Building a great Traditional Shoot, suggestions please.

[vermonster13]

July 16th-18th will be the first Traditional only shoot in Pittsfield Vermont. Camping will be available as are hotels/motels, a couple (hopefully 3) 3D courses/field target set-up, and vendors I hope. We are shooting for 500 attendees for the first year and if it works out try to expand. I will post more details in the Trad Event Forum as they come along.

What would lure you to a Traditional only shoot in the Green Mountains?

[Kevin L.]

Some good fly fishing nearby would be a bonus.

[wingnut]

Man you picked a bad date.  The IBO Trad worlds will be held on that date next year.

Mike

[vermonster13]

Doesn't show on their website. I see the championship for the weekend before.

Lot's of good fly fishing nearby Kevin. This is the land of Orvis.

[misfire]

What would lure you to a Traditional only shoot in the Green Mountains?

The Green Mountains themselves! Absolutely beautiful. I will be watching for this event.

[vermonster13]

We'll be right in the heart of them.

 
 
 
 

[Frenchymanny]

David,

I'm in!
We are much to much due to meet again.

F-Manny

[BobW]

This might tempt me, but it doesn't take much.  However, what is there in the surrounding area for non-archery types (for the family).  At that distance, I could make it a family trip, but need something for them.

[Shaun]

Could you move those mountains a little closer to Iowa? Why is it that so TX, so CO and the Green mountains are all 1200 miles away? OK I just checked, its only 1120 miles, maybe I will go.

[Gaff]

vendors!!!!!! the more the better!!!

i dont need anything other than the words "trad shoot" and i'll br there.. dave, if and when you get some fliers together could you send some to me? i'll pass them out at the shoots around here.
i should be able to get a bunch of people to go.

also, i found out that memorial day weekend 2010 bennington archers are havin a big 2 day trad shoot with camping and vendors. maybe you could come down and bring some of those black swans and set up a booth..

gaff

[Mint]

For the past 17 years my friends and i have made the trip from Long Island NY to ETAR and we have been going to the Baltimore Shoot since 1995. What I am looking for is at least 3 courses to break up the crowds and targets that are at least deer size in decent shape. It bothers me that we shoot a bunch of little targets at ETAR every year. I really like the Rinehart targets Baltimore puts out every year. I personally would have liked it if it was in June  or (August but not the 2nd weekend which is Muzzy Stump shoot) since ETAR is only a week or two away but i guess that might be black fly season for you? Another plus is some novelty shoots like aerial targets. A swap meet one night is a plus also. I think if you got a well known speaker like Fred Eichler that would bring the crowds too. Good luck!

[vermonster13]

Bob there is an alpine slide 10 minutes away. Lots of fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking and such in the area as well as my town is only 25 minutes away.

I'll do my best on targets. First year budget you know.

[gregg dudley]

These are some of the things that people ask me about:

List of nearby amenities, resources, attractions for non-shooting family members and for extention of travel/vacation.

Food Vendor(s) on site.

Are pets permitted?  An amazing number of people travel with pets and we have been limited by the fact that the forestry service has a strict no pets policy.

Are there electrical hookups for campers/rvs?  How far to a place that has them?

Can you have a campfire?  

Is the course in the shade?  Most people want to shoot a woods course rather than stand in the sun and shoot targets on the edge of the woods.

I will think of some more later.

Good luck.  It looks like a beautiful piece of property.

[dakota tim]

Have some interesting guests like well known author Dick Loudon and his wife, Joanna.


   

[vermonster13]

We have a couple miles of trails to use that are forested and that's where the 3D will be located. Everything else is a work in progress. I figure guys will help me avoid leaving out important stuff that may not be important to me.    

Really appreciate all the input.

[ishiwannabe]

Any plan for classes? I know Im constantly looking for more info as far as traditional shooting and hunting...string making....knap ins...leatherworking. Just an idea...

I know at the muzzy, there is "downtime" between rounds.

Otherwise Im sure you will knock em dead. Doing a raffle? It could help with covering some of the costs of throwing this thing.

Sounds like a very cool thing to me. I would go in a heartbeat.

[Maxflight]

Wow, 500 attendees for the first time? I wish you lots of luck. Like Wingnut said you will be going against the 2nd annual IBO Traditional Worlds (and they didn't even draw half of the number you are hoping for). You will not only compete for shooters but also the bigger known vendors.

Again, not trying to rain on your parade because if it wasn't a conflict I could see myself heading to Vermont next summer. But after experiencing the class act of the 1st IBO Traditional Worlds there is no way I will not be there next year, no matter where it's held.

[George D. Stout]

ETAR is successful because it's a fun, and very relaxing shoot.  No score cards to intimidate anyone and slow down shooting.  They started with 200 attendees in 1989 so 500 isn't out of the question.  As I recall there were just twelve vendors at the first one.   Attendance now at ETAR is in the multi-thousands, with about 3000+ registered shooters, last count I had.

The have a kids area...aerial shooting..balloons.
They also have 8 different ranges; of course they didn't start with that many, but grew into it.  

It needs to be a place to visit, share campfires and stories; a seminar or two don't hurt but aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things.  Make it fun and make it accessable, and of course, affordable.

[vermonster13]

Fun is job one. Kids range is a perquisite(Jake would never forgive me), score cards have no place here. You want a friendly competition with the guys/gals you shoot with that's fine. I envision a chance for a bunch of like minded shooters to get together and make some memories.

[celticknot]

Showers are a big plus. I also like course's with walk through targets instead of in and out shots. Consessions a deffinite, good vendors, water source, more hunting shots than crazy ones, some 3D targets on your practice range, maybe aerials, and novelties. Put water and pop in a cooler mid way through how ever many course's you have and leave a can to put money in, make sure you past how much it is and leave extra change in the can so people can make change. Thats just my 2 cents.