TargetTalk

USA Shooting Finds its Answer in Hill Country Shooting Sports Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – At USA Shooting’s bi-annual board of directors meeting on April 2, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Board unanimously passed a resolution to partner with Hill Country Shooting Sports Center (HCSSC) in Kerrville, Texas as a future location for a majority of USA Shooting events.

USA Shooting has been looking for a full-service shooting range since the 1996 Olympic Shooting Range in Wolf Creek shut its doors, indicating a need for a facility to hold National and International events, as well as assist in the development of youth programs. There are currently only two venues that can host major competitions—the International Shooting Park on Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs, which is only capable of holding shotgun events, and the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) ranges located on the Fort Benning military base near Columbus, Ga.

“There are two major reasons we have been looking for another venue,” Bob Mitchell, CEO of USA Shooting says. “One, the facilities we have now are on military bases and we could lose access at any time. We have no control of it. And two, we need a neutral site-- the International Shooting Park is the home range of the Olympic Training Center athletes, and the Fort Benning Range is the home range of the USAMU. It becomes very important that we are able to adapt to different conditions and environments as we travel around the world, and really there is no better way to train for that, than being able to shoot in different conditions within your country.”

Hill Country Shooting Sports Center’s Chief Operating Officer, Jack Burch, along with Sudie Burditt, a member of the Advisory Board of HCSSC and Executive Director of the Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau, both gave compelling and convincing presentations to the USA Shooting board of directors, outlining the building plans, community support and financials of this state of the art public shooting sports facility. Also in attendance were Rose M. Burch, owner of the property where Hill Country Shooting Sports Center resides and Karol Schreiner, Board of Directors for Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Board President of Hill Country Shooting Sports Center.


“My lifelong interest in shooting sports has led my wife, Rose, and I to build a shooting facility to fill the needs of shooters. We started this dream in 1999 working with our local 4-H shotgun club and have expanded to include international events and sporting clay tournaments. To better serve the youth of our area, state and the nation we have worked toward adding the remaining international venues, which will give our kids the ability to seek out their dreams,” Jack Burch said. “Without the help of the folks of Kerrville and surrounding area, this dream would not have been possible.”


As of now, the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center has three operating international skeet fields, and one international trap bunker. However, since the United States has been awarded a prestigious international clay target World Cup competition in 2006, Burch has guaranteed that if USA Shooting agrees to hold that event at HCSSC, there would be no problem building two additional skeet fields and four additional international trap bunkers by next spring. In time, the facility will also house rifle and pistol ranges for the 10m, 25m and 50m competitions. All rifle and pistol ranges will have state of the art electronic target systems. The HCSSC is situated on 140 acres of land where a maintenance building, public rifle and pistol ranges, classrooms and a pro shop have recently been constructed. When complete the complex will be the best in the western hemisphere and will be in a location that allows year around training and competition.

The Hill Country Shooting Sports Center, will be the only full service sport shooting public facility of its type in the United States. Training and competition in rifle, pistol and shotgun events, including Olympic events, and a 31,000 square foot airgun hall will make this range completely unique. The range is located 60 miles west of San Antonio, Texas on Interstate 10 in Kerr County, which has a population of 45,000. The hill country of Texas is not only beautiful, but is a desirable family travel destination, with a favorable climate and so many things to do.

“We have found truly outstanding partners in Jack & Rose Burch, the city of Kerrville and the surrounding area in our quest to build a world class Olympic shooting venue,” Mitchell said. “We have been working together to build a working partnership and the pieces required for success are coming together. It is an exciting time for USA Shooting to have such capable and enthusiastic partners. The Hill Country Shooting Sports Center is an excellent property that will be expanded to incorporate international ranges capable of eventually hosting World Shooting Championships. Kerrville is easily accessible and a short drive from San Antonio yet small enough to appreciate the economic impact our events will bring to the area.”

USA Shooting is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) as the national governing body for the Olympic and international shooting sports in the United States. To learn more about USA Shooting, call them at (719) 866-4743 or visit their website at www.usashooting.org.

Will there be a 100m rifle range? If so, the U.S. International Muzzle-Loading Team might be interested in renting the range for a major match.

This is a golden opportunity to bury the hatchet between NRA Competitions and the USAS.

The NRA National Championships (SB, HP, pistol, ML) need a home secure from the whims of the US Army or the Ohio State Government. Raton, NM is simply too far away from 2/3 of the US, just like Camp Perry.

This place in Texas sounds like it could be the epicenter of competitive US and International shooting.

Jose, while I love the way you are thinking, and I am sure Jack Burch would too :^), I believe I am correct in saying that NRA and CMP signed a 25 year lease with the Ohio National Guard for Perry sometime last year.

Scott, true that. But what happens if the Ohio Adjutant General's Office runs out of money for operating CP? What happens if the Dept. of the Army is not interested in financing it either?

There could also be a possibility of rotating the NRA Nationals: Camp Perry for the east coast, Hill Country for the plains, Raton for the west coast.

Just thinking outside the box. The realist in me says many in the NRA heirarchy will say NIH and kill the idea DRT.

I personally believe that US Highpower Rifle would be better off with its own sanctioning organization independent of the NRA. Seems to work quite well for US trap, US skeet, sporting clays, practical pistol, defensive pistol, and cowboy action.

I would NOT consider Camp Perry as an East Coast site. I live in Maryland - and Camp Perry is a long 10 hour drive from my home.

If you want to do a rotation - and I'm not sure that it is worth it, considering the vast amount of tradition associated with Camp Perry - then I would press for someplace like Quantico as an East Coast venue.

A more viable notion would be to use this Texas site for a revived Winter Nationals. Those used to be held in Tampa, FL, and were a nice shoot - particularly since you could fly directly into Tampa instead of flying into another city and schlepping a couple of hours to the range. The Winter Nationals haven't been held in about 10 years - and could stand a revival.

and it is a lot easier to talk your wife into going to Florida in the wintertime!

Jose Rossy wrote: But what happens if the Ohio Adjutant General's Office runs out of money for operating CP? What happens if the Dept. of the Army is not interested in financing it either?

I personally believe that US Highpower Rifle would be better off with its own sanctioning organization independent of the NRA.

I agree regarding highpower rifle. Since it's not an Olympic event, USAS isn't really interested. That's understandable given their limited resources.

NRA pays the State of Ohio for the use of Camp Perry, so unless the Ohio National Guard just closes the base, that's probably not a large worry. The Army's obligation, IIRC, is limited to sending the AMU folks up there. Otherwise, they've been out of the National Match business since 1969.

Mike McDaniel wrote:If you want to do a rotation - and I'm not sure that it is worth it, considering the vast amount of tradition associated with Camp Perry - then I would press for someplace like Quantico as an East Coast venue.

A more viable notion would be to use this Texas site for a revived Winter Nationals. Those used to be held in Tampa, FL, and were a nice shoot - particularly since you could fly directly into Tampa instead of flying into another city and schlepping a couple of hours to the range. The Winter Nationals haven't been held in about 10 years - and could stand a revival.

My main point was weaning Highpower off the military bases. Quantico is FAR worse than Camp Perry when it comes to access.

IMO, US Highpower needs to a) divorce itself from the NRA as a sanctioning body, b) stop relying on the military for places to host the big events.

OTOH, I think a winter championship (sort of a mega regional) down in the Hill Country would be a great idea.

Feedback I got from someone highly credentialed in range development tells me that 140 acres are nowhere near enough to accomodate a centerfire target range. More like 7000 acres.

Is there potential for expansion at HCSS? Is it possible that the 140 acres do not include additional acreage set aside for impact areas? Is this place hilly enough to preclude the need for so much land?

I don't know much about high power rifle stuff, but if divorcing itself from the NRA results in anything similar to what has happened to the ISSF pistol events, I think that idea needs some SERIOUS reconsideration.

Be careful what you wish for...

High Power IS NRA!!!!!!!!!!! (OK, CMP too)

so is 2700 and 1600

just like the Oly games ARE USAS!

we should NOT separate US style competitive shooting from NRA, in fact the very OPPOSITE! NRA needs to put a LOT more effort and printers ink into competition and separate good shooting from sleazy politics

I'd MUCH rather see Reya, Nancy, Michelle, or G David's pic on the cover of my magazine than that of those idiot politicians who are OUR enemies!!!!

What I really like about USAS is the magazine is all shooting!!!!

Poole

Bill Poole wrote:High Power IS NRA!!!!!!!!!!! (OK, CMP too)

so is 2700 and 1600

just like the Oly games ARE USAS!

we should NOT separate US style competitive shooting from NRA, in fact the very OPPOSITE! NRA needs to put a LOT more effort and printers ink into competition and separate good shooting from sleazy politics

Why can't HP shooters think outside the BOX for a minute?

Face reality, the NRA has its hands full fighting the enemies of the 2A, and they are doing a damned good job of it. I am a life member and proud of it. Because of that reason, or because of other reasons, the NRA isn't paying enough attention to Highpower. Highpower gets the least ink of all NRA sports in SSUSA. I see far more articles about PPC than I do about HP. I am not a cop, so I could care less about PPC.

I see NO reason why we should remain with them as a sanctioning body.

US trap, US skeet, US sporting clays, practical pistol, defensive pistol, benchrest, and cowboy action shooting have all prospered FAR more than Highpower. One thing they have in common is that they control their own destinies through their own sanctioning bodies.

sparky wrote:I don't know much about high power rifle stuff, but if divorcing itself from the NRA results in anything similar to what has happened to the ISSF pistol events, I think that idea needs some SERIOUS reconsideration.

Be careful what you wish for...

US trap, US skeet, US sporting clays, practical pistol, defensive pistol, benchrest, and cowboy action shooting have all prospered FAR more than Highpower. One thing they have in common is that they control their own destinies through their own sanctioning bodies.

Jose Rossy wrote: US trap, US skeet, US sporting clays, practical pistol, defensive pistol, benchrest, and cowboy action shooting have all prospered FAR more than Highpower. One thing they have in common is that they control their own destinies through their own sanctioning bodies.

Hi

I disagree that in order to prosper, you need a separate group. The Bianchi Cup is supposed to be the big deal in practical pistol (O.K., shooting really fast at stuff), and that contest is sanctioned by the NRA. In my opinion, action pistol is too cut up, NRA Bianchi, IDPA, and Int. Practical Shooting. I believe that in order to be a decent proponent of 2A, the NRA HAS to sanction shooting events. Again, in my opinion, the NRA should be the Olympic sanctioning body. Dumping them was a completely political event brought about by anti-gun groups. I think that to get International Shooting a bigger place in American shooting events, the NRA has to be involved. After all, probably 99% of the American pistol and Rifle shooting ranges are allied with the NRA anyway. I don't have data, but I would bet that 80% or more shotgun rasies are too.

Mike
Wichita KS

No, I'm afraid it wasn't. There was a MASSIVE fight over money and control between the NRA Competitions Division and the team members. I've always marveled that it didn't blow up into a bigger scandal in the press.

FWIW, I agree with Bill Poole. High-Power and Conventional Bullseye are the NRA's babies - their home-brewed brand of competition. They can't be divorced from the NRA. And it would be very, very hard to divorce the National Matches in those disciplines from Camp Perry. Nor do I think that is a threat - you do not want to think about how much money the shooters pour into the local economy every year. The local Congressmen get wind of that, and it would get Very Unpleasant for whoever had that bright idea.

However, as I mentioned previously, I think there is a big market for a revived Winter Nationals in Texas. Maybe even held at the same time as a major ISSF match - the shoot in Tampa worked that way. UIT stuff on the weekdays, then a 2700 that weekend. I really miss that shoot.....

As for the NRA resuming the sponsorship of the international disciplines, I think there is so much bad blood on both sides that such a move is out for the foreseeable future. Maybe in 20 years or so.

Highpower can be divorced from the NRA. All it would take is an astute and determined number of mavericks to start a ground level revolt.

Should it? I think it should as long as the NRA continues its present course of benign neglect towards HP, and its blind reliance on the military for our premier event. Signing an agreement with the OHNG is no guarantee of anything.

Pulling the Nationals from Camp Perry is also can happen. It would happen eventually if the winner of a HP split is not the NRA. Congress would have nothing but hot air to offer, as their threats would be empty. The NRA and any other sanctioning bodies are private entities over which Congress has little to no power. And besides, Congressmen and Senators can be recruited by the other side, to lobby money to build a new shooting facilities elsewhere.

In case you guys don't know this, the Grand American Trap Championships are moving from their HISTORICAL home in Vandalia, Ohio to a new facility in Sparta, Illinois after over 100 years of tradition. The cause of the move is not a split in the sport, it's a question of being forced off land owned by the City of Dayton Airport Authority. But the result is the same, and no one could stop it.

Don't think that Highpower is unique and that none of these radical changes can't or won't happen.

Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburgers.

Mike McDaniel wrote:High-Power and Conventional Bullseye are the NRA's babies - their home-brewed brand of competition. They can't be divorced from the NRA.

I disagree. HP and Bullseye are NOT the NRA's babies. They are the shooters' babies. They belong to the shooters. The NRA collects our match entry fees and in return provides a weak and inflexible classification software and a magazine mentions HP only in passing.

We can do better with a low overhead organization that does the same thing.

NRA belongs to the shooters too!

Poole

Bill Poole wrote:NRA belongs to the shooters too!

Poole

Are you ready to acknowledge that a significant number of shooting sports are prospering w/o the need to have the NRA run their sport?

I would bet that the overwhelming majority of the membership of the Amateur Trap Association, National Skeet Shooting Association, National Sporting Clays Association, International Defensive Pistol Association, North-South Skirmish Association, International Practical Shooting Confederation, International Benchrest Shooting Association, and Single Action Shooting Society are also NRA members.

I still see no connection between NRA sanctioning and growth/survival. In fact, I see quite a bit of evidence to the contrary.

I am a highpower outsider but I have a lot of friends who shoot highpower. I don't hear them complaining about the NRA's handling of highpower. Also, poking around on HP forums i don't see any ranting about NRA or CMP. So, I think you are trying to solve a problem that does not exist with highpower.

Also, as a person who has run both NRA and USAS matches at the local level and from my perspective I think both USAS and NRA do a pretty good job.