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Volume 3, Issue No. 11 November, 2005
Turkey cowboys bring home the birds at November shoot!
After Thanksgiving feasts, 61 well-fed cowboys and cowgirls ventured out to the wilds of Cleveland to do battle with rustlers and other metal bad guys. The sun rose, highlighting fall colors, and then hills came alive with the sounds of gunfire and the clanging of metal targets. Stage 2 had a little bit of a new wrinkle: a turkey shoot. Really! Each shooter stepped up to a bale of straw, retrieved ol T-Bones’ lever action shotgun, inserted a 12 ga. shell, and shot a target 56 paces (somebody’s paces) down range. The shooter in each posse who had at least 1 pellet closest to a little bitty circle in the middle of the page won a real turkey, dead and frozen of course. That is the turkey who was in the bag was dead and frozen. The turkey shooting the shotgun was alive and kicking.
COWBOYS AND THEIR TURKEYS
L- R: Badlands Beck, Fast Harley, Big, Devil Dog (holding THE shotgun) and Cherokee Maddog
Ocoee Red – Top Gun
Ocoee Red was the Top Gun of the day, and Last Kiss was the top cowgirl shooter. Fast Harley and Marshal Too Tall split the Buffalo Shoot: Marshal Too Tall placed 1st in the Long Range shoot, and Fast Harley was 1st in the .22 cal. event. 4 cowgirls participated in the shoot: Last Kiss, Ms Dee Lightning,
Last Kiss – Top Cowgirl Shooter
Dagnabit Deb and Donsie Darlin’. 3 cowboys shot no-miss matches: Keystone, Tar Heel and the Rev. Adam Jones (our weatherman).
Wranglers are important folks. They are the cowboys & cowgirls that put forward extra effort working in their posses during the shoot. October Wranglers were Big, Cherokee Maddog, Moonshine Roberts, Dead Beat, Fast Harley and Whiskey River Nelson.
SHOOT RESULTS: Top Gun – Ocoee Red Buffalo Shoot: .22 cal – Fast Harley Long Range – Marshal Too Tall
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Traditional 1. Whiskey River Nelson 2. Unpleasant 3. Festus D. Deputy |
Cowgirl 1. Last Kiss 2. Donsie Darlin’ 3. Dagnabit |
Modern 1. S.A. Pondwater 2. Polecat Carl 3. Limp Along Charlie |
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Senior 1. Tabasco JOT 2. Outrider 3. Wildcat Wilkey |
Gunfighter 1. Pleasant 2. Keystone |
49er 1. Ocoee Red 2. Double Eagle 3. Marshal Too Tall |
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Duelist 1. Horseshoe John 2. Tucson Tuco 3. Fast Harley |
Outlaw 1. Badlands Beck 2. Rawhide Rex |
Classic 1. Cherokee Maddog Black Powder 1. Catoosa Kid |
annual Christmas SHOOT & FAMILY SOCIAL EVENT – 17 DECEMBER
The Buffalo Shoot begins 8:00 am. Registration 8:30 am – Posse Leader walk-through 9:15 am – Safety meeting 9:45 am – Shooting follows ! All times are Eastern Time. SHOOT 3 STAGES THEN ADJORN TO UNCLE BUD’S CATFISH HOUSE IN CLEVELAND FOR FAMILY EVENT, PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL AWARDS, DRAWINGS FOR PRIZES, ETC. SEE PAGE 3 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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The Ocoee Ranger page 2 November 2005
The Reel West, The Real West & The West Of Our Imagination
THE REEL WEST – James Drury
James Drury was born in 1934 in New York City. But, he escaped and grew up in Oregon, and now lives in Texas. In his movie career, he’s been in a number of films, including important ones, Westerns. And he’s appeared on a number of TV Western series: RAWHIDE, GUNSMOKE, THE RIFLEMAN, LAWMAN, THE REBEL, etc. (I bet Whiskey River Nelson has never seen THE REBEL.) Shucks, Jim was in RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, a Western that many critics now consider a classic. Of course he wasn’t the hero. Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea were the heroes. Jim was 1 of the villains, but he was believable as a villain. All he wanted to do was steal gold from the heroes and share his new bride with his 3 brothers. Does that sound bad? Well, the bride thought it was. So did the heroes.
James Drury as
The Virginian
But Jim’s career best role was a character that didn’t even have a name. He played the Virginian on the TV series, THE VIRGINIAN, the 1st ever 90 minute TV series. It ran 249 episodes from 1962-1971. For some reason, the series name was changed to THE MEN FROM SHILOH, the name of the ranch, in 1970. When the series ended, Jim went to another series and became a fireman.
A few years ago, THE VIRGINIAN was remade as a TV movie. The guy who played the Virginian had played Bat Masterson’s brother who was shot in the Kevin Costner movie, WYATT EARP. He wasn’t particularly good as the Virginian, but it was a Western. The relevant thing is that Jim appeared in that movie, another THE VIRGINIAN. And once again he was a mysterious unnamed rider who rode up and said something like, “Howdy”, or some such, and then rode away. In 1991, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum recognized Jim’s role in Western films and inducted him into its Hall of Great Western Performers. If you’re ever in Oklahoma City, make a point of visiting the museum. It’s well worth the visit. It’s full of Real West and Reel West stuff, and an excellent museum.
that varmint, Pleasant
THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION – that varmint, Pleasant
Ol Pleasant is a Cleveland cowboy and has been shooting cowboy style since about 1999. He originally shot with some of us southeast TN – North GA cowfolk when we shot at Guns & Stuff, and as we changed ranges and expanded our scope of shooting, he’s been in the forefront of activities, as a shooter and as a leader. Shucks, that varmint Pleasant has been our Territorial Governor for a number of years, and he keeps us posted on what’s going on. A Gunfighter shooter, he shoots fast and accurate and gentle …. His loads caress the targets and hit them with a muffled thump rather than an unfriendly clang. But he’s consistently amongst the top shooters each year.
Where did he get his alias? It was his great grandfather’s name. What does he shoot? Well, he started shootin’ .45’s, but being a competitor, and not just a noisemaker like some of us, he switched to .357’s with light loads. It’s good for a joke, and some of us raze him about it, but the fact is his move made him consistently a top shooter, even shootin’ Gunfighter. And he’s a teacher. He’ll share tidbits of information with other shooters to help improve their shootin’. And he evidently passes along good shootin’ techniques. Just look at the performance of Unpleasant and Pyro. They both shoot well, just like their dad.
THE REAL WEST – Owen Wister 1860 – 1938
Now if you’re an informed cowperson, like Whiskey River Nelson, you’re probably sayin’, “What’s Owen Wister doin’ in the Real West section? He was an Eastern dude.” And you’d be correct. But… Owen Wister, along with William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, was 1 of the 2 most influential people in creating the romantic image and ongoing interest in the American cowboy. Ol’ Bill took his Wild West Shows on the road and showed his version of the West to the world. Owen wrote a book, The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains, and introduced the West to readers who disdained the pulp dreadfulls penned by Ned Buntline and similar writers. Shucks, Owen’s book has been made into a stage play, 4 movies and a long running TV series. It also created some of the formula characters (like the strong silent hero) and situations that have appeared in countless movies, TV plays and novels.
Owen Wister
Born in Pennsylvania in 1860, Owen was from a rather well to do family. His father was a doctor and his mother was a magazine writer. Of course in such a family, their off-spring just had to go to Harvard. So, he did. He dibbled in drama and music and after he graduated, he tried to become a composer, but gave it up. He took a more practical position in a law firm and planned to go to Harvard law school. But he got lucky. He developed medical problems and ended up on a ranch in Wyoming in 1885, just like his friend Teddy Roosevelt had done. He loved the West and the cowboys and the other people he met. And from his experience, he began writing stories about the West, and they were published. After several visits during summers, he wrote his masterpiece, The Virginian, which was published in 1902.
But while Owen loved the Western people he met during his visits, he was disdainful of the tourists who began visiting after reading his book, and he grew to not like the Westerners as they evolved to be more like the people he knew in the East. Owen was a bit of a snob. But he sure could spin a tale.
You’ve heard the line, “When you call me that, smile.” It’s 1 of the most famous lines in literature and in the movies. Well, Owen wrote that line. That’s what the Virginian says to Trampas. In Owen’s book, Trampas is the villain.
Today, The Virginian is considered the grand daddy of Western novels, and some consider it the best Western novel of all time. Critics say it’s unrealistic and romantic stuff, written by an Easterner. But whatever it is, a lot of people have read it. By 1938, the year Owen died, it had already sold more than 1 ½ million copies, and it’s still in print.
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Ocoee Ranger page 3 November 2005
ANNUAL OCOEE RANGERS CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT DECEMBER 17
ANNUAL OCOEE RANGERS CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT DECEMBER 17
SHOOT – We’ll shoot 3 stages at the Cleveland Range, starting at our normal time: Safety meeting at 10:00 am then shooting after that.
Santa Studies December Shoot Stages
AFTER SHOOT EVENT – After the shoot, we’ll go up to I-75 to Exit 25, turn right after exiting the interstate, turn left at the 1st traffic light after passing under the interstate, and go over to Uncle Bud’s Catfish Camp restaurant and have a Dutch Treat lunch. Shooters are encouraged to bring their family or special person(s) with them. After lunch, here’s what we’ll do:
§ Present Annual Ocoee Ranger Awards – Top Gun of the Year, Spirit of the Game of the Year, and other awards
§ Draw for Door/Trail Prizes Provided by Event Sponsors – Anyone present who has shot with the Ocoee Rangers at least 1 time in 2005, even if December is their 1st shoot of the year, or has regularly served as a scorekeeper, but hasn’t shot, is eligible to be in the drawing.
Cowboy Present Swap – Anyone, shooters or guests, can participate. Bring an unwrapped (you can put a bow on it if you want to) present and put it on the swap table. Present value should be in the range from $10 to not more than about $20. Participants will, by drawing, select a gift from the table. After the 1st person, future folks can select a gift from the table, or from those already selected by someone else. Gifts cannot change hands more than 2 times after the original draw. Participation in this part of the Event is voluntary. It’s usually a fun activity. Gifts can be handmade or purchased.
If you’ve been to 1 of these Events in the past, you know that they are fun. They are also a chance to bring families to meet the folks we shoot and socialize with. If you can’t shoot at the December Event (weather, other commitment, etc.), you can still attend the After Shoot Event and be eligible for the Drawing for Trail Prizes.
When this edition of the Ocoee Ranger went to press, the following sponsors had already provided gifts to be awarded by drawing at the Annual Ocoee Ranger Shoot and Family Event:
Red River Station – Devol, OK Henry Firearms Co. (not a gun)
Outrider West Creation – Hamilton, TX
Sharpco Distributors – Kodak, TN Buckaroo Bobbins – Chino Valley, AZ
Hamilton Dry Goods – Sparta, TN Reflections of the Past – Lexington, KY
Ocoee Red Brownells, Inc – Montezuma, Iowa
True West Magazine – Cave Creek, AZ FMG Publications – San Diego, CA
Saddle Bag Bullets (Cool Waters) Benton Shooters’ Supplies – Benton, TN
Mesquite Millie & Deadman River Bend Rough Riders, Canton, GA
In addition to these that are in hand, other sponsors have said they will provide prizes.
Come join the fun. You and your guest(s) will enjoy the event.
NEWLY WEDS AT NOVEMBER SHOOT
Newly Weds – Dixie Land Delite & Bulldog Jim
Not all the ringing in the last little while has been from bullets hitting metal targets. Some of the clanging has been the sound of wedding bells. Dixie Land Delite, daughter of Summer Dove and Devil Dog, recently got hitched to Bulldog Jim. The happy couple shared our November Turkey Shoot experience. Best wishes, folks. May your hearth fire and your hearts be always warm.
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