ysr_racer
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The 8th Annual Bucky Shoot was held June 16th at Milford Hills Hunt Club, just west of Milwaukee, WI. The Bucky Shoot is an annual fundraiser that benefits the University of Wisconsin's wrestling team; Bucky Badger is their mascot.
In a unique format, two 100-bird courses are set up. Five man teams are randomly assigned to each of the courses, and scoring is done by Lewis Class. There are actually two sets of class winners, and two HOAs. It's really two tournaments being run simultaneously.
Since this is a fundraiser, the course was set intentionally soft. Most of the stations were report pairs, and there was nothing over 25 yards. Today was definitely a day for skeet chokes. Even though the targets were soft, you still had to keep your head on the stock, and your eyes on the birds.
After a delicious lunch of grilled bratwurst, Milford Hills staff held a safety briefing. About 70% of the shooters were experienced bird hunters, but not hardcore tournament shooters. I shot with Tom Dever, Dan Rivera, and the father and son team of Jeff and Casey FitzRandolph. Unknown to me at the time, the younger FitzRandolph was a Gold medalist in speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. Jeff and Casey had hunted birds many times at Milford Hills, but this was one of their first tournaments.
As we moved from station to station, I noticed Casey was doing pretty well, really well in fact. I guess being a world-class athlete carries over to everything you do.
We had fun shooting, but when it was over it was time for dinner, adult beverages and the "raffle girls." Dinner was Caesar Salad, grilled rib eye steaks, and plenty of the adult beverages that Wisconsin is famous for (beer). The "raffle girls" were University of Wisconsin volleyball team members, and they were there to add a little "color" to the crowd of grizzled old bird hunters.
This was a money added shoot, and there was approximately $8000 up for grabs. There were four Lewis Classes in each tournament. Payout was first place only in each class, so eight people were going home with some serious $$$$.
On the white course, Jason Dallman and Wayne Manke both posted a more than respectable 99x100. In the six-bird shoot-off, Manke edged out Dallman for the win.
On the red course an unbelievable four shooters turned in the phenomenally perfect score of 100x100. Of course these were not your run of the mill bird hunters. It was Todd Stormer, Miguel Leal, Bruce Ramos, and 2006 WI State Champion Blake Behselich.
As their shoot-offs progressed, Behselich shot third. He didn't miss a bird, eliminating his first two challengers. After the forth man missed, it was Behselich that took home the money.
And how did Casey FitzRandolph do? Does being a world-class athlete in one sport actually carry over to another sport? In FitzRandolph's case the answer is yes. He turned in a 90X100. Not too bad for a bird hunter.
More information on the Bucky Shoot can be found at www.buckyshoot.com. More information on the Milford Hills Hunt Club can be found at www.milfordhills.com.
Here's a link to the pictures: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=16987576&uid=883856
In a unique format, two 100-bird courses are set up. Five man teams are randomly assigned to each of the courses, and scoring is done by Lewis Class. There are actually two sets of class winners, and two HOAs. It's really two tournaments being run simultaneously.
Since this is a fundraiser, the course was set intentionally soft. Most of the stations were report pairs, and there was nothing over 25 yards. Today was definitely a day for skeet chokes. Even though the targets were soft, you still had to keep your head on the stock, and your eyes on the birds.
After a delicious lunch of grilled bratwurst, Milford Hills staff held a safety briefing. About 70% of the shooters were experienced bird hunters, but not hardcore tournament shooters. I shot with Tom Dever, Dan Rivera, and the father and son team of Jeff and Casey FitzRandolph. Unknown to me at the time, the younger FitzRandolph was a Gold medalist in speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. Jeff and Casey had hunted birds many times at Milford Hills, but this was one of their first tournaments.
As we moved from station to station, I noticed Casey was doing pretty well, really well in fact. I guess being a world-class athlete carries over to everything you do.
We had fun shooting, but when it was over it was time for dinner, adult beverages and the "raffle girls." Dinner was Caesar Salad, grilled rib eye steaks, and plenty of the adult beverages that Wisconsin is famous for (beer). The "raffle girls" were University of Wisconsin volleyball team members, and they were there to add a little "color" to the crowd of grizzled old bird hunters.
This was a money added shoot, and there was approximately $8000 up for grabs. There were four Lewis Classes in each tournament. Payout was first place only in each class, so eight people were going home with some serious $$$$.
On the white course, Jason Dallman and Wayne Manke both posted a more than respectable 99x100. In the six-bird shoot-off, Manke edged out Dallman for the win.
On the red course an unbelievable four shooters turned in the phenomenally perfect score of 100x100. Of course these were not your run of the mill bird hunters. It was Todd Stormer, Miguel Leal, Bruce Ramos, and 2006 WI State Champion Blake Behselich.
As their shoot-offs progressed, Behselich shot third. He didn't miss a bird, eliminating his first two challengers. After the forth man missed, it was Behselich that took home the money.
And how did Casey FitzRandolph do? Does being a world-class athlete in one sport actually carry over to another sport? In FitzRandolph's case the answer is yes. He turned in a 90X100. Not too bad for a bird hunter.
More information on the Bucky Shoot can be found at www.buckyshoot.com. More information on the Milford Hills Hunt Club can be found at www.milfordhills.com.
Here's a link to the pictures: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=16987576&uid=883856
