"This is when we WIN"....a lesson learned from Dan Carlisle

Folks,
This past weekend, I had a good shoot. I had not performed as well as I had wanted at my first 2 events this year, and I was determined to get my game together. I practiced....I worked on my mindset, and I was prepared. I went to the North American FITASC with my head on straight, and full of confidence that I had done what was needed to have a good weekend.

But there were doubts of another kind in the air even before I got to the shoot. The North American FITASC was to be held at a new club, and there were concerns that the club wasn't really ready for a big tournament. On top of that, the weather wasn't looking so good.....new club( fresh earth moving) + rain= MUD. As I drove to the shoot, I was starting to get apprehensive. I was talking on the cell phone to a buddy about this, and he mentioned that like business, sometimes you can snatch victory out of a chaotic situation. That comment reminded me of a shoot earlier in my career...

It was at the Seminole Cup back in the TM Ranch days. I was shooting the main event with my coach and friend, Dan Carlisle, and we were both shooting well....really well. We were pushing each other every stand, and the squad had a real positive vibe to it (anyone that has squadded with Dan knows what I'm talking about). Then, the storm to end all storms came over the horizon......I mean cold, harsh wind, and heavy, sideways rain. I dove into my well stocked range bag and came out with a nice rain suit, waterproof hat, gloves...the whole get up that an aspiring "top shooter" was supposed to have at hand.

Didn't matter....I was miserable ...cold, wet feet....it was awful, and what a shame, I had been shooting so well, but that was slipping away from me. I was standing around whining about being cold and wet. Then I looked over at Dan....he had on the same blue jeans and tshirt that he started the round with....he was laughing at the mud, making jokes about the rising water and getting the truck stuck on the way out of the club.....he was having fun.

That was when he grabbed me by my rain suit (might as well have been by the scruff of the neck) and pulled me behind the golf cart, and said "...listen Bubba, all these other shooters are bitchin' about the weather, and they aren't focused on SHOOTING and WINNING.....this is when we WIN!" Well, he was right of course.....all I needed to do was keep my wits about me for a couple of hours of rain, which I have done thousand of days in the duck blind or deer stand, and stay focused on the job at hand. A couple of hours of rain isn't going to kill you...you won''t melt. You can get dry and warm in the clubhouse or hotel.

I didn't win that Seminole Cup....I had let too many get away during the few stations that I had my little pity party..... but Dan did.....I finished up well behind Dan, but much better than if we hadn't had that talk. I've learned a lot from him, about how to handle a shotgun, and about how to win.

I stopped on the way to the club and got a new rain suit, I cleaned my DT10, and rubbed it down with plenty of rust preventative. When I started up the drive to the club, they were already cars stuck in the parking area.....I engaged the 4 wheel drive on my truck, telling myself that I would need to wash the mud out of my front hubs after the shoot was over, before I headed home. I was ready for the weather, and I was ready to make a run for the title when I got to the shoot. Thanks Dan.

Best,

Will

The North American FITASC Champioships.......GREAT TARGETS

Folks,
I'm in a Holiday Inn, part if the way home from Bucksnort, TN and the North American FITASC Championships. Its been a long weekend, with plenty of crappy weather, muddy roads, and great targets! The North American Championships is the new name for the old Pan American FITASC Championships, and is still a FITASC World Cup event, and this year is also a TEAM USA Qualifier. After 8 great parcours, I came from 3 targets behind ( after Saturday's scores ) and tied my old friend Jon Kruger on a score of 190x200. We were both pleased as target setter, former World FITASC Champion for the UK, Ben Husthwaite had predicted that the winning score would be no higher than 188, and probably as low as 182! After a full parcour shootoff, I edged out Jon for the HOA Gold Medal. It was a fun shootoff, and certainly one I won't soon forget!

I'm cold and tired, and soon to be asleep, but here are a few pics.....

The targets were a hard bit of work, but shooting FITASC still beats working!

Best,

Will

Done with instruction for the week.....on to the North American FITASC Championship!

I finished up teaching today in Georgia @ Big Red Oak Plantation, and got in a bit of practice today with my buddies Randy Travalia and  Larry Farrow. Larry is still recovering from shoulder surgery, but he shot well today. Randy shot well, as always, and he looks like he has his game face on for this weekend's big shoot in TN....

The North American FITASC Championships in Bucksnort, TN.

I felt pretty good in practice today, and am looking forward to hitting the parcours. My buddy Ben Husthwaite is over from the UK to set the targets, so that should be well inhand. The targets should be great! If you love FITASC, I'll see you at the shoot!

Best,

Will

Another Successful Atlanta Charity Clays Event is in the History Books!

I had a great time this past weekend at the Atlanta Charity Clays Event, ....again! I've been attending this event for 7 or 8 years, and it is quite a great time, and raises funds for a great cause.

Atlanta Charity Clays


We shot for 2 days, at 2 different venues. Good targets for a this type of event, and plenty of good times! My friends Vinnie Hancock and Glenn Eller, both Shotgun Gold Medal winners in the Beijing Olympics, showed up to help, and we had a great time in the shootoff at the end. If you want to shoot some clays for a great cause, think about coming next March!

Best,
, ,
Will

The National FITASC is Over, Congrats to Byron Justice!

Well, another National FITASC Championships are in the record books, and a hearty round of congratulations go out to Byron Justice, our new National Champion. Well done Byron. It was a hard fought event, with very challenging targets. Challenging, but fair. I would go back and pay to shoot them tomorrow, if they were still up! Well done Rio Brazos, and especially great job by the target setter, Randy Voss of Caribou Gun Club from Minnesota.

I shoot well enough on the first day, pretty well on the second, and let myself down on the last. Ending up Master 3rd. I shot fair in the 2 sporting events. The main thing is that I really feel the competitive edge coming back to my game, and I'm fired up for my next registered event in 2 weeks time at the North American FITASC Grand Prix.

See you there......

Best,

Will

National FITASC @ Rio Brazos

First day of competition @ the National FITASC championships today, and the targets were stiff. Shot parcours 5,6 and 7 today, and scored pretty well ( 24,22, and 21). I felt good about the first 2 scores, but felt I let down a bit on the last. Out on the course tomorrow at 8 am, so I'm off to bed now to get some sleep!

Best,

Will

DT10 and TRG22, .....and the Weather Was Grand!

Well,
I got to Houston late last night, and today I went to American Shooting Center to shoot a bit. Head Honcho and good friend,  Ed Arrighi, who is shooting the National FITASC also, joined me for a couple of hundred practice targets. We had a great time, working out the kinks and "getting our confidence on". With plenty of daylight left, I headed to the longrange rifle area and broke out the Sako TRG. I have been looking forward to shooting on ASC's range out to 600 yards, and getting firm zero's, or "come up's" out to 600 yrds. That is now accomplished, and the 12" steel plate @ 600 yards was ringing for quite awhile!

I had soooo much fun @ ASC, I'm going back tomorrow!

Best,

Will

Been to Burge, and now at Big Red Oak Plantation.....

Well,
I finished 2 days of instruction at Burge Plantation, and now I'm at Big Red Oak. I've got a full day of lessons for tomorrow, and it looks like the rains will start Tuesday. Then, I'll head on out to Texas!

Yesterday, my first 'lesson' was a special one....my longtime friend and student Larry Farrow came out to shoot for the first time in over a year. Larry had shoulder surgery, and has been out of the game for quite awhile. The doc have finally cleared him to start shooting again, and we went out for an hour to test the waters. While his endurance was short, he certainly had not lost his touch, and he was blasting targets with abandon.

You could have driven a pickup truck through his smile when he broke his first target. Only afterward did he realize that there was no pain(!). He will need plenty of practice to build his shooting arms' strength back up, but one thing Larry has never been scared of was burning shotgun shells, and lots of dedicated, hard practice!

Glad to have you back in the game Larry,

Best,

Will

Heading to Georgia, Texas, Georgia, and Tennesee

This is my least favorite part of my great job/lifestyle/passion.....packing for the extended road trip. I'm leaving tomorrow ( early tomorrow ) , heading to Burge Plantation for lessons for the afternoon. Then the next day to Big Red Oak in Gay, Ga to teach through Monday evening. Then on to Houston for the National Fitasc Championships @ Rio Brazos over the following weekend. I teach the Monday, Tuesday, and half day Wednesday after the shoot ( 3/15-17) @ American Shooting Centers in Houston. Then back across the south to Atlanta for the Atlanta Charity Clays event ( 3/19-20) at Burge Plantation. I teach in the Atlanta area after the shoot till Wednesday ( 3/21-23) and then head up to the new club, Dogwood Hollow, in western Tennesee for the North American Fitasc Gran Prix ( 3/26-28).

I then get to finally come home.

So back to the thing I hate....figuring out everything I need for basically a month of inside and outdside activities in 3 different states, spread over 3 weeks. Everything from coat and tie dinners at the Charity Clays event, to shooting tournaments in any possible kind of weather, to possibly hunting hogs in Texas.

Oh well, it still BEATS WORKING.

Best,

Will 

The Devil Made Me Do It.......I Had To Order a New Wilson Combat 1911

Folks,
I 'fessed up that I seriously love custom 1911 pattern handguns. I mean I really dig them. Well, I broke down and ordered a new custom carry gun today from my friends @ Wilson Combat. I ordered the new Ultralight Carry, which is a full size 1911, but with a lightweight aluminum alloy frame to save weight. Its about half a pound lighter on your belt than an all steel version of the same pistola.....here is a pic...

I ordered the gun with several custom options including being chambered in the potent .38 Super chambering, with a spare fitted 9mm barrel( .38 Super for carry, and cheap 9mm for practice ). Also both barrels will be feature deep flutes to reduce weight( and look cool ). Gonna be a neat blaster.....delivery in about 5 -6 weeks....I"ll post pics when I get it!

Best,

Will

GAMEBORE BLUE DIAMOND's

I got a chance to shoot some Gamebore Blue Diamond shells today, and I came away quite impressed! Same quality Diamond shot as the famous White Gold[ my go-to favorite shells], but with reduced recoil due to lower velocity( 1200 fps@ 3ft ) and quality Gordon System hulls, made famous by B&P. These hulls further reduce recoil by nature of a collapsing internal chamber in the base of the hull to help reduce pressure.

They were very soft on the shoulder, with a smooth recoil, and they smoked targets. I think these shells will be very popular.

Best,

Will

Stories From the Range

Here is a good story,

So Sunday, I was giving a lesson to a young couple.....apparently they are “dating"....well, he was having a real hard time keeping his focus on the clay till the end of the shot. He was measuring lead, and missing behind. I explained to both of them that when the focus left the target to measure the lead, that the barrels slowed, and he was consistently behind the target. Even though he understood what was going on, he just couldn’t consistently keep his eyes locked on the bird….and he was getting frustrated.

So we took a break, and I told them a story of a 13 year old boy in my youth program that had the same problem. I told the young man to stare at the target like a cheerleader’s butt.....and after a few sheepish laughs and grins, the young shooter started busting targets.

After this break, and moment of levity, I put the guy back in the shooting box, and he called for a bird[ the same one he had missed 10 times in a row]. He smoked the clay! Everyone was happy and congratulations were passed around.

I then asked them what we learned…..before either could answer with something about focus.....I told the young lady the answer was that she is getting a short skirt and pom-poms for her birthday!

Sometimes, I’m sooooo witty, I amuse myself.


Best,

Will

Stopping @ Big Red Oak for lessons this Sunday and Monday

Gang,
I'm driving to Houston next week for the National FITASC, and have carved a couple of days out of my schedule to stop @ Big Red Oak Plantation in Gay, Ga. I'll be @ BRO on this Sunday(3/7) and Monday(3/8). Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in booking some time!

Best,

Will