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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-07-15, Page 14Page 14 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Nimrod Gun Club members take their sport very seriously BY TROY PA ON Kincardine News Staff Safety is the number one word at the Kincardine Nimrod Gun Club, and the marksmen who frequent the club take their sport very seriously. From , the Olympic -style trap shooting of clay pigeons, to cowboy action, black pow- der and target shooting from vari- ous distances, the approximate 100 members of the club, just south of the Kincardine Cemetery, have been enjoying firearms for 56 years. But some local residents are irked by � the sound of ire coming from the range, and those who know lit- tle about the club have preconceived notions about the people who use it. But the reality is far from shocking. Nimrod section leader Wayne Coulson said their sport is one of the most highly regu- lated in Canada, and if people learned a bit about it they'd see there's nothing to fear. "You can't hide from it and why should we," said Coulson, who i is disheartened by the manymisconcep- tions tions about the club and its members. "It's just another.. sport." Though 'Nimrod' is often known as a. negative connota- tion,. the Biblical .term is that of a "'nighty hunter," which many mem- bets strive to be. club recently welcomed mem- bers of the media to a Black Powder Shoot for a demon- stration on the weapons that .fi:.>: f isSNS.E• .... • Photo sy Troy Patterson The Marksmen at the Kincardine Nimrod Club: are weeping,- of target rho do alive and well :at the group's rang. Just south of Kincardines �ce .on .g - Hur n,,Kinloss CO*. 12. The club recentlyheld a 1 Black rOvidar -ShOot and media out to try some target shooting and see haw the club siifoll _operates. Nimrod McWa�yne Coulson shows. Kristina Meisenheimer how to properly aim aind cock his 1851: Navy Colt brought food : to the table or :wee used in keeping the peace over a centu- ry and a half ago. Historical repro- ductions like Peter Dime's : flintlock Hawker : 50 calibr and the Thompson 50 -calibre are two of many different black powder hunt- ing rifles available, while Coulson's Navy vy Colt l is Phandy for target shooting and is recognizable from wild west movies and the American Civil War. The firearms use modem caps: for the firing mecha- nism, but still use lead balls, similar to those used in ,the: . PO- and ySharon Rider 'Int , on other the hand enjoy their:. 'modern Wolf 50- calibre` black pow- der and :use , it for �8et practice, or during the black powder deer hunt- 08 season. Long before even stepping on : the range, . each mem- ber 'must em-ber.'must pass the provincial training and licensing for firearms acquisi- tion, sale posses- sion, storage and. transportation,. along with police checks, just to own a. gun. Pistol own- ers and other restricted firearms owners must also go through : another series of stringent testing to possess and use ..these kinds of s. Coulson said - Kin ()SS Facilities and Recreation Public sMeeting.Notice Huron -Kinloss Municipal ice Council Chambers Thursday July 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm The Facilities and Recreation Department will be hosting a Public meeting for all resi- dents of Huron -Kinloss. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from residents regarding Facilities and Recreation. A brief summary of past and future plans will be $ g presented8 regarding Facilities, Recreation programs, Lakeshore, Parks, and Cemetery. ... Facilities and Programs under the management of the Lucknow and District Joint Recreation Board will not be : discussed. For more information please. contact Mike Fair @ 395.2909. For Sale The Township of Huron Kinloss will receive written bids for the sale of a 1970 Allis-Chalmers 170 Tractor with Loader • until Tuesday July 28, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. For. further information, or viewing, visit the Huron Landfill site at 2087 Concession 6 (former Township of Huron) on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or call 519-395-3500. Bids can be dropped off, mailed, emailed or faxed to the Municipal Office at: PO Box 130 21 Queen Street Ripley, ON NOG 2R0 519-395-4107 Fax hurontwp@hurontel .on.ca The tractor will be sold "as is". Ifuron-1Ctalart .' 1 Queen Street, N.U. BOX 130, Ripley, ON NOCI 2R1) 519-395-37 �111t"(why ' huronteLon.ca • ‘vww.huronkinioss.com • prospective mem- bers must `then take a series. of courses on range rules before theycan take part. There is also a rule ,of, . absolutely e. no drugslor alcohol to be allowed on th site and members are staunch: self - regulators. "The main thing for us is safety," he said. "Without it, we wouldn't have a .: club." :In terms of black powder shooting, marksmen must measure out : the amount of powder they wash to use to fire the shot. The more powder, the. more recoil and smoke, but the shot is more powerful. Each weapon has its own challenges, technique and pre- ferred range for shooting. and .. marksmen must feel it out for them- selves. "It really depends on what your inter- ests are . and what you'd like to train in," he said. The provincial Chief Firearms Officer .(CFO) recently toured the range to see the improvements recently made by the club toiipmve safetyeven more. The berms and trees surrounding the ps- tol range, as well as the bunker con- 'structed behind the targets, is designed to : keep an! fled: on the proPe Next i =�the ty. to t , tine range : features berms and . wooden breaks` designed ...: so. guns are fired on :a slight decline. Members et togetherabout once a month for a black powder shoot, or take part in clay pigeon 'trap- shoots' every other Wednesday. The Western Ontario Handgun League also meets at the site fortfuge t prac- tice. In today's ultra- . safety -oriented society many relate firearms to . gang violence and see them .:as,.unneces- sary and dangerous. To the members who take their shooting seriously, the laws are tough and the members .police ;themselves to ensure everyone is towing the line. "It's a chance for good company to shoot off , some rounds in a safe environment," said Coulson. "People are afraid of what they don't know," said Sharon Rider. "We're all about safety first." Tobermory's Rater Hof fman- Taylor was taking part in the black • powder shoot, and said as an engineer he is just as fasci- nated in 'thedevel went of firearms asheistofire them. "Evetybody has a .. different feel about it," said Hoffman - Taylor, .��lor,= who used it as a getaway from 8 Y work before he retired. „It's a:relax- in come activity.$.. 1 backfroin the range l relaxed.". and��fee The range was set up the Second. World War and a no trespassing policy iy . P.. remains n effect to maintain a safe environment for the public. Children even took part in target shooting years,ago and many still do at other clubs.: across. Grey - Bruce, ` but . local membership dwin- dled to nothing over time. For more uifo r- mation visit wwwakincardinen- imrodclub.ca or. call Tim. McGinnis at 519-396-8790. Photo by ,Troy Patterson Rainer Hoffmann- Taylor of Tobermory smiles as he prepares to fire off his black powder flintlock hunting rifle.