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Tinhorn

40 Cal
Joined
May 22, 2020
Messages
116
Reaction score
39
Location
Redding, Ca
Who gets to do Trailwalks for score at their Rondys, and what are the targets? And how many per Trailwalk?
 
There are many variables. Anyone can form a trailwalk team. Usually you sign up as a team of 4 on a registration form. Pick a time of day. They give you a trailwalk scenario. Example, hunting meat for the fort. The team meets near the trailwalk site shortly before your chosen time and discus strategy. When the trail judge takes you on the trail you can expect 5-10 steel gongs. Sometimes balloons or cards. Usually there are also a few archery targets, tomahawk targets, knife targets. Sometimes a timed fire start. Compass skills. Snaring skills, etc.
 
"Woods walks" , that's what we called them.
We usually set up steel targets, breakable targets and a running deer. In the woods.
 
Our trail walks usually have 12-16 targets of various size and at various distances. Each participant is required to bring a blanket prize worth at least $10.00 and preferably related to muzzle loading. We use yellow eyed peas for keeping score, and at the end of the shoot a card is drawn from a deck of cards. If the value of the card is 10 or greater, high score is the winner and gets first pick from the blanket with subsequent picks per score. If lower than 10 (Ace = 11), the low score is the winner and gets first pick from the blanket with subsequent picks by increased score. This way the best shooters don't always get the first pick.
 
Up here in Northern Calif, the Northern Free Trappers have all steel targets; no 'clang', no score. about 2 dozen targets with a throwing target in there, too. Targets might be a welding tank swinging from a tree in the shadow, over 100 yds, or a fish at 40yds, or a chain hanging between 2 trees. Or a turkey head on a spring behind a log, very creative and challenging! The horizontal ones are the hardest to hit, with a circular ring target just as hard to score on. We keep score on paper score cards, and your group of 2-4 riflemen judge your hit, or miss! Everybody carries a paper punch to mark their scorecard. Challenging to say the least! I only hit about half of them.... Tinhorn
 
Our shoots have a few steel gongs, and a running boar target, but we also shoot a lot of bio-degradable targets like potatoes, carrots, charcoal briquets, loli pops, clay birds and eggs. Guys just love to break these things, and they are quite challenging.
 
We have the annual woods walk during the winter Encampment at Fort de Chartres in November. The course takes about 1/2 hour to walk. We know the basic scenario, hunting for food, searching for survivors from a raid, a scout looking for hostiles, carrying a message from one fort to another, the scene are as diverse as the teams putting them together. The teams in 2nd through 6th place draw cards to determine who sets the scenario hosts the walk. Teams of five go out onto the trail and should be prepared for 15 to 20 shots as well as having the needed equipment and knowledge to survive the walk.
 
How about a "Duel" between two shooters on this rifle rated dueling tree. It tests accuracy under stress and reloading skills... under stress. We've run it here and guys really like it. It will definitely highlight your weaknesses.

Each shooter starts with 2 plates on his side. The first to clear both plates wins.

This tree is shown with all the plate sizes available. You can mix or match using no tools.

The tree is adjustable for uneven ground and hillsides so the center post is plumb with the correct forward angle so the plates will always swing evenly for both shooters.

P4nVlnU.jpg
 
Our trail walks usually have 12-16 targets of various size and at various distances. Each participant is required to bring a blanket prize worth at least $10.00 and preferably related to muzzle loading. We use yellow eyed peas for keeping score, and at the end of the shoot a card is drawn from a deck of cards. If the value of the card is 10 or greater, high score is the winner and gets first pick from the blanket with subsequent picks per score. If lower than 10 (Ace = 11), the low score is the winner and gets first pick from the blanket with subsequent picks by increased score. This way the best shooters don't always get the first pick.
I like the randomness of the card draw. It helps keep it all for fun. I'm going to suggest we do something similar at my club.
 
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