Pocket RO Card Available for Download On Illowa Irregulars Website

Here is a downloadable copy of the most recent version of the Pocket RO Card (see below). The Pocket RO card is an indispensable tool for Timer Operators and Range Officers to study and have at their disposal during matches. it is also available for download on our website – www.illowairregulars.com. Just click on the SHB, Pocket RO Card, and TG Update link on the top menu.

While I have your attention, take a moment to sign up for the SASS 2023 Illinois State Championship scheduled from August 18-20, 2023 if you haven’t done so already. 10 great stages, several new targets, an optional Saturday Night Riverboat Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi about the Celebration Belle, and more. Click the link above for more information and to register.

We are also proud to be introducing two awards never before seen at a State Championship anywhere: The Illinois State Record Holder Award and the Illowa Irregular Club Record Holder Award. These awards (pins) will be given to the shooters that set the State and/or Club record for having the fastest time in their category while shooting the standard State Record Stage during the match (we think it will be Stage 6). Click here for more details on the State and Club Record Awards, including a video explaining the awards history and how it came about.

As always, hopefully our paths will cross one day, where ever or whenever that may be. Perhaps it’ll be at the 2023 Illinois State Championship.

Your friends at Illowa Irregulars

RO Pocket Card Jan2023Download

SASS Now Requires ID Checks at State-level and Higher Matches to Confirm Correct Category Assignment

The following is taken directly from page 5 of the current version of the SASS Shooter’s Handbook v.27.4, published Jan 30, 2023:

SECTION 2 – SHOOTING CATEGORIES SASS recognizes shooting categories based upon age, gender, costuming, equipment, shooting style, and/or propellant. The age for a competitor is determined by their age on the first day the match starts. All SASS categories are open gender categories (there are no men’s categories). Base categories may be subdivided by gender to establish categories for women only. Age, gender, and residency are all to be confirmed/determined by the declaration on the individual’s state issued driver’s license or ID. Competitors may compete within any category for which they qualify. Each category has a set of standard regulations the competitor must follow in order to “stay in category” during the match.

—————————————————————

Note the requirement to check IDs. Checking IDs is no longer optional or to be performed only when questioned: SASS is now requiring clubs to check IDs at all SASS-sponsored events, which for all practical purposes means all State-level and higher matches.

Illowa Irregulars plans to comply with this requirement at the SASS 2023 Illinois State Championship by requiring shooters present a State-issued Driver’s license or other State-issue ID when registering as required by SHB, Section 2. Please be prepared by bringing your State-issued ID with you when registering. In terms of age-based categories, the shooter must qualify for their selected age-based category on the first day of the championship match, which in this case will be August 19, 2023.

If you have any questions or need additional information, email us.

Indoor Shoot & Swap Meet This Sunday!

Just a very brief reminder that the Indoor Shoot and Swap Meet is this coming Sunday, March 19. Click here for more details, including the stages.

—————————————————–

SPRING CLEANUP: Don’t forget that Saturday, April 1 is our annual Range Cleanup Day. There’s always a lot of debris, dirt, etc., that’s spread across the range and shooting stages after the winter. If you’re available to come out and give us a hand, please do so. We’ll begin working at 9:00 a.m.

March 19 Indoor Shoot Stages & Swap Meet Info

Exciting news – the Indoor Shoot Stages are now available for download! Click on the image or link below.

We’re going to start out with two 3-target stages then go to two 4-target stages to ease into the match.

  • Stage 1 is an Arkansas Shuffle, essentially, a 2,1,2, sweep left to right, then repeat
  • Stage 2 is Kansas City Sweep (a double-tap Nevada sweep here), starting from either end
  • Stage 3 doesn’t have a specific name. It’s a continuous clockwise single tap sweep starting in the upper left; and,
  • Stage 4 doesn’t have a specific name. It’s also shot clockwise 3, 2, 2, 3 sweep, beginning in the upper left.

See the actual stage descriptions below. Remember, NO SHOTGUNS OR BLACK POWDER

Doors open at 8:00 a.m., with a Safety meeting about 9:45 a.m. You may show up later if you wish. We’ll just review the special rules with you at that time. If you come later in the morning, you may not be able to shoot all the stages or have your times recorded (you’d still be timed so you’ll know how you did). For those that are familiar with MRC’s Indoor Ranges, we are shooting on the 50′ range.

Chili and coffee will be available.

Swap meet will begin immediately in the morning. First come, first served in terms of tables. Sell if you have stuff; buy if you need stuff.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION for both the Indoor Match and Swap Meet is requested but NOT required. Come on out even if you didn’t preregister. We’re just trying to get an idea of how many people may show up for planning purposes. If you’ve already registered there’s you’re good to go.

RSVP by clicking here: Indoor Shoot and Swap Meet Registration Page

—————————————————–

SPRING CLEANUP: It won’t be long before our outdoor season starts. Saturday, April 1 is our annual Range Cleanup Day. There’s always a lot of debris, dirt, etc., that’s spread across the range and shooting stages after the winter. If you’re available to come out and give us a hand, please do so. We’ll begin working at 9:00 a.m.

March2023_IndoorShootStagesDownload

Important Information from Illowa Irregulars

Hey all you Cowboys and Cowgirls biding your time until warmer weather arrives, and we can get back to the range.  We have been busy working during the off-season on a few projects:

  • Our Iron Cowboy in January,
  • Our Indoor Cowboy Match and Swap Meet coming up March 19th,
  • Our season which opens April 16, and
  • Getting ready for our Cowboy Action Shooting Introductory Clinic scheduled for May 16. 

We’ve also purchased eight new 18×24 inch targets and four 24×24” targets we will use this year, and are rebuilding/repairing several of our shotgun knockdown targets (special thanks to Count Sandor). 

Registration is open for the SASS 2023 Illinois State Championship scheduled for August 18-20, 2023.  If you’ve already registered, thank-you very much.  If you’ve yet to register, there’s no time like the present.  We’re please to now have two registration options available – our traditional paper form and our new Online Registration and Payment option.   Click here for more information on how to register. 

And, of course, we are sponsoring another optional Saturday Evening Riverboat Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Celebration Belle, Saturday, August 19th.  Details on the Registration Packet Information. 

Additionally, we finalized and released the official “State Record Stage” which we will shoot during the State Championship and use to set Illinois State Records in every shooting category during the 2023 Illinois State Championship, as well as set Illowa Irregulars Club Records.  We believe this will be the first time a State Record Award has been given out anywhere in the history of Cowboy Action Shooting.  There aren’t many firsts left in this world, but here’s one.

There is one important caveat:  Just as only Illinois residents are eligible to be an Illinois Champion, only Illinois residents will be eligible to set the Illinois State Record. However, non-Illinois Residents will be eligible to set a new Illowa Irregular Club record during the Championship match, and will receive an award as well.

This should be exciting and fun, and add a new wrinkle to the Illinois State Championship.  Several cowboys/ cowgirls will go home from the 2023 Championship recognized as holding the State and/or Illowa Irregular Club record in their shooting category.  Will you be one of them?     

Click here to download the State Record Stage.  This is what we will shoot. We encourage people to practice it in advance.

————————————————————-

Other matches in our area for you to consider:

There are a couple of other large matches coming up the summer we encourage you to consider as well. 

2023 Iowa State Championship:  Fort Des Moines Ranges are hosting the 2023 Iowa State Championship Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28.  FDMR puts on a really nice match, and they are conveniently located in Central Iowa.  Click here for more information. 

Reckoning on the Rock:  Rock River Regulators, located in Beloit, WI is holding their 3-day extravaganza June 3-5, 2023.  If you’re looking for a spectacular shoot, you’d do well to stop by here.  Click here for more information. 

————————————————————-

Other Friends Near Us:  If you find yourself in the upper Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri) and you are looking to attend a shoot, check out the following clubs.  Lots of friendly folk and good shooting is available all around us. Check them out.

 Iowa/Illinois Cowboy Action Shooting Clubs

Regional Cowboy Action Shooting Clubs