May 11, 2006

Fellow Archers,

The next monthly meeting of Mid-Del Archers is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM on May 21, 2006. The meeting place will be the Fox Hunters Clubhouse. The clubhouse will open @ 6:30.

The May 3-D shoot and ASA Qualifier was a great success. A total of 23 archers shot the 30 targets set for the ASA competition. The course was a little more challenging then a normal 3-D set up due to the ASA competition. 15 archers competed for ASA qualification for the Delaware State Championship in 5 classes. Cash prizes totaling $166.00 were awarded to the first place finishers in each class and First, Second, and Third place finishers in the hunter class.

The saga of the McKenzie Target replacements continues. The Bedded Buck target, bedded buck midsection, and a T-30 Sneak Deer mid section were received early in May. Upon opening the shipping containers, it was discovered that the Bedded Buck was not acceptable due to a broken ear and the T-30 Sneak Deer mid section incorporated IBO Scoring rings. Needless to say Delta has been contacted and the non acceptable targets and midsection are being returned again. The bedded buck midsection was accepted.

Critter targets (bobcat, skunk, raccoon, and alert turkey) have been ordered from Rinehart. These targets have been received and are also being returned. The targets all incorporate IBO scoring rings.

Work on the Practice Range is complete. Frames for the 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yard target butts have been replaced with frames incorporating covers and moveable clamping racks. Target butts for these frames have also been upgraded and a new locally manufactured “Carpet Butt” has been installed at the 20, 40, and 60 yard positions, Both 20 and 40 yard positions now have Carpet Butts. Eventually Carpet Butts will be at all positions on the practice range.

Apparently our members have lost rakes used for raking leaves. The practice range still needs racking. Member help is needed to make our practice range look and be the best in Delaware. Just bring your rake and rake the leaves towards the woods on the 60 yard side of the range. If you are really ambitious the dot range walkways also need raking.

Evaluation of the Dot range 14 positions has been completed and materials needed to upgrade each target position have been identified. Materials will be obtained during May. Hopefully, a work party will be organized to complete the upgrading of the Dot range. Times and dates for the work party need to be established and will be posted in a future News Letter, possibility as early as June.

A new fuel pump has been purchased and installed in the mower. However another problem has been encountered, the mower will not start without jumping the start solenoid. Further evaluation is required.

The lock pin on the trailer hitch has been replaced thanks to Kevin Slack. Kevin provided the needed parts to repair the trailer hitch and the trailer is back in shape.

Thanks to George Sullivan, Roy Sturgill, Patrick Slack and David Slack, the standing dead pine by the clubhouse and the leaning pine over the 14^{th target shooting range have been removed. Target 14 on the dot range is now clear.}

Thanks to Bob Bates for clearing several targets on the dot range of dead/fallen trees. Also a big thank you goes out to all who came out and helped setup the range Friday and Saturday morning for this months ASA qualifier and 3-D competition. I really appreciated the support.

One last item, for those of you who have e-mail this is the last snail mail news letter you will receive. Beginning next month, the news letter will be electronically transmitted to your e-mail address. Hard copies will be sent only to those members without e-mail capability.

Respectfully Yours

David Slack

Secretary/Treasurer