For Newbies going to the Grand American Trapshoot

Please tell us your favorite banks, places to eat, motels, etc.

 

This should be a very short list. Should I put up the Good Fellas picture again?

Good thing you didn't ask who WASNT going AGAIN, to that place in Illnews.

I don't think if there would be enough room on here.

Why don't you tell the "Newbies", what your favorite banks are and where you eat, and sleep, etc. You never know, you might get one more person to show up there.

God knows they can use all the help they can get. You convince one more person to go and at least shoot the GAH event and the hof gets another dollar and the ata (AKA Gipson), gets to say that they are still moving in a fantastic direction.

If you could convince another 2000 to go it would be close to what we used to have when the grand was the Grand and not just some shoot too far away from anything.

Now, I wouldn't be at all surprised if your answer about where you do your eating and sleeping was At my house, I live real close to the place.

Just can't get that picture of Ray Liotta out of your head can you sid? Me either!

 

The way things are progressing in Illinois It probably won't be long until Sparta Sid is going to be Lonely Sparta Sid come the beginning of August. I hope for Sparta Sids Sake His Governor Doesn't fulfill there Agenda.

 

The first thing I thought of when I saw someone JOINED OUR GREAT SITE and called himself "sparta sid" was an old movie called El Cid starring Charlton Heston.

In ata land the wsrc is the "star"

At the end of El Cid they PROPPED HIS DEAD BODY ON HIS HORSE TO TRY AND CONVINCE EVERYONE THAT HE WASN'T DEAD. Gipson could have wrote the screenplay.

The second thing I thought of was that terrible SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Well the wsrc has been having that shoot for 14 years so it's not sudden and 14 years old isn't an infant but the Death part sure is spot on.

 

I'll bite.

I camp there, after three years of driving a hr each way to a hotel.

My favorite banks are 18-21. Ive seen Ricky and Sean there. Harlan and his kind shoot 14-17. I have one buddy who swears by 1-4, the skeet houses are not my fav.

We eat at the camper, one night we go to Pizza Hut in Sparta. We get ice cream daily at the Farm Bureau on site. If you have kids the Sparta pool is $10 for the week, and real nice.

If we run out of beer the Wal Mart has great prices, and Apothic wine is $7/bottle! Cant buy ammo there anymore of course since my state (Ohio) does not border IL.

If you are a troll, you got me. If not, hope this helps.

 

Lordmaker, very good report and I'm sure you have helped anyone that was thinking of going there for the first time. Maybe even changed someone's mind that went once and swore the place off since it is in the middle of nowhere and has nothing to offer in the way of amenities.

And yes, "sparta sid" is actually a troll just trying to stir up some crap. He really doesn't care one way or the other what banks, restaurants, or motels someone uses.

He assumes that if he mentions that place in Illnews everyone will answer him with some sort of complaint. A perverted sense of humor I guess?

I picture him siting at the computer with one hand on the mouse and the other in his lap just waiting for someone to tell him how that place sucks so he can tell all his Kool-Aid drinking buddies how he "got them" over on the "dark side"

Just sayin......

 

When you cross that line to the THE DARK SIDE

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band still performs.

It's too late for this year but if they have that shoot again next year Gipson should inquire about getting Cafferty and the group to entertain at the shoot. Just think how that hit would go over. I'm sure the patrons would love it

 

Lord maker,
I thought if you buy a hunting or fishing license you can buy ammo at the WalMart (?) , its just a way for the State to rip off visitors (Taxes) ... You might have one of the locals buy your ammo and give him a bottle of cheap wine for his time, might be worth it once it is all done ... If or once the new Governor Pritzger gets all of his crap passed and applied the cost of attending any events in the State of Illinois won't be worth it .... His Motto "Tax them till they choke, then apply the pressure " ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Yes, you can buy the license. I just haul ammo there now. Saves the 8% sales tax and makes sure I only leave lead in IL not much cash!

 

Bring lots if water. It can get darn hot there!

Review the symptoms of heat stroke.

 

Two pretty nice Sporting Clay courses.
They throw a mean "Wabbit" target.

Regards...….Gerald

 

I remember the Wabbit resembled an out house a few years back didn't it?

 

That is a out of state hunting license. They are expensive. Roger C.

 

Roger,
I do not recall but I think they give you a restricted hunting license that is only good for a short period of time, I will try and look it up and see if I can find anything on it for sure and up date the post ... WPT ... (YAC) …

Googled it :


Non-Resident Licenses/Permits
Name Fee Available Online
Non-ResidentDeer Archery Permit OTC (Anterless Only) (Hunter has not purchased an ES Archery Permit) $100.50 Online

Non-ResidentDeer Combo Archery Permit Application (ES & AO) $410.00 Online

Non-ResidentDeer Combo Archery Permit OTC (ES & AO) $411.00 Online
69 more rows
Non-Resident Licenses/Permits - Illinois DNR - Illinois.gov

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/Non-ResidentLicensesPermitsFees.aspx

 

Outhouse shooting in Sparta? Please check to see that the seat is empty before firing.

 

ok, I been in the ATA for 2 years now and had been thinking about going to Grand in the next years, but after reading all the negative posts about the place, no place to stay within 30 minutes, crazy Illinois laws, maybe I will just plan on going to Tuscon and Cardinal center the next 2 years.

Really wanted to go to the Grand but not with all this complaining going on.

 

sleeperhawk,
You really have to go and see it for your self, like going to the Carnival when its closed but the rides are still there ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

you owe it yourself to come and check it out.

 

Banks 3 to 5 you can sit under the shade of the permanent vendor buildings. People who like some kind of background like banks 18 to. 21. A lot of Northeast shooter shoot there. Banks 1 to 5 have a decent background and I shoot there. Banks 8 to 11, I believe, has sky background and lots of shooters like to shoot there but I don't like them. Good luck.

 

Actually I forgot and was relying on memory but I just checked the layout in the program, only banks 3 and 4 are where the permanent vendor buildings are. Bank 5 is on the east side and is not a favorite from what I heard.

 

We shot on bank 27 on the far East end yesterday. Background varies quite a bit between the 4 houses but it is still better than my home club.

 

there is not really a bad bank here. If you like blue sky, you can have it. Trees, that too. Skeet houses, that too. Guys, come try it. If you dont like it thats fine. I know it sucks being 10 hrs from home, etc. The shooting is fine though.

 

Actually, about Banks 9 through 15 have sky background. And as the lord said you have all types of choices. Good place to shoot. The only negative I have to say so far this year is that they needed to trim back the grass on the handicap pads because you can't see some of the numbers but it's not really a big deal. I understand that because of the money spent on the roads they cut back in other areas.

 

This was my 2nd year going. Rent a camper - early! It is an enjoyable experience to just be at the Grand. I'm relatively new to trap, not a 'top shot' by any measure, not do I get involved in the politics - so much of the BS is moot to me.

Reading these forums, the ATA reminds me of Gov't... bloated, antiquated, serving a few at the top... and destined to go out of business. What a shame... I see sporting clays and 3 gun numbers growing. I can say that the ATA is way behind the time in using a LITTLE technology to improve the process - ie reduce costs and make life easier for all in the sport - the clubs, the members, etc. I hope there is a future for ATA

 

You can buy all the ammo you want at the shell house regardless of where you are from. No need to try to buy some out of state license. The shell house prices are almost exactly the same as what they are at Wal-Mart in Sparta.