McHenry Sportsman’s Club Newsletter (December 3, 1999)

Dear Members and Families:

We have once again the end of another year fast approaching. This year is not just the end of a year, it is the end of a millennium. Our planet will not experience this again for another thousand years. Putting all of this aside and focusing in on the events at our trap club, we had a very successful year.

Just a reminder, the club will be closed Saturday, December 25 and Sunday December 26. Additionally the club will be closed Saturday, January 1. There will be a Hangover Shoot at Woodstock which we should plan to attend.

The trap help shortage problem:

Before we dig into any news and information, there is something we think everyone should know about. Our club is experiencing the same dilemma that is occurring in many of our shotgun sport clubs around the country. The lack of Trap Field Personnel.

It takes two people to run a single squad, one pulling targets and keeping score, the other laying in the traphouse setting targets. Between six and eight of these individuals are required to staff a normal Saturday shoot. A registered shoot takes between ten and twelve.

This year, we made a extensive effort to acquire and train local teenagers for this function. With rare exception, the individuals we recruited learned and executed the responsibility well. We had a good group of young teenagers and were proud of them. Unfortunately, only a few stuck around. Currently we have three that we can count on, and their availability is sometimes questionable. We must remember, they do live at home with their parents and are not in total control of their lives.

Additionally, it appears that teenagers today have many other opportunities for employment, with little, if no desire to learn how to shoot. This is understandable, considering all the negative publicity associated with any type of shooting coupled with the high availability of jobs that exist in an economy that has been this good for such a long time.

This situation is not the end of anything, it is only the beginning, and may worsen. As most of you are aware, we need a solution and we need one quickly. Our club is attempting to correct this problem in the fastest and most cost effective manner possible. However, until this problem is solved, we may be experiencing backups and waits when the club is crowded.

We will discuss how we will fix the problem in subsequent topics contained in this newsletter. Until the problem is fixed, please, be patient. The teenagers we do have are trying real hard and doing a great job and members that are volunteering their assistance are likewise the same.

We are attempting to keep at least two fields (out of five) open. If things get really behind, we will open additional fields and place the trap help in the trap houses to set targets. The Voice Release devices will pull the targets for you. Unless we can find a member who will keep score, the squad may have no one to call lost targets and record scores, until we get caught up.

This is not the way we want our club to run, and, as already stated, the problem will be corrected. Until this time, please, be patient, and if you can, please help out.

Last year at a glance:

The Jackrabbit program:

Looking back, our club started the year by shooting in the cutting edge of the Jackrabbit Shoot, Woodstock ended up winning the event, but McHenry was very close. Perhaps the 2000 Jackrabbit will be another year McHenry wins.

The ATA Registered Shoot program:

The Registered season opened up with a shoot on… yes, Mothers Day. The club is never open on Mothers day. This year it was, and we did good. Just a note on that subject, the club is not in direct control of the dates chosen for ATA Registered Shoots. Sometimes the dates are more favorable than others.The next registered shoot was… yes, on the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July shoot was a great shoot, mainly because instead of giving out cash prizes, Belt Buckles (and Bracelets) were awarded instead. Two more Registered shoots were hosted, one just before the ATA 100^th annual GRAND AMERICAN, and the other right after it.

Art Moldenhauer, Harvey Scharlou and Matt Schalz all shot one hundred straight during our registered Shoot program this year.

The 1999 Family Picnic:

The 1999 McHenry family picnic was held this year and it was a great success. Thanks to Rich and Chris Weeks, and many others who organized and carried out the mission, the food was excellent. The logistics of the picnic was carried out by Tim Kraus. Hopefully this becomes a trend and future picnics will be even better.

The shooting portion was conducted with Belt Buckles for prizes instead of the large array of trophies that were awarded in the past. The shooters were happy with the prizes, and that helped make the 1999 picnic a success. The following shooters took home prizes from the picnic shoot:

Sixteen yard winners were: Brad Schmitt, John Snodgrass, Brad Lewis and Jack Nickleson.

The Louis Pitzen handicap was won by Chris Bussan.

Brad Lewis won the long yardage handicap while Rick VanEtten won the short yardage.

Len Huhn was the High veteran.

Anne Snodgrass was the High Lady.

High Overall Champion was Brad Schmitt.

The Club Champion was Ken Borecki.

New Members:

In 1999 we increased the membership roles by around sixty new members. We want to welcome these members to our club. Some are new shooters while others have been shooting for years. With these new members, more shooting is done, which makes the entire experience more enjoyable.

Building and Grounds:

Other various improvements were made to the Building and Grounds. In the previous year the garage was constructed. This was a tough act to follow. After the Garage was constructed, the two semi-truck trailers were removed. The targets and all other equipment necessary to operate our club are now stored in the garage. This year the changes were more subtle, but just as important. All the trap machines were worked on and are ready to perform their functions. The club also purchased Voice Call devices. Other things were accomplished, such as electric service was installed in the garage, an electrostatic air cleaner was obtained and was installed in the clubhouse to help deal with the cigarette smoke, and the roof was temporarily patched.

Shotgun raffle:

We conducted the shotgun raffle which raised almost eight hundred dollars. The winner was someone from the Maywood Sportsman’s Club, (or so we have been told). The tickets were sold quickly (thanks to the individuals that took on the responsibility). McHenry is considering another raffle to help raise additional money for the Building and Grounds fund.

Year/2000 goals:

For your information, our club is Y2K compliant.

In the next twelve months our club has some major accomplishments ahead which must be realized. The largest problem, and the one that is mentioned the most by the club’s membership is the Trap Field personnel problem. Other areas of concern are the maintenance of the clubhouse, which includes a new roof and siding. Fully automatic trap machines must also be evaluated, acquired and installed as soon as possible. The following is a partial list of our goals:

Members actually shooting:

This may sound obvious, but if you join the club, you should come out and shoot. We want you to shoot. We like you to shoot. You really want to shoot. It is fun to shoot. So why not shoot? We hope if you are not shooting at McHenry, you are shooting somewhere. If you do not, please, consider spending an afternoon or two with your friends shooting, hopefully at McHenry. For the ones that do shoot, thank you for coming and good shooting to everyone.

Membership enrichment:

Maintain our membership and help introduce more people to trapshooting. Encourage shooters to continue to shoot and improve their ability with their loved sport.

Membership and line fees:

The McHenry Sportsman’s Club is a not for profit operation, The only paid personnel are the Trap Field personnel, consisting mainly of local teenagers. Actual operations is performed by members on a voluntary basis.

The McHenry Sportsman’s Club has a membership dues of forty dollars per year and charges its members three dollars to shoot a round of trap. Other events are hosted with fees set in accordance with operating costs.

Although many other clubs have raised their line fees and memberships, McHenry is attempting to hold down these fees. We will attempt to do this as long as it is possible. The one thing all of you members can do to help allow this to continue to happen is to help out the club any way you feel you can. Most of the required work to run the club is performed by club members. With the exception of Trap Field personnel, the club rarely, if ever, contracts out outside help. This saves money, and is the main reason we are still a “three dollar club”.

The club does not host any other operation(s) to subsidize our operation. No oil wells, no five hundred acres of buffer leased to farmers, and… you guessed it… no cellular tower placement rendering us an extra thousand a month. What is in the treasury is from your membership dues and all of you coming to the club and shooting. Maybe someday, we may get lucky and find some other source of income, but remember, we are a trap club and our “product” is providing trapshooting to our members.

I have been told that in some parts of this country, people are driving up to two hours to pay up to seven dollars for a round of trap at their “local” shooting club. Lets not let this happen in out area, please, try to help out your club, even small contributions, like helping out behind the counter, assisting a new shooter, buying a pizza to support our automatic trap fund, anything that you can do as a member to help the club will help us keep our shooting costs down and keep our club open.

Counter help:

This has been a problem for a long time. If each one of us took a turn running the counter, and we had one person running the counter each time we are open, the interval between stints would be greater than one year. Right now it is the same dozen people and one or two in particular that run the counter all the time.The ideal situation is to have a team of two people running the counter on a given day. This would give the two people the opportunity to take turns shooting and running the counter. Please, try and help out if you can. This is themost needed function at the club at this time.

Building and Grounds:

We want to start maintaining the clubhouse. Due to the nature of the roof, (half of it is flat), and the fact that the old shingles must be removed, a contractor has been contacted. Work should begin either in December, 1999 or January, 2000. The roof is important because it has been leaking on and off for several years, ands getting worse each time. Temporary repairs have been made, but it appears to be beyond the state of temporary repairs.

For your information

Membership renewals:

Your 1999 membership expires January 1, 2000. There is a one month grace period where you can shoot using your 1999 membership for the month of January, 2000.

We have enclosed a pre-printed application for your year 2000 membership. You may renew now, or later. We would appreciate it if you look over the form and make any corrections that may be necessary and return the form with your dues.

If you have already renewed your membership, you receive a membership verification instead. Its purpose is to insure the information we have about you and your shooting interests are correct.

If you are a senior, you may be entitled to a discount. Seniors, that is people sixty five years or older may RENEW their memberships for one half the current membership price.

Look over the form and make any corrections you feel are appropriate and mail the form back or bring it to the club next time you are in.

This will help us keep our mailing list current so you can receive all kinds of goodies, (like this letter) as well as know the type of shooting activities you are interested in.

Voice Call Units:

We purchased two sets of Voice Call units. These are electronic devices that respond to audio signals, converting the audio sound energy into an amplified electrical impulse that activates a relay. The relay is an electrical-mechanical version of the puller’s thumb on the release button. These devices, when working properly release a target when the “pull cry” is sounded by the shooter. The intended result is no delayed pulls.

If a Voice Call unit is “deaf”, that is it fails to respond to the pull cry, it can become more irritating than the delay pulls. Yelling into the device sometimes works, but may cause the shooter to miss the target due to flinching. The best solution is to swap out the failing component with a spare and continue the shoot. It will take some time to work out the bugs, but this is one of many things that are becoming state of the art at many trap clubs and for good reason.

Providing Voice Call units was the first step to resolving the Trap Field personnel problem, and make the shooters happy with the highest quality target presentations.

Remember, the club still uses hand set trap machines. The targets must me manually placed on the machine’s throwing arm by a human being.

A word of caution, some target setters (myself included) have said they are afraid to set targets on trap machines that are activated by the Voice Call units. This is understandable. People like to talk on the trap line. When people talk, the voice call units do their job, pickup the audio, feeding the weak signal into a small amplifier boosting the signal and feeding the resulting stronger signal into a relay that… you guessed it, “pushing" the virtual button which releases a target. For those that like to stand like soldiers and just mutter their awesome “pull cry”, this is fine, but for the rest of us that actually like to talk, discuss our bad shots, and give each other their due, this causes unnecessary targets to be launched immediately, sometimes when the setter still has his hand on the machine’s throwing arm setting the “next” target.

If you are going to be in a situation where you feel you have to talk while shooting for any reason (consider teaching someone how to shoot), deactivate the Voice Call unit and release your targets using the “button”.

We should all experience a single round in the trap house, setting targets on a machine which is attached to the Voice Call units. This would give us more reason to appreciate out target setters.

About Trap Machines:

Targets are launched from the trap house by trap machines. There are many types of trap machines. Many of you people already know this. Some people that are new to shooting may not know exactly what is involved so we provided some information about trap machines as they relate to McHenry for you to review.

Currently McHenry utilizes electric trap machines which are “automatic” in all respects except each target must be placed on the throwing arm be the “setter” at just the right moment, and done so before the “puller” presses the button to release the target. Once the button is pressed, the target is released under tension of a large spring leaving the throwing arm un-cocked. An electric motor automatically re-cocks the machine immediately after target release. The setter must place the next target on the arm and the cycle repeats itself for the duration of the trap round. The machine automatically oscillates back and forth giving us the angles needed to make the shoot challenging.

When shooting true doubles, the situation is exactly the same, except the setter places two targets in a line on the arm. The machine is set so it does not oscillate back and forth. This is the reason doubles targets always come out the same way.

The degree of oscillation is a function of a setting commonly referred as “the hole”. Normal trap is shot with the machine set in “hole two” or “hole three”. The higher the hole number, the more difficult the targets become because their angle of dispersion is wider. Hole zero” setting renders pure straight-a-ways. The “hole five” setting (or the highest position available on the trap) provides the maximum angle of dispersion, which may be over ninety degrees. The maximum setting throws very difficult targets to acquire and hit. Some machines only have two or three settings, while others are fully adjustable from zero to one hundred and eighty degrees.

Another setting is the elevation.This is how high the target climbs when released from the machine. The ATA has published specifications on target trajectories, which include how high a target can climb and how far it can go. When standing on the trap field you may have noticed poles sticking out of the ground. These “poles” are used to calibrate the target’s trajectory as provided by settings on the trap machine. The elevation control is a key setting in controlling the target’s trajectory, and, as we all know, this setting is dependent on all kinds of environmental conditions which include the temperature and wind.

Another function (which is required by the ATA) is the “interrupter”, which (either mechanically or electronically) is used to vary the pattern of angular oscillation. The intent is to keep the shooter from ‘reading” the trap machine so timing may be introduced by the shooter to insure only certain targets are presented to the shooter. The interrupter we have on our machines good, but newer designs are available.For example, our machines do a “window” where, if properly observed and timed, would allow you to receive the exact same target presentation as the previous shooter received. Newer designs have addressed this.

An attachment may be added to a trap machine which will cause the elevation angle to vary from very a very low ground skimming trajectory to a maximum straight up ascension. This attachment is either a cam or external motor that slowly, but constantly varies the elevation up and down, and may also be under the control of the interrupter. When this attachment is used, it is referred to as “wobble trap”, and presents targets that are both fun and challenging to shoot.

About Fully Automatic Trap Machines:

A fully automatic trap machine works exactly like what was presented above, except all the targets are placed in a magazine, usually shaped like a carousel. Their capacity can be from one hundred fifty to twelve hundred targets. The machine is set up and adjusted the same way as any trap machine. However, it runs unattended in the trap house during the round. The only intervention is to add targets and tweak its trajectory when necessary. Additional intervention may become necessary if the machine jams. A jam is when a target is misfed or breaks and causes the machine to fail to launch subsequent targets.

It is McHenry’s goal to acquire one or more of machines of this type as soon as they can be delivered. This is due to the use of Voice call units and the lack of Trap Field personnel. Each fully automatic machine eliminates the need for a setter. With fully automatic trap machines and Voice call units, it is actually possible to run a squad without any trap personnel. The only thing that would be lacking in this case is the ability to keep score.

The use of fully automatic trap machines coupled with the Voice Release system will go a long way to reduce the club’s operating costs, and address the Trap Personnel problem facing our club today.

Why have Fully Automatic machines not been installed sooner?

We all know the advantages of Fully Automatic machines. The problem is one of cost and “physical plant”.

Fully automatic machines cost anywhere from four to over fifteen thousand dollars per trap field. McHenry Sportsman’s Club has five trap fields.

We are now at a point where trap help is not only becoming expensive, but is simply not available. Because of this, many shooters do not fully enjoy their experience at the club. Financial numbers have been worked up that prove the installation of the first fully automatic machine would have a less than a one year payback, while other machine’s financial payback become progressively longer. The financial payback is not the real problem. Shooters come to shoot, not sit around and wait, sometimes for a hour, to get on a squad and finally shoot.

The more trap capacity made available, the more people want to shoot. Most people come to shoot with a time duration, not a limit on the number of rounds in their minds. If a member chooses to shoot on a Saturday afternoon from one to four, he intends to shoot for three hours. If the member shoots three rounds, he or she waited a long time, if nine rounds were shot, her or she shot a lot. The main thing is the member shot for three hours. The financial justification for fully automatic trap machines was made assuming no additional revenue would be realized from the additional capacity. Figuring this in may even make the payback occur much sooner.

Money is needed and we will not minimize this, but money is not our biggest problem. The main problem is physical plant. A trap house normally is more below ground than above ground. What you normally see on a trap field is the top of the trap house. An adult person can enter a normal trap house and stand inside the structure. People have been known to store entire skids (sixty three cases) of targets in a single trap house. At McHenry, the geology of the property does not permit this type of trap house. Basically, if you dig a hole you will hit water. If you were to walk out past the trap houses, you would think you are walking on a sponge. Our trap houses are actually “pillboxes” laying on the surface. What you see on our trap field is the entire trap house. There is nothing under ground. The setter literally has to lie down in the house and set targets.

The automatic hand set machines we now have fit in our trap houses. Most fully automatic machines are much larger. Consider the target magazine which may contain four cases of targets, and all the other sub-assemblies needed to produce a fully automatic machine. Most machines assume components may be placed BELOW the mounting platform. Our mounting platform is on the floor of the trap house. The biggest problem is locating a machine that will fit in our trap houses.

The question most often asked is “why not build a bigger trap house?” personally, I could care less how big the trap house is, but the ATA does care. McHenry is currently pushing the limits with that we have right now. If we build a bigger trap house, we could be put in a position where McHenry would no longer be permitted to host ATA Registered Shoots, not to mention shooters having to adjust to larger trap houses.

We finally found a machine that will fit in our trap houses, but we have to modify the trap house so the back part of the roof (above the target carousel) is hinged (or removable) to facilitate the loading of targets into the machine’s carousel.

One of these machines was ordered. The factory is back-ordered, which means it may be a couple of months before one can be placed in service.

Trap personnel:

Trap personnel is a big problem. In 1999, our club attempted to address this problem and spent a considerable sum of money in an effort to acquire and train local area teenagers in the operation of trap field equipment, firearms safety, and the general business of Trapshooting. This was done with the expectation that there would be adequate personnel available for the ATA Registered Shoots, our routine practice shoots and other special events the club hosts. This, as with other best laid plans, failed.

We did get some very good teenagers to help us out, but our club is finding out what many other clubs are learning or have learned. Good (any) help is very hard to find. McHenry pays these people equal or more than any other club in our area. It appears that our young teenagers would rather work at a shopping mall, making the same or more money and “looking” at beautiful girls instead of hanging around our trap club putting up with all of us. We should not take this personally.I have been nosing around other clubs with this issue and have discovered this problem is not unique to McHenry, but at other clubs they are feeling the same pain.

We are always looking for reliable people to perform this function.

The trap help that tends to stay with us is a great asset to our club. Many of these people become friends with the membership. We are hopeful that later in life, they may even start shooting, and possibly joining our club. There have been some in the past who have taken up the sport and are quite competent.

We provide a great job for a teenager to become involved in, but unfortunately teenagers get older and find other jobs. One of the biggest problems is McHenry cannot give then the number of hours a teenager needs to make enough money. They seek jobs that not only pay more, but offer them more hours resulting in s substantial increase in income. I have been told by some that they really hated to leave, but they needed more hours and found them elsewhere. Remember, our economy is booming, and with that, comes an employees market.

Another amazing fact is the “tipping situation”. The official policy is: Tipping is not required, and you are under no obligation to tip the trap help. However, you can get a job in a restaurant and assume you will render yourself about ten percent of the gross product you lay out on your tables, even if you are not a good waiter. You, as a customer have no problem leaving this customary tip (if the service was at your level of expectation). I have seen this act performed even when the food and service is not up to par. Tipping in a restaurant is likewise optional, and is intended to show appreciation for good food and good service.

Now think about this. We show up at the trap club, it is the middle of February and the kids are freezing all day long setting and pulling your targets. Yes, they do get paid to do it. No, you do not have to tip these kids, and are under no obligation to do so. But consider what is going on. After an entire day of work, the tip can may have two or three dollars in it (on a good day), which is split equally between the trap help. I have seen it empty. How long would your favorite waitress work in your favorite restaurant if she went home after working all day with no tips day after day? We get to warm up after we shoot, they set and pull the next round.

If you appreciate what the kids are doing for you, you may want to “drop a buck in the can” on your way out the door headed for home, or maybe help them by showing them how to shoot when the club is not busy, or just walking up to them and thanking then for the effort.

Another very important point, most teenagers want to be led, and many do look up to the members more than we sometimes think. Maybe it will make the kids want to hang around and work for us if we show them more appreciation. Even speaking to them will go a long way. Anyway, they do a lot more for you when you are shooting than the wait staff in a restaurant does while you are eating, and for less money. Food for thought.

Upcoming Events

2000 Hangover Shoot:

The HANGOVER shoot this year is at WOODSTOCK. This shoot is run similar to a Jackrabbit. Plan to be there, if you can crawl out of bed, or if you were up all night, grab your gun and go directly to the shoot. There is nothing like it. New Year’s eve is on a Friday night this year. Saturday is just a good day to shoot, so plan on being there, and bring a dish to pass. The shoot starts around 10:30 AM and goes until whenever the food and shooting run out ???.

Directions to Woodstock are: Route 120 to Route 47. Go South on Route 47 past Highway 14. About a quarter of a mile south of Highway 14 is a street called DIECHMAN. Turn left on Diechman (West).Drive until it looks like it ends.To the left should be the access road to the club.

2000 Jackrabbit Schedule:

The JACKRABBIT Shoot is upon us.Everyone can come out and have a lot of fun shooting this event. If you have not participated because you feel that you are not as good of a shooter as you think you have to be, and are afraid you may hurt the club’s chances of winning, this is the farthest thing from the truth.

The actual “team” which the scores are used are the top five shooters from each club. If you shoot good and make the team, then you help the club. If you have a bad day, well, your score does not get used, (unless your bad day is one of the top five for your club). You never know what kind of score is going to win at the Jackrabbit Shoot. Come out and “give it a shot”, who knows, you may do better than you thought you would.

Yes, we know it is cold, but remember: what does not kill you makes you stronger.

The following is the 2000 Jackrabbit club schedule:

Date Hosting Club Date Hosting CLub

January 2, 2000 St Charles February 6, 2000 Northbrook

January 9, 2000 Mchenry February 13, 2000 McHenry

January 16, 2000 Woodstock February 20, 2000 Woodstock

January 23, 2000 Glenridge February 27, 2000 Glenridge

January 30, 2000 Northbrook March 5, 2000 St. Charles

2000 McHenry ATA Registered Shoot Schedule:

Date Information

April 16,2000

June 4, 2000

July 9, 2000 (Belt Buckle Shoot)

September 3, 2000

Sincerely,
Tom Carneal, Club Treasurer

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