YRC's Seth Berglee shooting for Ohio State

Last year Seth Berglee shot the Collegiate Nationals Championships as an individual and finished second in three-gun aggregate, was third nationally in open free (600 with final) and fifth in open standard (538). The Coach at Ohio State noticed this fine performance and approached the Berglee family to see if Seth would be interested in enrolling at OSU and shooting on their team. What started as an 80% full scholarship finally became 85% and Seth would also be eligible to compete in the fall quarter. This was a pretty enticing offer, so our Billings buckaroo is now an Ohio State Buckeye!
Seth reported to me in a recent email, “Shooting is going pretty good. I have been shooting 10-15 hours a week in standard, air and free. I guess practice pays off because since I've been here I shot a 527 in free and a 577 in air and 547 in standard…Tell everyone at the club hi for me. Thanks for everything.”
We can keep up with Seth’s shooting by logging on to the OSU shooting web site.
Good luck, Seth, and shoot well.

Restricted hours at the Range

July 25, 2007
Effective Wednesday July 25th, the BLM, DNRC and Yellowstone County are enacting Stage II  fire restrictions--the club will do the same.
We are also enacting restricted range hours, as we did the last time Stage II fire restrictions were set in place---shooting hours to be 7:00AM to 12:00 noon--regular scheduled practices and matchs are exempt from this and will use their regular hours, same as the last time we did this.  Call the hotline for up to date information.
Thank you again for your understanding

Range Closures

Avoid Steel Target Damage

Military surplus ammunition destroys metal targets and stands. Our rifle silhouette and buffalo gong targets are being torn up by these and other armor piercing rounds. Replacement of these targets and stands would cost the club over $6,000 not including set up labor. Do not use military surplus, armor piercing or any rounds with steel core bullets on our metal targets.  The buffalo gong match targets are to be shot with cast lead bullets only. Violators will be subject to a fine to cover repair costs and/or club membership suspension.  If damage to the full size rifle silhouettes continues we will return them to secured storage & they will not be available for general member use. 

If you witness anyone causing this or any other intentional damage or vandalism to club property please contact one of the Club officers with details--date, time, names if known, vehicle description, etc.  If you do not know the names of those responsible and do not wish to confront them, get a license number--we will work with law enforcement as necessary to identify those responsible. 

Wood Splitting Thank You

Your Opportunity To Help The Yellowstone Rifle Club

Clean-Up-Day was held as planned on the 9th of July.  We had thirteen people come out, and it is amazing how much so few people can accomplish.  That is 2.5% of our membership, or in other words, 97.5% of you didn't show up.  As you will see the next time you come out to use the facilities much grass has been mowed, many weeds eaten, the club house painted, pizza consumed, and refreshments drank.  Not only does the property look a lot nicer, but the mowing will go a long way to help abate the fire danger this summer.  
Here is a big hearty THANK YOU to the ones who came:
Steve Albright, Roger Bailey, Scott Carpenter, Marv Curtis, Steve Deleon, Jackie & Bob Fears, Vince Francischetti, Bob Holt, Tom Love, Ken Mayo, Lew Muller, and Warren Taves.

Burn to take place on the Range

By: Lloyd Metcalf (Tiny), YRC Fire committee

On the 8th of April the fire committee and DNRC will again burn some of the ranges at YRC. We are hoping to burn out the Coulee from the High power pits to the road down by the BPSR. Also we are going to try to burn behind the high power pits around the shot gun range, We believe that if we can burn out some of the old grass and brush in these areas that the range will not be is a severe fire danger as in later years, and this way the range will not have to be closed, If the weather doesn't change and we don't get some rain this spring then the fire danger will be worse then that of the fire season of 1988. If you can come out and help on the 8th it would sure help, in the next couple of weeks there are going to be crews from the DNRC working on the dead trees and brush again on the range,we will need help moving the wood down to the club house for the wood pile. This is a very important thing for the Yellowstone Rifle Club, We can help save our Club from any fire danger by doing the burns.  

Sighting in Days - Sept 25-26, 2004

We had a good turnout of both shooters and volunteers for this years Sighting in Days. There were over fifty shooter and twenty-two volunteers for the two days.  The Yellowstone Rifle Club was able to present the Food Bank with $193.00 and a truck load of food.  Below is a list of the members who spent part or all of their week-end at the club helping out.  There could be some that helped, but aren't on the list.  If your name has been omitted please drop a note to the webmaster.

The Yellowstone Rifle Club expresses it's appreciation to all those who helped!
 

1946 Rifle Club

This picture was discovered in the Zimmerman Center at Pioneer Park.  It is a fine looking group of shooters, but so far no one has been able to identify any of the fellows.  If anyone can identify any of these boys please contact junior@yrc.org or xo@yrc.org.  It would be great to get a first hand report from someone in the picture! Click on the picture for a larger image.

High Power Construction Underway

The highpower division is getting along with the construction of the much needed storage and work building in the highpower pits.  As you can see from the pictures it is taking shape.  Power has been run with donated cable.  The slab was done professionally, and the rest is being completed by the highpower boys.  This will be a great addition to the club when finished.

Photos by Terry Smith & Lew Muller

Pistol Range Shack Reconstruction

The Club UP IN FLAMES!

 A prescribed burn took place at the club on the 7th of April.  It is our sincere hope that by reducing the amount of available fuel on the club grounds that we will be able to get though the summer without a closure as in last year.  There was a nice article in the Gazette covering the burn.  We are not the only ones to burn off dead vegetation - check this out.
Click on the images for a full size view.   

Pat Goodale Handgun Training

Again this year, several defensive handgun training classes conducted by Pat Goodale will be held at YRC.  Pat is a top notch firearms instructor with over 25 years experience teaching law enforcement, military, & civilian firearms courses.  He has also worked with many national companies & organizations as a consultant on security & self defense issues.  His home range is near Alderson, West Virginia, but he has been putting on special classes in the Billings area for several years.  This year he will offer his Defensive Handgun I and II classes in Billings (at Yellowstone Rifle Club) on March 27, June 5, August 14, and October 23.  The Handgun I class introduces the student to techniques applicable to defensive use of the handgun. Emphasis is put on shooting skill development for application in real-life circumstances. The fundamentals of Mindset, Gun-handling, and Marksmanship are covered in lecture while the practical aspects are taught on the range. The level II class builds from there.  (Note offering of Def Handgun II is based on enough students qualifying for the second level course signing up in advance of the course).  The Handgun I class is 8-10 hours long & requires about 300 rounds of ammunition.  The fee for all one day courses is $125.  Class size is limited & you must pre-register to insure a seat in the class.  Additional information on Pat's courses is available on-line here.  A registration form may be printed from the website (for mail-in registration) or you may call Pat Downs locally at 406-294-6900 to register for the Billings classes.  In the past the Sheriff's office has accepted a completion certificate from these classes as meeting the training requirement under Montana's concealed weapons permit law---if you are taking the class solely for this purpose, please verify with the Sheriff's Office whether they still accept this certificate before registering for the course. 

YRC Newsletter Gets a New Editor

We are pleased to announce Marcia Moss is the new editor of the club newsletter.  This can be quite a job and we appreciate Marcia taking the position.  We can all make her job a whole lot easier if we supply her with news and content.  To make that a little easier there is a ONLINE FORM for you to use to submit news items or announcements pretaining to YRC activities.

Juniors Paint up a Storm

Thanks to a few of our dedicated, precise, and highly disciplined Junior Shooters both the Girls and Boys restrooms and the shooting stands have a new coat of paint.  Thankfully, their work came out looking a lot neater than themselves!  We all thank you very much for a job well done.  Click on a picture for a full sized view.

Membership and Dues Increase

Following the recommendations or the Membership Committee, the Board of Directors proposed to the general membership the membership limit be raised to five hundred members and the dues be increased to $60.00 per year.  This was voted on at the February general meeting and was overwhelmingly approved.  The additional revenue will be used to help offset the increased cost of maintenance, utilities, and planned construction projects.

Doug Schlepp Named VP

With Roman Gillitzer assuming the duties of President, the position of Vice-President was left vacant.  The Board of Directors voted at their November 4th meeting to have Doug Schlepp fill the VP slot.  Doug is a long time member and a "retired" competitive pistol shooter.  Welcome aboard Doug!

In Memory of Larry Lowman  1936-2003

YRC President Larry Lowman passed away Sept, 8, 2003, after a year long  battle with cancer.  He was on vacation in Seattle.  Larry was first elected president in April 2001 and had served in that capacity since.  Larry was also editor of the club newsletter.  He started editing the newsletter in 1997.  Larry took an active interest in club activities and was often present during matches and other events at the club.  He was also very active on the legislative front, frequently contacting elected officials and writing letters to the editor on behalf of gun owners and shooters.  A memorial contribution in his honor was made to the NRA-ILA by the YRC.

Closing the Range and Grounds - YRC Fire Committee Report

I know that closing the YRC range was quite a shock to many members, especially since other local ranges did not follow our lead, by let me explain a few details that led to the decision.
First of all, the YRC has no input as to what other ranges do!
The YRC consulted several agencies for their input - The Molt Fire District and the City of Billings Fire Marshall - both felt that closing was a good idea.  Calls were also made to the BLM Fire Information Center and to the State DNRC for more input.  These agencies also felt that closing was prudent.
The State of Montana issued a Stage II fire restriction for counties including Yellowstone.  These restrictions are quite broad in their statements and at first glance they seem to only address a few items but if you take the time to look at them in-depth you will find that any source of ignition is covered.  Among the items covered are liability and private property issues.  If a fire is started on YRC property the Club is liable for it’s suppression cost, if it leaves the property we are also liable for any and all damages caused.  A fine and jail time are also mentioned.  This information was put to the Board of Directors and after much discussion the decision to close the range was made.  The Directors felt that since we could not tightly control the use of the grounds during this time that closing was mandatory.
President Larry Lowman appointed a Fire Committee to address the situation and find a way to open the range.  This committee went though a fact-finding session and many options were looked into.  One which would have had Directors become wildland fire fighters, and the Club purchase a water delivery device met with strong opposition.  All options were investigated and the result showed the YRC needs an operational fire management plan in order to fully utilize the range at all times.  We finally opened for sight in weekend with a wildlands fire truck and operator on site.  Several committee members stood by with the truck to lend assistance if needed.  Because the range had been close for some time it was decided that Saturday would be open to members only.  Cards were sent to each member and an article was put in the paper.  Only twenty members showed up.  On Sunday we opened to the public and about one hundred thirty folks came out.
At the general meeting in October plans were made to again have a wildlands fire truck and operators stand by and open for another weekend.  Rains came in an amount sufficient to curtail fire restrictions and ease the problem.  Therefore, the range was opened on a limited use basis.
The rains helped, but we are not in the clear.  Since buying the property in the late 1950's we have done nothing to address the build up of ground fuel on the range save mowing a few areas, and this was only to see the targets.  We have fifty years of growth to clean up.  This growth along with the stressed condition of the pine trees on the grounds will dictate the use of our ranges.  The BLM has stated that they have never had trees in the single digit moisture content until this year.  You must remember that we are in the sixth year of extreme drought conditions.  Also, understand that the value of the YRC property is it's trees and hills, if these are destroyed by fire the value of our land drops.  Our future depends on how well we take care of the grounds now.
The fire committee is meeting with a fire specialist from the BLM who sill assist us in putting together a workable fire plan for the club grounds.  Until we have that plan in place and have all the recommendations implemented there will, most likely, be range closures.  Please help us by being patient and understand that we are working toward a common goal, that is the use of the range at all times.

Sighting In Days

The range, which has been closed due to the extreme fire danger, was opened for a limited time over the weekend of September 27 &28.  With a fire truck and operator standing by.  Saturday was to be for members who needed range time.  Turn out was suprizingly light with only 20 people showing up.
Sunday was a lot better.  We had around 130 people come out to use the range.  We collected $150.00 and gathered a lot of food.  All food and monies were donated to the Billings Food Bank.
Thanks to the following members for all the help which kept the lines down and a "no wait" to use the range:
Bill Graves, Al Royal, Malcolm Bailey, Roger Bailey, Ralph Miller, Larry Elliott, Ed Swalley, Randy Melvin, Mitch Fears, Rob Gerondale, Lew Muller, Bob Fears, Dick Buckley, Morgan Glenn and Tiny Metcalf.
It was only by Tiny Metcalf's efforts in securing a fire truck and manning it both days that we were able to open the range.

New YRC Information HOTLINE ---- 255-6729

The club has a new HOTLINE for up to the minute information about what is happening at the range.  This came about partly as a result of the recent range closure due to the extreme dryness.  You will be able to call the number at any time (24-7) to find out about range activities, various tournaments and matches, meetings, and even about that work party you have been wanting to help out with!  If you call the hotline before going to the range you will have all the latest info and have no surprises when you get to the gate.
The hotline is for information only and is not the type that you can leave a message - no voice mail!

Please make use of it!!    255-6729

Juniors learn from 1992 Olympic Silver Medallist

Bob Foth presented a "Pairs Clinic" on September 5, 6, & 7 at the Yellowstone Rifle Club in Billings. This camp provided classroom and on-the-line training for both shooters and coaches. Topics included positions, shot plans, shot calling, preparing for competitions, motivation and goal setting.

The precision shooters also learned a new way to tie their boots to help improve their steadiness in the standing position. Imagine hearing a 15-year-old shooter asking a 3 time Olympic team member to show her how to tie her shoes. Bob is a wonderful teacher and was very helpful to the experienced coaches and well as the beginner coach. The youth all benefited from Bob’s willingness to share his knowledge from his many years of training

Junior shooters included:  Dustin Greenwood of Billings, Benn Koljonen of Great Falls, Bob Foth,
Morgan Glenn of BillingsTempe Regan of Superior, Michelle Everett, Belgrade and PJ Snider of Bozeman

Morgan Glenn with Bob.  She asked him "Bob, would you tie my shoes?"  Bob presented the kids with a new way to lace their boots to provide more stability in the standing position.    Photos by Kathy Glenn

June 22, 2003
Lew Muller won the CMP EIC match in Missoula at the 2003 Regional Pistol Championship firing a score of 278-4X with his 1911A1 .45 cal. pistol. This gives him a total of 38 of the needed 30 points to become a Distinguished Pistol Shot.  His most recent points came twenty three years ago in 1980.