February 2008 edition of Reload! added.  Scores also updated for Mid-Winter Martyrdom.

The reservation form for our annual Spring Tour of the Eastern Shore, Crabs and Clays, is attached. The Connecticut Travelers travel to Maryland on April 11-13, 2008 for all the clays you can shoot and all the crab you can eat. Friday afternoon we visit George Hopkins at Hopkins Game Farm, the host of the 2007 U.S. Open and one of the premier clays courses in the country.  http://www.hopkinshunting-clays.com/sportclay.htm  13003 Turners Creek Road, Kennedyville, Maryland    We shoot there at 12.30 (some of us will be there Friday morning as well). 

Saturday, we spend the day at Schraders Bridgetown Manor, Henderson, MD. http://www.schradershunting.com/aboutus.aspx The venue boasts 24 sporting clays stations, three five-stand presentations and a wobble trap. We shoot there last year and had a great time. There is plenty to keep us busy all day and we will have lunch there.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Some of you have been asking about having some “friendly” competition and registering your targets. One thing we know about the Travelers, the dictatorship is benevolent. Therefore, we will try this. Those who would like us to see if we can get the 200 targets we shoot on Saturday registered, put down your NSCA number and class on the shoot reservation form.  If enough sign up, we will try to register the targets. If you want to participate in a $10 Lewis class competition over the 100 birds on Saturday morning, mark that on the shoot registration form and send in the extra $10 with your reservation.

Sunday morning we try a new local on the way back home, Quinton Sportsman Club in Salem, NJ.  http://www.quintonsportsmensclub.com  This sporting clays course features 18-stations with 29 different shooting positions. Stoned path walk-ways lead through their wooded course. The clubhouse offers breakfast and lunch. They sound very friendly and are looking forward to welcoming us.

Dinners on Friday and Saturday nights will be at Harris's Crab House, Kent Narrows, MD. Those of you who have gone on this trip in the past know the drill well. There is no reason to upset the tradition or tinker with perfection.. Friday night is the CTSCA Land and Sea Buffet with top round roast beef and the super popular Crab Imperial. Cocktails and appetizers start at 7.30. Saturday night will be a sit down dinner with a choice of main courses. After dinner each night, you are welcome to join Al and Capt. Donnie on the deck as they indulge in cordials and cigars as we brag about our new guns and lie about how well shot the course.

We have 30 rooms reserved at the Best Western Kent Narrows Inn, 3101 Main Street, Grasonville MD 21638 (410.827.6767) at a special Connecticut Travelers rate of $99.00 (plus tax) per night.

First come, first serve. If you have any questions, contact Bob Schrager, robert@schrager.org or (if you must) 203.531.6930.

CT Shoreline Ducks Unlimited Banquet

Madison Beach Club (Formerly The Wharf), Madison, CT

5:30 pm

Contact Glenn Silverman for tickets, 203-458-7173

The 21st Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Travelers will take place at Mid-Hudson Sporting Grounds.  Continental Breakfast and registration opens at 08:30.  Meeting starts at 09:00 SHARP, followed by lunch around 11:00, and a 100 target fun shoot at approximately 11:45.  Meeting attendance is mandatory in order to participate in the lunch and shooting.

Please note, this is a change of date from last month's Reload!

No scores kept, fun shoot only.

Fellow Traveler and Keystone Ramblers Contingent member, Tom Gravina is extending an invitation to the Connecticut Travelers membership to join him this summer for fishing with Eagle Charters out of Elfin Cove, Alaska. Tom can assure you that it is the Alaskan Trip of a lifetime based on his ten years experiences there. The trip is planned for August 2, 2008 and would love to have some fellow Travelers join him. He also will be happy to make any arrangements for members that would like to fish Eagle Charters at another time. Eagle Charters and Cross Sound Lodge, a sister lodge, can be reached via their web sites: www.eaglecharters.com and www.crosssoundlodge.com. Tom can be reached for additional information at tgravina@aol.com or Manor Building Penthouse, 564 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Successful Clays and Wing Shooting begins with the same principles: complete target focus and a proper attempt to hit the target by executing a good gun mount every time. I hope this simple explanation, assisted by good practice, helps to make you a better shooter.

1. Prepare for the target while in the on deck position.

Read the target line to know where you want to break the target. Know where the trap is located and where the first area of the target flight will be visible to you. Establish where your gun hold point will be. Usually, one half the distance from your perceived break point back to the original area of first target sighting. Mentally break the target as it is being presented to the shooter in the shooting stand. Attain a positive mental attitude towards breaking the target prior to moving into the shooting stand by having a solid game plan. Trust your plan, it will only take minor adjustments to break the target in the event that your plan was not quite right. Don’t copy the shooter preceding you.

From the flyer:

You're invited to join us at the 2008 "Spring Classic" at the historic Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, New York.  We anticipate another sold-out event in support of life-saving research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and honoring the memory of Geoff Kerr.

Registrants will enjoy breakfast (8:30 - 9:30) followed by the 100 sporting clays target event and a gourmet luncheon upon completion of the event.  Following the luncheon, we'll have some interesting side-events.  Prices/trophies for Hi-Gun, RUs, Hi-Lady, Hi-Youngster,Hi-Squad, Etc.

We would suggest registering ASAP; previous programs have booked up quickly.  Please feel free to contact Steve Roman with any questions or for additional information telephone: (973) 808-1580, fax: (973) 227-0405 or email kobrom@rcn.com.

Note: Think about having your company or organization sponsor a squad...a great way to entertain customers or clients... or build team-work...

Mid-Hudson Sporting Grounds

On December 30th, Joe Gimelli unveiled the latest addition to the Ye Old Newgate Coon Club facilies.  The new five stand is open on Sundays depending on the weather.  If you're interested, drop Joe a message at coonclubclays@earthlink.net.