Hitting the target at the Rod and Gun Club

The Matamoras Rod and Gun Club, hidden in the woods of Westfall Township bordering state lands off Route 6, was founded in 1919 and incorporated in 1929 to promote social activities among members relating to hunting, fishing and outdoor activities.

There are 100 members, each owning shares in the club. People can apply for a yearly associate membership for a fee ($200 this year) and do a required number of activities helping out in the club.

The club bills itself as a “Sportsman’s Paradise” because of its many matches and social activities. The members at each level are friendly and welcoming, and many of the matches are open to the public. The club is closely affiliated with the NRA and in addition to the matches, it offers safety in gun handling and other training to 4-H and women’s groups.

Hitting the mark

“Steel Challenge” is among the more well-known matches. It takes place on every fourth Sunday of the month from April to October. It’s open to the public and the fee is $20.

“Steel Challenge” has been around for more than 30 years with more than 140 clubs in the United States. All matches follow the same rules governed by the Speed Challenge Shooting Association (www.scsa.org). Data is collected from across the country so scores can be compared against national standards.

Competitors start with a holstered gun and must hit five targets as quickly as possible in any order. There are three round steel targets (10 inches and 12 inches) and two 18 by 24 inch rectangular targets placed in competitive distances apart.

At the gun club’s Steel Challenge on June 25, there were 31 competitors. Bob Taylor and his wife, Charlene Foltzer are the co-organizers of the event. They have been doing the match for three years, but have only been the co-organizers for one year.

“We do it for the comradery, and it’s a great way to practice your shooting skills,” Taylor said. Both are very concerned about safety and following procedures. Foltzer is also an NRA instructor.

The atmosphere is very friendly, and competitors watch as various shooters take their turns. It is fairly laid back and without much pressure.

Three-days of Cowboy Matches

There was a lot of buzz about the upcoming Cowboy Action Match. These matches usually take place on the second Sunday of every month, but there will be a three-day event on July 7, 8, and 9. Everyone dresses in cowboy outfits and even takes cowboy names.

Kathleen (Cat) Thomas, one of the shooters, said her cowboy name was Sunny Days and her husband’s cowboy name was Renegade Sheriff.

“The people we do the shooting with at the Cowboy matches are the friendliest group of people you will ever want to meet,” Thomas said. “People come in their trucks or RVs and park on the grounds. They cook out or have a pot luck dinner and there is a lot of comradery around the campfire. People come from all over – [from] Maine-to Georgia.”

The match is open to the public and it is a great way to improve shooting skills. The standards for the Cowboy Action shooting match are set by the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). The coming weekend’s event is full, but people are welcome to come and observe the 100 shooters who will participate.

There is generally more space available at the monthly events. Cowboy Action matches and shooters can usually just show up at 8:30 a.m. for registration.

The club is located at 120 T-436, or Rod and Gun club road. For more information, log onto www.mrandgc.com or call 570-409-9330