Fall Classic Shoot

I was able to observe during the fall classic shoot on Saturday, the shooters all shoot with their teams. Along with the teams there is a “scorer” who keeps their score while they shoot, they sit on this podium I guess is what you’d call it , and have an umbrella to keep the sun out of their eyes. These are people who are hired by the state while there are small shoots going on.. during the grand the ATA( Amateur trapshooting association) hires these people. I also noticed all the IDNR (Illinois department of Natural Resources) employees drove around in golf carts to make sure everything was running smoothly. Most of them had golf carts or ATV’s , but there were some with vehicles keeping on eye on everything.  

Shooters would wear vests , with either their schools name or teams name on them, and carry there gun around rather than having carts like the cowboys. Some of them did have golf carts but not all had them. They like to sit and talk at their vehicles before or after they have shot. If they have a truck they usually walk back to it , put the tail gate down and sit and wait for everyone else to come talk to them.

I haven’t heard anything back from Chris yet , he was in charge of the shoot so I’m hoping to hear back sometime this week.

                 

what the complex is used for , other than shoots ...and my plan for next week

There wasn’t any shoots this weekend, so I wasn’t able to observe any. However I can tell you what the complex is used for other than shoots. There is plenty of space for wedding receptions , class reunions , anything you might think of there is space enough for 500 people I believe.  I helped cater a 60^th class reunion last night. There were 90 of people! For a 60^th reunion that’s pretty good! These people were still sitting and talking when I got of work at 11:30pm! I’m not sure when they finally left, but I was glad I was able to leave before them. I talked to Chris Hespen who is the executive director for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and he doesn’t have a problem with me observing at shoots or interviewing people. I will be bringing him the permission letter sometime next week, to make sure he understands what I’m asking and then observe at the Fall Classic next weekend. I love working during the shoots to see what the shooters have to say. They’re usually really happy , or really made  , it just depends on how they’ve done shooting throughout the week.

Rough Draft Paper 1

Denise Birchler

Bradford Nadziejko

September 23, 2010

Rough Draft

            I will be researching the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta Illinois.  The complex was in Vandalia, Ohio from 1923-2005, and then moved to Sparta in 2006.  I will be researching not only the complex in general, but also the different shoots and how the shooters interact towards each other.

            I believe that I am different than the shooters; I do not understand why people would spend so much money on their guns, or, for that matter, why they love shooting so much. I personally think I would be horrible at trap shooting; I have never shot a gun before.  A lot of it depends on the shooter’s background; where they grew up, if they came from a family with tons of money, or one that came from not so much, and whether or not they got a higher level of education.

I am a 19 year old, white female. I live with my parents and my little sister; it is sometimes a big pain living with them, but I am still glad I stay with them. We have lived in the same house since I was about 3 years old; it has all my childhood memories in it. I grew up in Sparta, went to school in Sparta, and got my first job in Sparta. I have been employed at 17^th Street Bar and Grill in Sparta for the past 4 years, and babysit or mow grass when I am not working. I am not married. I am a sophomore at Southwestern Illinois College  and my major is in Social Work, I plan on transferring from Southwestern Illinois College  next year and going to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale to get my bachelors degree then my masters in Social Work.

I have been working at 17^th Street Bar and Grill (located in the Main Event Center at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois) for the past 4 years-- almost as long as the complex itself.  I guess that is why I am so interested in learning more about it. I do not really know much about it other than when there are shoots. I have experience with the shooting complex because I have worked there for so long and I have served so many shooters it is ridiculous. I know how they act, what they want, what they need, and when they need it. It all comes with the experience you get from working there. I want to find out if this diverse group of people from around the world would be considered a subculture, and how they got into the sport. I do not have any concerns about this group, I believe that I will have no problem getting my information, and talking to some of the employees of the complex and seeing what they have to say about it.

Some stereotypes I have heard include; shooters are usually good tippers, very protective of their guns and usually very rude and inconsiderate when being waited on at work. That is usually said because someone has had a few bad experiences with them. I can say they are very protective of their guns. Some of them are very rude when being waited on at work, this usually happens when we are extremely busy, and they want their food right away. They are not considerate of the other people around them and are usually very loud when they get mad.

            I think it will be hard for me to understand why people would spend so much on a gun and the other supplies. It just seems weird to me that someone would you spend thousands of dollars on a gun just to go off and shoot it? If it was me I would be protecting it with as many cases as possible, putting it in a safe place, and never using it. I will try to come to an understanding of why people enjoy trap shooting so much and why they want to spend so much money on their things. Most importantly, I will look into the history of the complex, where it originated, why it moved, what was the land before the complex was built. I will also observe how other shooters interact with each other; do they have certain jesters, a certain code that they go by, and their own language.  By the end of the semester I plan on understanding more about the shooting complex, and the history behind it. Along with the different shoots, and how shooters interact with each other.

   

I just added some things to it ... If you can think of anything else let me know!

SASS Cowboy Shoot

I got to observe the Cowboys this weekend while i was working our concession for work. SASS stands for Single Action Shooting Society, which was created to preserve and promote the Cowboy Action Shooting. When participating in the Cowboy Shoots it’s required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, a Hollywood western star , or an appropriate character from fiction and dress like them while shooting their name has to be like well thought out and can’t be the same of anyone else’s. If they sound anything alike then they don’t allow it. Many ladies enjoy dressing up in big dresses and corsets than the shooting itself the guys have their boots with the spurs, chaps, shirts, and of Corse their hats. I observed them shooting during the day, and saw that it can get pretty completive but they enjoy themselves more than anything. All the shooters have carts for their guns, and are very protective of them. Their guns they use are typical of what were used in the old west, single action revolvers, pistol caliber lever action rifle and old time shot guns. I also observed that most of the men aren’t that nice. One day it was raining and the guys had their umbrellas covering them but their wives were out in the rain. I thought that wasn’t very nice considering it was their wife. They just let their wives walk by them and get wet. It didn't seem nice to me. Saturday night we catered the SASS dinner for all the shooters, they had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, ham, turkey, veggies, and numerous casseroles. Things that people in the old west would have loved. I also noticed that most of the men were very big muscular guys that want their food. I would be trying to get through to put more food out for them and I’d say excuse me and they’d turn around and it seemed like they were a giant compared to me. I’m talking like 4 or 5 feet taller than me!
Denise

project letter #2

Dear Mr.Nadziejko and Class,



I would like to research the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois; I would like your permission to study this group. There are so many groups that meet at the complex every weekend from Cowboy Shoots to the Grand American to Boy Scout events. The complex has been in Sparta for 5 years. Its brought of people to Sparta, and helped a lot of the business. I’ve been at 17th Street Bar and Grill at the Shooting Complex for four years. Working there has made me want to learn more about what the Complex offers and why people are willing to spend thousands of dollars in these shoots. I would also like to learn more of the history of the complex before being in Sparta. It has so many things going on all year round whether its shoots or the restaurant hosting a wedding reception it has so many uses for the people around Sparta. This faculty I feel is defiantly a subculture, everyone who comes there either loves trap shooting, or wants to learn more about the complex in general. The complex has league shooting every Thursday night, whether it’s a school team or just some people wanting to practice before some shoots start for them. The complex is open Wednesday through Sunday, anyone who wants to shoot through the week has to go to the IDNR office first and they will get you ready to go. At the complex they have a number of shoots year round. It includes skeet, trap, sporting clays, archery, and cowboy action shooting, camping and fishing. I’d defiantly say the shooters have a feeling of belonging when they are there for shoots. They have their own language when with other shooters, stuff someone that doesn’t shoot would not understand. It blows my mind how many people come down to Sparta every year for the Grand American, it is always so much fun to go out and see how many out of town vehicles you see. I don’t really feel connected to them.

The Shooting Complex is very easily accessible, it’s about 8 miles outside of Sparta, very welcoming and insuring proper parking and everything you need. I would defiantly be able to visit the complex whenever I need throughout the semester; I’m there almost every weekend for work. It’s defiantly safe and legal. The IDNR office is located there, along with a security guard. I’m familiar with the Complex with just what I know from working there. I know a numerous number of people I can interview for this, Chris Hespen, who deals with scheduling shoots and works for the state. Dennis Sneed works for the state also, helps with scheduling shoots and organizing things. I could also interview some of the IDNR guys who work at the complex for maintenance, or the guys who watch over the complex fixing things just making sure everything running smoothly. Some of their names are John Hamilton & Joe Dobyns. I can also interview people who live in Sparta , the mayor Rob Link for what he thinks the complex has brought to Sparta. Some of my friends who shoot, Grant Kueker, Molly Howell, the list goes on. My schedule works well with the schedule at the complex. It’s open anytime Wednesday through Sunday. I will be able to get to the complex each time we have an assignment and complete it by the deadline. I will be able to go out there anytime I would need to ask questions or observe when there is shoots going on. There is actually a shoot going on this weekend, I got to observe them and take notes, along with serve them at a dinner we catered for work.

In conclusion I would like to research the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta Illinois. I look forward to learning more about the complex in general, I love learning and researching about what the complex is like for someone who isn’t from Sparta. I want the outsider’s opinion and the local people’s opinion. I want to know how everyone feels about the complex being in Sparta, and the past history of it being in Ohio.

Denise

Group Project Letter

Dear Mr.Nadziejko and Class,



I would like to research the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois; I would like your permission to study this group. There are so many groups that meet at the complex every weekend from Cowboy Shoots to the Grand American to boy scout events. I’ve been at 17th Street Bar and Grill at the Shooting Complex for four years. Working there has made me want to learn more about what the Complex offers and why people are willing to spend thousands of dollars in these shoots. I would also like to learn more of the history of the complex before being in Sparta. It has so many things going on all year round whether its shoots or the restaurant hosting a wedding reception it has so many uses for the people around Sparta.

At the complex they have a number of shoots year round. It includes skeet, trap, sporting clays, archery, and cowboy action shooting, camping and fishing. I’d defiantly say the shooters have a feeling of belonging when they are there for shoots. They have their own language when with other shooters, stuff someone that doesn’t shoot would not understand. It blows my mind how many people come down to Sparta every year for the Grand American, it is always so much fun to go out and see how many out of town vehicles you see. I don’t really feel connected to them.

The Shooting Complex is very easily accessible, it’s about 10 miles outside of Sparta, very welcoming and insuring proper parking and everything you need. I would defiantly be able to visit the complex whenever I need throughout the semester; I’m there almost every weekend for work. It’s defiantly safe; the IDNR office is located there, along with a security guard. I’m familiar with the Complex with just what I know from working there. I know a numerous number of people I can interview for this, which would include the people who work for the state, anyone from the city of Sparta and people that I work with. There are a lot of people I can interview on this subject. My schedule works well with the schedule at the complex. It’s open anytime Wednesday through Sunday. I will be able to get to the complex each time we have an assignment and complete it by the deadline. I will be able to go out there anytime I would need to ask questions or observe when there is shoots going on. There is actually a shoot going on this weekend, as you can see all the time. I can’t wait to start observing!

In conclusion I would like to research the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta Illinois. I look forward to learning more about the complex in general, I love learning and researching about what the complex is like for someone who isn’t from Sparta. I want the outsider’s opinion and the local people’s opinion. I want to know how everyone feels about the complex being in Sparta, and the past history of it being in Ohio.