Silver Willows Sporting Clays

Stampede 400 - July 2012

The Stampede 400 was held at Silver Willows Sporting Clays near Carstairs Alberta on the weekend of July 7 and 8 2012.   The shoot was created after the North American FITASC was moved to another date and location in the US.

Realizing that a number of people had already made travel plans to attend a shoot, the Days created this 400 target shoot to ensure that those who had planned a trip would have a worthwhile experience.

Despite the fact that serious bad weather passed just miles north of the shooting grounds, the two days of the shoot were sunshiny, and for Alberta, just plain hot.   The weather made for some great shooting. Winds were mild so the targets that were planned were the targets we saw.

Registration was handled in a most cordial and friendly manner by Gwen and her black shirted helpers and we were soon ready to roll.   Don and his boys had set a most interesting set of targets.   Saturday's targets were broken into 2 100 target shoots on a 14 station course.   First two targets were singles followed by report pairs.

Saturday AM were no easy set.   Targets were clever and well planned. High score 88.

Saturday afternoon was a little easier, but nevertheless testy with a high score of 95.

Sundays targets were all pairs.   In many cases just as you went to pull the trigger, the second target appeared in an attempt to distract you.   Many pairs made you really think how you wanted to take them.

A nice mixture of specialty targets with battues, midis, minis and rabbits making an appearance along with black and orange 108s.

The terrain was effectively used with traps set on hillsides sending targets high over head or diving into the tree tops. Nothing was excessively long, proving once again that targets don't have to be way out there to provide a challenge.

Don and the boys seemed to be everywhere in their black and white checked shirts and obligatory cowboy hats.   Breakdowns were few and far between, but fixed with great dispatch.

Meanwhile Gwen and the girls were seeing to the vitals at the club house. Burgers and salads were the order of the day Saturday.  Sunday morning saw a Stampede pancake breakfast complete with western singer, and lunch was sausage and salad along with tempting sweets.  The girls were cheerful and attentive and nothing was too much for them.

Silver Willow is located a few kilometres south of Cartstairs about 40-50 km north of Calgary AB.

The whole operation is run by the use of a windmill, solar panels and a gas generator when demand gets high.   The place is completely off the grid except for telephone.

A number of shooters from out of country, as well as out of province attended the shoot with the furthest shooting coming all the way from Australia.  I don't think anyone was disappointed.

I have shot many courses in the US including a great many Florida courses, US Opens and Nationals in San Antonio as well as courses in Great Britain. The presentations and facilities were as good as any I have seen.

The Days are to be congratulated on a fine effort.

I understand plans are under way for another Stampede 400 on the opening weekend of the Calgary Stampede next year.  This is one you shouldn't miss.

Douglas Bailey