DIFTA...Frederick, MD. Beautiful location in a forest of trees. Light ground cover. In the spring and summer you are under a deep green leaf cover while in the Fall you are beneath the wonderful colors of fall.
EFTCC...Wappinger Falls, NY. Another match in the forest. Ray has done a great job of integrating a field target course in the forest of trees. Every target is at or below your sitting point with the exception of one lane that has a 20 ft high shot at 10 yards.
RBGC...Rush, NY (just below Rochester, NY) has two courses, one in the fields where you battle the Rochester winds (we've shot in 35 mph winds) and a woods course where you fight the shadows and some holes that allow wind through the forest. The Crosman competition is held here and the facility is top notch.
Port Colborne, Canada...Another wonderful course in the woods. The rules are slightly different...monopods, no AO ranging, and 1/4" killzones!
NOA...Northeast Airgunners of Ohio. Their latest venue isn't for everyone. Tough to get into, but the course is varied and always challenging and popular. I hear they had 40+ people at their last MONTHLY match.
BOA...Baton Rouge, LA. Beautiful facility, and wonderful southern hospitality. They have 3 or 4 courses all in the Louisianna woods with some strong shadows that prove difficult to range in. Looking forward to their 30th Cajun Classic next year. Worth the 20+ hour drive imho.
DIFTA
EFTCC
RBGC Field
RBGC Woods
Falls Twp R&P A has a very engaging backdrop offering a variety of presentations for matches. Lanes are often switched up and even turned 90 degrees to offer an ever different challenge. The course area takes full advantage of the 3D archery facilities in a mostly wooded venue.
Although a new (or rejuvenated) venue, Delaware County F & S can deliver both long and level or inclines up and down along a picturesque terrain. Some of the area runs along a ravine where tricky breezes can crop up. It is a hike to the farther lanes but the venue is challenging and fun.
Broome County S A is entirely different from many others. At first glance, the match course appears to be set up on someone's manicured lawn.......and then the far targets begin to meld into the heavy shade and wooded cover making for every bit the challenge one looks for in FT. And, that isn't to say that the closer targets are "gimmees" because the breezes can play havoc while one attempts to hold on the smaller KZ's.
There are no "perfect" courses and each offers the chance for MD's to be creative. These are the ones that are local to me but I have truly enjoyed shooting at Heflin, AL and Will Piatt's home turf as well as the Crosman matches both at the factory and the RBGC.
Bottom line to me is the opportunity to shoot and I'm grateful to the MD's and there helpers who make it all possible.
Craig_E
I am just curious to hear about some of your favorite FT venues.
Which ones have great facilities, which ones are pretty, which ones have unique challenges?
Pictures make it so much better,
David Enoch
Our facilities in the Morro Bay/San Luis Obispo area are just OK and not all that pretty, but we have better weather than anywhere.
Although I have never been there, I would guess Lonnie Smith's match in Nevada would be a nice place to shoot.
Jeff P
I look at a few things when evaluating major matches.
The Field Target Course (terrain, scenery, ease of use)
Supporting environment (ease of access, parking, food services, sight in range, lounging area, lodging/camping)
Supporting Cast (number of bodies maintaining match, Vendor support, neighboring club support)
Speaking only of the West my three favorite major match locations are:
1) 2017 Nationals Phoenix AZ - unmatched combination of a beautiful course, outstanding supporting environment and supporting cast. It is what you dream a nationals match would be. https://www.phoenixairgun.net/aafta-nats-synopsis
2) Morro Bay Grand Prix Matches - while the course is not spectacular the surrounding environment certainly is. If you can camp this is the most self contained match you will find. Scott and Alan's hospitality is unmatched, food is terrific, facilities provide everything you need and, well, the weather!!!!! Most shooters show up on Thursday or Friday park their vehicles, set up camp and never start their cars until it is time to leave. I never miss one of Scott's matches. http://www.slsba.org/airgun/results/2017MB-pics.htm
3) Nevada State Grand Prix, Battle Mountain, NV - This match flunks everything except the field target course. Two years ago the group had 5 flat tires getting to and from the course. You face either an 8 or 20 mile drive down dirt roads and only 2 or three creek crossings to get to the match site. We are lucky that only 15-20 people show up for the match as there is no place to park more than that. We actually had Porta-Potty's this year! This is as primitive as a FT match can get, yet the scenery and course trump all of the rest. Lonnie has done a spectacular job of keeping this match alive. I can think of no more difficult course to set up and maintain than this match. Lonnie and Chris have improved the environment every year. "Are you tough enough" describes this match to a "T". It is the one match I never miss. Jeff posted a link to some pictures above.
Jim in Sacramento
We all have different resources to work with so results do vary when it comes to field target courses. That's what makes FT unique. Doug and Mike have done an excellent job at Delaware County Field and Stream in setting up two challenging and pretty courses. A bit of history. We all have heard about Florida and Louisiana clubs from the early days of FT but Delaware County started around that same time and maybe before. Then the organizer of the airgun programs there "left the range" in his nineties. Delco is a big club with lots of politics and the entire airgun program has been in decline for some time. NOW Doug and Mike are working to bring things back to their former glory and so far they are doing great and returning it to the great venue it was.
Rick Bassett ( FT Match Director,one of, at Falls twsp R & P Assn)
I think I left out the most important part. It is the hard work of a few (or just one) at every event that make the event run.
Thanks for the descriptions of the courses. I have enjoyed reading this and I suspect others have as well. It was interesting to read about places where you could move lanes around and even change direction. The lanes I have seen have all been cut out of bottom country so thick that lanes can't be moved around without use of a chain saws and a bunch of work.
David Enoch
Jeff,
Wish you could have stayed through Saturday for our regular scheduled match. Hope you got to shoot on the White course.
David Slade also has a good setup over at Minor Hill just NW of Roz's place.
Don't know what work brought you way over here, but maybe if you come back, I can meet you.
Pat
oh.. easy question:
the one Im currently shooting at... (in?)
Ive been to the ones 22Jim listed (and likely with Jim there too..), all gorgeous for a variety of reasons. Id add the ones in Ashland OR to that list.
For me the "beauty" of a course is the challenge, and the folks Im shooting with at that match.
The field target courses built by Wayne Burns and his crew in Ashland, Oregon offer some absolutely gorgeous scenery and first-class challenges.
Shooting uphill and downhill, through forest and across open pasture ... they've got it all.
That's our buddy, Scott Hull, on the mountain top course.
