Heavy Game Loads all of which are available at Academy. The Winchester 12 gauge Game Load/Federal Game and Target Load shells each contain 1 ounce of shot and have a velocity of 1290 FPS. They both sell for $5.29/box. The Remington 12 gauge Heavy Dove/Winchester 12 gauge Heavy Game shells each contain 1 1/8 ounces of shot and have a velocity of 1255 FPS. They both sell for $6.39/box. All four are great dove/quail loads in addition to being good clay target loads. If you’re a dove/quail hunter, I recommend that for you shoot sporting clays with the same load that you use to hunt dove/quail. This enables you to develop consistent leads for similar targets. I recommend 8 shot for their Hunter’s Sporting Clays Course and 7 1/2 shot for their Master’s Sporting Clays Course.
Directions from IH35 and Hwy 290 to 8707 Lindell Lane:
- Go east on 290 7.6 miles.
- Turn right (south) on FM 3177 (Decker Lane). There will be a sign that says “Travis County Exposition Center.”
- Go about 3/4 mile. You will cross a railroad track.
- Turn left on Lindell Lane immediately after the railroad tracks.
- Go about 20 yards and turn right into the Capitol City gate.
- Go about 1/4 mile (go past the model airplane airport).
- If you get lost Capitol City’s number is 272-4707.
In the event of rain
- Light rain – we shoot
- Heavy rain – we stay home
The minimum age for a child to shoot is usually 8, with a gun that fits him or her.
Contact Ken Miller for more information at ken10toes@yahoo.com, 512-339-9804 (Home), or 512-797-8226 (Cell). It is not necessary to RSVP.
5/21/12 Chartered Hybrid Bass Catching Trip
Our next Chartered Hybrid Bass Fish Catching Trip will be on Monday, 5/21/12 from 3:30 PM until we limit or dark (whichever comes first) with guide Jay Garrett on Lake Belton. It’s called a “fish catching” trip because we have had seven fantastic trips with Jay including catching 20 fish in 2011, 34 fish in 2010, 26 fish on 10/19/09, 23 fish on 4/27/09, over 50 fish in 2008, 29 fish in 2007, and 26 fish in 2006! Jay can take up to eight fishermen and the cost is $100 each. We are presently full for this trip. Jay supplies the boat, rods and reels, bait, landing nets, and a fish box. He’ll also filet the fish. The price does not include shared gas, food, and an optional but highly recommended tip for Jay.
Recommended items to bring:
Polarized sun glasses
Cap or hat
Sun block
Drinks and snacks in a small cooler
Camera (waterproof is best)
We’ll consolidate the drinks and snacks into a larger cooler for the boat to save deck space and have less things to trip over.
6/11/12 FCS Meeting
Our next FCS Meeting will be on Monday, 6/11/12, from 7:00 – 9:30 PM at Larry Dowden’s home (905 Cashew Lane, Cedar Park, 512-259-2490 – Home, 512-507-5894 – Cell). This meeting will feature our Annual Fajita Dinner! The cost will be around $10.00 person. Please RSVP so we’ll know how much food to buy. Contact Randy Rowley at randy@fcs-texas.org (my preference) or at 512-963-0003 to RSVP. For directions use this map.
- 6/24/12 ‘June Buggin’ Sporting Clays Tournament
FCS will participate in the next Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club (8707 Lindell Lane, 512-272-4707) sporting clays tournament, ‘June Buggin” on Sunday, 6/24/12, 12:45 – 3:45 PM. There is an on-line registration form (pre-registration is requested, not required). The main event (100 targets) price is $65. Capitol City recently went up on their prices. We can have groups of up to eight but must have a group of at least three (not all have to be FCS members, but at least one must be in order to call this an FCS event). We must eat lunch by 1:00 PM, which is when they will stop serving. Registration ends at 2:00 PM and we must have our scores in by 4:00 PM. We may have time to shoot a practice round of skeet. Note that if you are not a National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) member you will be shooting Hunter (or Shooter) Class, which means that you will not be eligible to win any prize money, nor will your score be posted on their website. Membership with the NSCA is $40 per year. There will also be a 50 Target 5-Stand Event, 50 Target Side Event, and Concurrent options. Please let Bruce Crockett know if they can expect you or you have any questions at bmc55@att.net, 512-244-1555 (Home), or 512-970-7797 (Cell).
FCS membership is not required in order to participate or attend FCS events; however, if you are interested here is how to join.
Members and guests, please bring a friend (but RSVP for him or her and pay in advance, if required)!
Duck Rotation
Posted by: | Comments(Updated 2/11/12)
The following is a rotation list for duck hunting on Lake Stillhouse Hollow near Salado and Granger Lake near Taylor. I, Randy Rowley, can take up to two adult hunters on my boat and no more than one dog. If we’re walking in I can take three adult hunters with me. I will hunt twice in November, twice in December, and three times in January. Therefore, between 14 – 21 hunters will get to hunt with me each year (depending on whether we take my boat or walk in; this depends on how boat/blind shy the birds have been – if they’re being boat/blind shy we’ll walk in).
Stillhouse is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Consequently a TPWD Public Hunting Permit is not required nor is a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake hunting permit (see http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/stillhouse/Recreation/Hunting.asp). If we decide to hunt Stillhouse we will hunt in the Union Grove Wildlife Management Area (WMA), near or on the island (the side depends on the direction of the wind). Stillhouse is 11 miles further than Granger.
Granger is also administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, the WMA’s are leased to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, consequently, a TPWD Public Lands Hunting Permit ($48/year) is required. However, a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake hunting permit is not required. If we decide to hunt Granger we will hunt in the San Gabriel or Sorefinger WMAs.
My boat has a camo blind that sits on top of it. We pull it over from one side to another and it has three holes that we poke our heads out of (we look like prairie dogs sticking their heads out of their holes). If the ducks are acting boat/blind shy on a particular hunt we get out of the boat and either hunt from stools with camo stick blinds in front of and behind us, use natural cover, or stand in the water next to trees. If my boat is out of commission there are places where we can walk in at both lakes (about a mile hike). If there is a trend of them being boat shy we’ll stop taking my boat and walk in.
All that you need to bring is your license and stamps, gun, shells, calls (optional), chest waders (see below for wader recommendations), camo hunting clothes (including face mask – absolutely essential), snacks (optional), and drinks (optional). We won’t stop anywhere along the way, so if you want something to eat get it before we meet. We’ll split the truck and boat gas and boat oil – it will be around $12 each for four hunters and around $16 for three hunters (Granger will be a little less). I have plenty of decoys, a Mojo duck, and a wind duck (that I only use when it’s windy). I recommend Winchester Xpert shells in 2 shot. I also recommend that you bring a waterproof jacket as we often get wet on our return trip to the boat ramp at Stillhouse.
After a hunter goes on a hunt he or she is moved to the bottom of the rotation. If I contact a hunter and he or she cannot go I will contact the next person on the list.
Being on this rotation is a privilege and is not a FCS membership benefit. A person can be removed from the rotation for any of the following reasons (this list is not all inclusive):
-
Not hunting in a safe manner, including deliberately not following my instructions during a hunt.
- Not helping during a hunt.
- Not controlling your dog during a hunt.
- Repeatedly shooting my decoys/mojo/wind duck.
- Indicating that he or she will attend a hunt and then not showing up.
- Repeatedly canceling at the last minute.
- Not returning my phone calls and/or e-mails
Presently the following people are on the Duck Hunt Rotation list:
- Roy Brigman (as he has a boat he always will have an opportunity to go)
- Bill Smith
- Bruce Crockett
- Mark Dillow
- Kevin Wall (either lake)
- Kenneth Kidd (either lake)
- Ryan Rowley
- Justin Painter
- Randall Klimek
- Jeff Reece
- Larry Dowden
- Harry Biggs
- Ron Denison
- Scott Timpany
- Robby Wilson
- Brian Suter (either lake)
- Bill Bebee (either lake)
- Jerry Stafford
- Wayne Weilnau (either lake)
- Thomas Palmer
- Ken Miller
- Jim Gault
- Paul Irwin (either lake)
- Charles Cutchens
- Jim McGee
- Greg Moerbe
- Tim Price
Let me know at randy@fcs-texas.org if you would like to be added to this rotation.
Wader Recommendations
Event Planning Distribution
Posted by: | CommentsEvent Planning Distribution
If you have a question on a particular event, here is the list of which officer oversees which events.
Randy Rowley oversees planning, promotion, and reporting of the following events:
- Big Game Hunts (Deer and Hog)
- FCS Dinners
- Meetings (Club and Officer)
- Ministry Events
- Promotions
- Self-Guided Waterfowl Hunts
Jim McGee oversees planning, promotion, and reporting of the following events:
- Chartered Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing Trips
- Dove Hunts (including the Lometa Blast and Cast trips)
- Shooting Range Shoots
- Upland Bird Hunts
Ken Miller oversees planning, promotion, and reporting of the following events:
- Clay Target Shoots (including the 24-hour Sporting Clays Shoots)
- Concealed Handgun License Classes
- Guided Waterfowl Hunts
- Self-Chartered Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing Trips
Bruce Crockett oversees planning, promotion, and reporting of the following events:
- Sporting Clays Tournaments
Mark Dillow oversees planning, promotion, and reporting of the following events:
- Self-Chartered River Fishing Trips
Clay Target Shoot History
Posted by: | CommentsThe Clay Target Shoot Scorecard shows the results from every Clay Target Shoot in the history of the Club, sporting clays/five stand shoot averages, and 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place finishes! The averages are figured on a round of 50 sporting clays or five stand targets basis. Consequently, the 8/17/02 Skeet Shoot is not included in each shooters average as only 25 targets were shot and skeet averages cannot be included with sporting clays averages as skeet’s an easier game. Unfortunately scorecards were not always turned in to me, Randy Rowley, after every shoot or sometimes for our early shoot they were turned in to me but I only recorded the scores on those who placed (the first place or top three finishers). However, all but two of the shoots since 6/20/98 show every competitor.
Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club (where 128 of our 160 shoots have been held) added a hunter course sometime between 6/11/05 and 7/9/05. This course is considerably easier than their masters level course. For example my, Randy Rowley’s, average on the hunter course is 37.58 (for 43 shoots) and my average on the masters level course is 28.19 (for 42 shoots where score was kept). Therefore, a shooter who has only shot the hunter course should be regarded as achieving less than a shooter who has shot just the masters level course or a combination of the two, if their averages are the same.
