The Marauder

Published by the Tennessee Mountain Marauders A Cowboy & Cowgirl Action Shooting Club 

Volume 4, Issue 5                                (Web Version)                              May, 2001

THEY WENT THAT A WAY … IN MAY

    

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOOT

     Yep. They went that a way in May.  It was a long week-end, and several Marauders and regular visitors were diverted to other attractions or family pursuits. Attendance was down a little, but we had an great shoot.  The weather was terrific. Down in Leadmine Valley, we had 34 shooters who strode into their corrals & tack rooms, put aside modern day trappin's, put on their sombreros and six-guns, and rode out to do battle with the outlaws and owlhoots. 

     That ain't bad, considering that on that same weekend the Shootout At Mule Camp was happenin' in Gainesville, GA.  Cowfolk who've been playing the game for a while know that the Mule Camp event is the 1st major SASS shoot in the year and the largest regional shoot east of the Mississippi River. 

Doc Harleyday Shoots Them Bad Guys!

     But enough of that stuff. Let's talk about shootin'.  And we shot 5 stages, the scenarios of which were put together by ole Trail Bones.  On 1 stage, shooters shot out the candles on Angie Oakley's bithday cake.  There were 25 of'um. (On Sunday, that cowgirl became a quarter of a century old. That's 25 years for you cowboys that've been kicked 1 too many times by an ornery bronc)  

     On another stage, we had an experience that we haven't had before.  We shot Billy the Kid and his gang who were hidin' in a building.  So, we had to shoot through windows and doors to hit the targets.  We couldn't understand why them critters didn't come out and surrender.  After all, we promised 'um a fair hangin'.

     After the shootin' was done and targets and props were stored, we adjourned to the meetin' house for our monthly meetin' and to have cake & punch to help the Trail Bones family say, "Happy Birthday" to their cowgirl, Angie Oakley.   The Happy Birthday song was led by Horseshoe John, echoed by other out of key cowboys, and it really sounded as rugged as Evil McNasty predicted. 

Angie & Judge Roy Bean -  Angie's 25th Birthday Napkin  -  Angie & Dad (Trail Bones)

     What were some of the highlights of the shoot?  Well, Heidi Niles, wife of Longhorn Larry, visited and spoke to us before the shoot.  

     Tri had a big day.  He missed only 1 shot out of 5 stages.  That cowboy was only 1 miss away from a perfect shoot.  

     Renegade won the Buffalo Shoot.  Blayde Hollister placed 1st in cowboy shootin', and Angie Oakley placed 1st in cowgirl shootin'.  Slim was the Top Hombre.  And the Rev Adam Jones joined and officially became a Marauder.  Blayde Hollister won a cowboy Bible, and Buckeye won a Roy Rogers & Trigger knife in drawings.

     Special "Thank yous" are in order to the following cowfolk:  Trail Bones for writin' the scenarios, bringing targets, range set up, and constructing the building Billy the Kid and his gang were shot from.  Angie Oakley and sister Natalie for painting the Billy the Kid building.  Horseshoe John for range setup.  Gary Erwin, father of Joe Kidd, for helping in range tear-down and movement of targets & props to the storage building.  Buckeye for organizing and conducting the Buffalo Shoot and for donating the buffalo target. Tri and Pleasant (who wasn't present) for donating knives to be used as door prizes at monthly shoots.

Posse #2: Kneeling, L to R. Doc Harleyday, the Catoosa Kid, Sundance. Standing L to R. Trail Bones, Angie Oakley, Blayde Hollister, Cherokee Blue Eyes, Evil McNasty, Tennessee Justice.

JOHN WAYNE TRIBUTE SHOOT IN JUNE

     Just after we finalized our May shooting stages, the Rocky Top Ranger contacted ole Deadman and said something like. "Hey! Did you know that John Wayne's birthday is May 26th?"  Now bein' as how Deadman has trouble rememberin whether he packed his guns or not, he didn't know it.  So, the Ranger volunteered to write scenarios to have a John Wayne Tribute Shoot in June.  And that's what we're goin' to do.

     If you've ever watched John Wayne movies (and if you ain't, shame on you), you'll recognize the stages from some of his movies.  The shootin's changed a little in some stages, to allow for more shots.  But basically, the stages are right out of the movies.  In fact, they're from these movies:  True Grit … Cahill, U.S. Marshal … The Sons of Katie Elder … The Searchers … and Big Jake. 

     So, in June try to portray John Wayne in dress and presence. We'll give a Best John Wayne Presence Certificate.  And if you don't want to portray the Duke, don't worry about it.  There's a little bit of John Wayne in all of us each month when we play our game.  It's called cowboy spirit, patriotism, and integrity. See you in June, Pilgrim.

TWO MARAUDERS ARE AILIN'

Cherokee Drifter      and      Moose Clancey
     We wish a special "Get Well" wish to Cherokee Drifter (left) and Moose Clancey (right).  Moose was scheduled to have bypass surgery on Tuesday, May 29th.  According to the doctors, the ole cowboy will be hospitalized for a few days. 

     The reason you ain't seen Cherokee Drifter (left), Tennessee Justice's paw, around in a'while is because he's fixin' to have some back surgery. Accordin' to that cowboy's doctors he may not be shootin' for a spell.  We wish you both a speedy recovery! 

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