Author Archives: Custer Rod and Gun Club

Lost a Cherished Club Member This Week

It is with great sorrow and regret that we post the news that beloved club member John Hartwick has passed away. We don’t have the information to post a proper memorial message yet. All we know is what has been reported to us by his family, which is that he was found in his chair Monday morning, January 27th. Apparently from heart failure.

John could often be found busting clays on the trap range at Spotted Eagle, as well as volunteering his time to teach the Youth, and Ladies Trap classes. John has given much to this club and community, and will be missed greatly.

We’ll update this post if we receive any further information.

2014 Annual Meeting and Banquet – Recap

1/18/14 Annual Meeting and Banquet

Dave Chadwick and Nick Gevock from Montana Wildlife Federation gave a short presentation about what the Montana Federation does and passed around an email sigh-up sheet for anyone wishing to receive email notifications from MWF. They also made themselves available both before and after the meeting to discuss MWF issues with anyone wanting more in depth conversations with them and to find out what issues hunters and land owners deal with in Eastern Montana that they don’t necessarily deal with in Western Montana. They put together an impromptu breakfast meeting Sunday morning with anyone who wanted to continue the conversation even more in depth.

Club President Todd Birch gave a brief President’s Report, highlighting some of the things accomplished over the last year, including purchasing a new mower for the trap range, securing the Yellowstone Caviar Grant which provided proper electrical to all the trap houses at Spotted Eagle, the new Action Pistol Shooting and improvements to the Sunday Creek range, etc.

Cheri Reed read the minutes from last year’s Annual Meeting, and the minutes were approved.

Cheri Reed gave the Treasurer’s Report which was approved.

Keith Hall made a motion that starting in Feb. the club puts $50 in a pot, and an additional $10 per month that the pot is not won. We will draw a members name at each monthly members meeting to determine the winner of the pot. If the member is not present at the meeting, the pot will carry over to the next month. This motion is with the intent to encourage members, other than just the directors, to attend the monthly meetings and get involved in the club activities, and in that spirit an amendment was added to bar club directors or officers from being eligible to win the pot since they are already attending the meetings. Both the amendment and the motion passed.

The following nominees were elected to the Board of Directors:
Club President – Keith Hall (2-year term)
Vice President – CJ Truesdale (1-year term)
Club Treasurer – Cheri Reed (2-year term)
Club Secretary – Jesse Smith (1-year term)
Director – Todd Birch (2-year term)
Director – Jim Keith (2-year term)
Director – Jeremy Kueffler (2-year term)
Director – Ken Boschee (2-year term)
Director – Jeff Williams (1-year term)

Erin O’Conner and Suzanne Seaba representing Pheasants Forever thanked the club for allowing them to use the trap range and clubhouse for their Youth Hunter’s program in 2013. They also said they are now seeking applicants for children to participate in the program this year.

Jim Posewitz, author of Beyond Fair Chaise gave a short talk about the conservation heritage of the Easter Montana area, and how living in the area inspired Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of conservation.

The following door prizes were raffled off throughout the evening:
– rifle bore cleaning rod – won by Lawrence Torstenbo
– gift certificate for the Rib & Chop House – Won by Todd Birch
– S&W knife – won by Ron Hurr
– Ruger American .270 rifle – won by Dean Seifert

Board of Directors Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting
Feb. 18th 7:00 PM
Eagles Club, Miles City

The February Board of Directors meeting will be held at the Eagles Club in Miles City, Feb. 18th at 7:00 PM. We encourage any members who wish to get involved with their club to attend the meeting.

We have established an attendance-encouragement-pot that is currently at $50. We will draw a random club member’s number (bring your membership card) to determine the winner. If the winner is not present, the club will add $10 to the pot and it will carry over until the next meeting.

View the agenda for this meeting.

2014 Memberships are DUE NOW!

Don’t forget to renew your membership NOW! Memberships run one calendar year, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. If you have a 2013 membership, your access card will be shut off on Jan. 31, 2014 and there will be a $10 charge if you have not already returned your access key card, as the cards can not be reactivated once shut off.

You may renew your membership online with a credit card or PayPal, by going to our Membership Page or you may renew by cash or check at the Annual Meeting & Banquet or by returning the renewal notice you should receive in the mail with your invitation to the Annual Meeting & Banquet.

Remember, with the new key cards, your membership renewal MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE Jan. 31. You can not simply renew your membership at Red Rock any time throughout the year like in previous years. Any member who let’s their membership expire, will be charged a $10 fee to replace the card, even if they go to Red Rock and purchase a “new” membership at a later date.

Custer Rod and Gun Club’s Annual Meeting and Banquet

January 18th, 2014
Eagles Club, Miles City
5:00 PM – Pre-banquet meeting with Montana Wildlife Federation
6:00 PM – Custer Rod and Gun Club Banquet and Annual Meeting

What to bring?
This year’s banquet will be a pot-luck, unlike last year’s banquet which was a special 100 Year Anniversary event, in which the club provided the entire meal. This year the club will provide the meat, potatoes, and rolls, and ask all members attending to bring their favorite side dish or desert to share.

Guest Speakers – Montana Wildlife Federation
Two representatives from the Montana Wildlife Federation will be in attendance and will provide a short presentation about how the work they do as lobbyist in Helena benefit all Montana hunters and firearms enthusiest. They have also agreed to be available for about an hour before the banquet, for anyone who would like to have a more detailed one-on-one conversation with them. We highly encourage anyone interested in the work their work and policies, to come at 5:oo PM and take advantage of this great opportunity.

Door Prize
If you mailed in your membership renewal fee or renewed online by Jan. 14th, you should receive your membership packet in the mail before the Annual Meeting. BE SURE TO BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO THE MEETING! The stub attached to the membership card is your ticket to be entered in the door prize drawing, and the main part of your membership card will be needed in order to vote at the meeting.

This year’s door prize will be a Ruger American bolt action rifle chambered in .270 WIN with a synthetic “Digital Camo” stock.

(Note: Stock photo of similar rifle, not the actual rifle to be given away.)

Elections of Directors
BE SURE TO BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO THE MEETING! Each membership purchased is entitled to one vote only! In order to have your vote counted, you MUST hold up your membership card when voting. Spouses, or other guests/family members of the individual who holds the membership are not allowed to vote, unless they purchase their own membership. Your membership card will be needed in order to vote at the meeting. Members who have already renewed but left their card at home, will NOT be allowed to vote. So please, BE SURE TO BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO THE MEETING! If you’re purchasing your membership at the meeting, or you purchase your membership between Jan. 15th and jan. 18th, your membership packet, including your membership card will be provided to you at the meeting.

This year we have a total of eight Director positions to elect, six regular 2-year terms, and two 1-year terms to fill positions that were vacated mid-term. Nominations will be accepted for candidates for each position at the meeting. When a member nominates another member for one of the vacant positions, the person being nominated will be asked if they accept the nomination or not.

Being a club director requires more than just showing up to a meeting once a month. Custer Rod and Gun Club directors are the backbone of our club and perform MANY of the duties that keep the club running including anything from mowing the grass at the ranges, meeting with City Council members, organizing and running the many events and activities put on by the club each year, leading work parties, as well as serving on and attending sub-committee meetings. For the sake of the club, we respectfully ask anyone who is nominated for a Directors position, to be sure they are willing and available to commit the time and effort required for these tasks, before they accept the nomination.

The following six positions up for elections this year will be for 2-year terms:
President – currently held by Todd Birch
Treasurer – currently held by Cheri Reed
Director – currently held by Fred Tetschner
Director – currently held by John Olsen
Director – currently held by Jeremy Kueffler
Director – currently held by Ken Boschee

The following two positions have been vacated midterm and will only be 1-year positions:
Vice President – currently held by Keith Hall who was appointed by the other Directors to fill in until the 2014 election
Club Secretary – vacant

2014 Memberships
Don’t forget 2013 memberships have expired, and any membership which has not been renewed by the end of the January grace period will be shut off on Jan. 31st. Any member who has their key card shut off will be charged an additional $10 to replace the key card that can not be reactivated once shut off. Memberships MUST be renewed online, by mail, or at the Annual Meeting. Red Rock Sporting Goods does not sell renewals, only new memberships. Even if a member goes to Red Rock and purchases a “new” membership later in the year, they will still be charged $10 unless they return their old key card before the Jan. 31st deadline.

To renew your membership online, or for our mailing address, please see our Membership Page.

November 2013 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

November 19, 2013 Custer Rod and Gun Club Meeting
President Todd Birch called meeting to order at 7:00 pm, present were:
     Todd Birch
     Keith Hall
     Cheri Reed
     Fred Tetschner
     Ken Hess
     Randy Anderson
     John Olsen
     Ron Hurr
     Glen Kapitski
     CJ Truesdale

Reading of previous minutes by Cheri, motion to accept by Randy, second by Keith and passed unanimous.

Treasurer’s report: $1200 in the bank account and all bills have been paid. Randy turned in $120 in new memberships and Cheri had $80 in new memberships. The club will be getting a $3,000 grant reimbursement from completion of the Spotted Eagle trap facility improvements.

Discussion was opened regarding the installation of the new sign built by Matt Hougardy at Car Quest and donated by Jeff Williams. Haynes Enterprises backed out of the concrete work on the base and the sign is still at Matt’s Shop. The decision was made to advertise and organize a work party of club volunteers on the 7th of December at 10:00 am to install the sign (weather permitting). Todd Birch will also contact Jeff Williams regarding permission obtained for sign placement. A concrete mixer and skid steer are needed for the project.

The Montana Wildlife Federation’s Executive Director has asked to speak at the clubs annual Banquet in January.

As per Octobers meeting the banquet will be held on January 18th 2014, location is tentatively set to be the Eagles. Cheri Reed will contact the Eagles to see about costs involved and possibly meat and potatoes as club provided items.

Randy provided a draft news letter to the membership regarding new membership purchases and old membership renewal, also recommending December membership sales be for the 2014 year. Keith Hall made a motion to start 2014 membership sales on December 1st, Cheri Reed replied with a second and motion passed unanimous.

CJ Truesdale requested the club consider a joint event in 2015 with Walleyes Unlimited, possibly a bow hunter’s “Carp Shoot” at Spotted Eagle. Plans are tentative and pending arrangements with schedule and Montana FWP.

Motion to adjourn at 8:15

*no humans were injured in the course of this meeting

Notes from the October 15th Board of Directors Meeting

– The Montana Wildlife Federation President will be attending the Custer Rod and Gun Club annual dinner in January. He will be giving a brief presentation oh how the MWF works to represent our interests.

– Doeden Construction has offered to donate gravel to the rifle/pistol range if someone has a way to haul it for the club. If you can help, please contact Randy Hart at (406) 232-0727.

– Cheri Reed reported that at the recent Boy/Cub Scout event held at the Spotted Eagle Trap and Archery facilities, there were 28 boys in attendance. 13 of which received merit badges. The boys participated in trap shooting, archery, tomahawk throwing, and canoeing.

– The directors voted to donate a free membership to Doedens Construction in recognition of the gravel they’ve donated to the club.

– Cheri Reed will again be heading up the committee to plan the Annual Meeting/Banquet in January, but she NEEDS volunteers to help. PLEASE CONTACT CHERI IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THE PLANNING/ARRANGEMENTS!

– The directors authorized Jesse Smith to set up a PayPal account on the club website to accept credit cards via the website for club membership renewals.

– Cheri Reed and John Olsen will be getting in touch with the college heavy equipment class instructors to see about getting the berms at the new pistol range finished.

– Randy Hart has begun winterizing the clubhouse at the rifle/pistol range.

– The next Directors Meeting will be held at the Eagles Club at 7:00 PM on November 19, 2013.

Action Pistol Fun Shoot

November 9, 2013
10:00 AM
Sunday Creek Rifle/Pistol Range

We will be holding our monthly Action Pistol Fun Shoot at the Sunday Creek rifle/pistol range, Saturday November 9th, at 10:00 AM. Anyone is welcome to attend, and fun is guaranteed. Target fees are $2 per club member, or $4 for non-members.

You should bring your unloaded handgun in a holster along with 3 magazines or speed loaders, and eye & ear protection. You can shoot most any handgun up to .45 cal, but be aware that calibers smaller than 9mm tend to not have enough power to knock down the steel targets.

This is a fun shoot loosely based on IDPA/Concealed Carry. Drawing from concealment is permitted, and encouraged.

You can view the stages we’ll be shooting and more info HERE.

Cowboy Action Shooting

Nov. 16th, 2013
1:00 PM
Custer Rod and Gun Club Rifle Range

For more info see the: Cowboy Action Shooting Home Page

The Custer County Stranglers SASS club will be holding its monthly Cowboy Action Shoot at the CR&GC rifle range. This match is held on the new Action Shooting bays between the short and long rifle ranges.

This is a monthly match that is held the third Saturday of every month.

Match target fees are $1 per shooter for the entire event.

For more information contact:
Randy or Penny Hart (406) 232-072

Cowboy Action Shooting

Oct. 19, 2013
1:00 PM
Custer Rod and Gun Club Rifle Range

The Custer County Stranglers SASS club will be holding its monthly Cowboy Action Shoot at the CR&GC rifle range. This match is held on the new Action Shooting bays between the short and long rifle ranges.

This is a monthly match that is held the third Saturday of every month.

Match target fees are $1 per shooter for the entire event.

For more information contact:
Randy or Penny Hart (406) 232-072

Action Pistol Jackpot Match Results

We would like to thank all of you who came out and supported our shoot. Everyone had a great time and the match went off as well as we could have ever hoped for our first match. It was great to meet you all. You are the reason the match went so smoothly that even the staff were able to relax and have a really enjoyable day.

We couldn’t have done it without your participation, and we are greatly humbled by all of those contestants who chose to donate their winnings back to the club. That was above and beyond anything we had hoped for, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Now, enough of me rambling. Here’s the results everyone’s been waiting for:

IMPORTANT: New procedures for renewing your club membership

Club membership “renewals” will have to be purchased differently from now on. Since the club has access cards for the rifle range, members simply mail in their payments and the card stays active. If they let the membership lapse, the card has to be disabled and either paid for, or turned back into the club. If the member does not renew there membership on time they will not have immediate access to the rifle range if/when they do decide to renew.

Because the lock is manually programmed, to renew or reactivate a cancelled card, has to be done at the lock and even though a member pays for the membership, if it’s done after a cancellation it will result in a delay of one to two weeks before the member can use (get into) the range. A letter will be drafted and sent to all of the club members urging renewal prior to and through annual banquet time. Shortly after the annual banquet Randy will have to disable all unpaid membership access cards.

We’ll post more information about option to renew your membership in the coming weeks.

September 17th 2013 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

September 17th CR&GC meeting started at 7:00PM, present were:
      *Todd Burch
      *Keith Hall
      *Cheri Reed
      *Ken Boschee
      *Randy Anderson
      *John Olsen
      *Glen Kapitske
      *Fred Tetschner
      Jesse Smith
      Debbie Smith
      CJ Truesdale

Minutes: were approved as emailed by Randy A. last month.

Treasurers’ report: Cheri Reed reports $4,781.65 in the bank in addition to two CDs at roughly $2,500 and $1,200 each.

Committee reports:

  • Spotted Eagle electrical improvements have broke ground, photos will be taken and submitted along with final report (when finished) to be eligible for grant payment of $3,000 from Caviar Grant. Payment is also forthcoming from HRH. Keith Hall reports that they had to buy a case of wasp/ hornet spray due to the nest issues in the area before work could be done. Also noted, a special thanks to Kevin Boschee for his hard work at the trap range, Keith gave him a 100 year club hat as a token of appreciation.

  • Todd Birch will send Jackie Muri an invoice for the 28 cases of clays used for the HRH benefit Shoot. Reports that the attendance was down from last year will not hamper intentions for another shoot next year. All that commented expect attendance to be up again next year.

  • John Hartwick (via Cheri Reed) reports that 8 women participated in the Ladies trap shooting program this summer. They shot 525 targets and used 10 boxes of club provided shells.

  • Jesse Smith reports that Action Pistol has turned in payments of $190.00 and $96.00 since the last meeting to Cheri Reed.

    • Old Business: None

    New Business:

  • Jesse Smith states concerns with the height of the berms on the range and has contacted Doedens for a quote on additional dirt work. At $105.00 per hour Fred Tetschner moved to budget $500.00 for doing the needed work, Kenny B. provided a second and the vote was unanimous in favor.

  • Jeff Williams has built a new sign for CR&GC to be erected at Spotted Eagle, after much discussion Todd Birch will provide him with the proper location for placement.

  • Keith Hall and Cheri Reed report that the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts want to use Spotted Eagle for their district event. They will be using the trap and archery ranges Friday and Saturday the 20th and 21st beginning at 6:00 pm Friday. The range will be closed to the public and club members during this time. The motion was made by Cheri, seconded by John Olsen and passed via unanimous vote. Camping approval had already been obtained from the city of Miles City.

  • Randy A. reports that next years “renewal” memberships will have to be purchased differently from now on. Since the club has access cards, members simply mail in their payments and the card stays active. If they let the membership lapse, the card has to be disabled and either paid for, or turned back into the club. If the member does not turn the card in or renew it in time they will not have immediate access if/when they do decide to renew.

    Because the lock is manually programmed, to renew or reactivate a cancelled card, has to be done at the lock and even though a member pays for the membership, if it’s done after a cancellation it will result in a delay of one to two weeks before the member can use (get into) the range. A letter will be drafted and sent to all of the club members urging renewal prior to and through annual banquet time. Shortly after the annual banquet Randy will have to disable all unpaid membership access cards.

    • Next months meeting will be held at Spotted Eagle

    Meeting adjourned at 7:58

    Concealed Weapons/Defensive Pistol Class by EDC., LLC. September 14th

    Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013
    CR&GC Rifle Range
    Cost: $100

    Custer Rod and Gun Club will be holding a class on Saturday Sept. 14th. in Miles City. This will be an Introduction to Concealed Carry Class, taught by EDC Training LLC. This class is for the individual that may or may not hold a Montana Concealed Carry Permit and is wanting to learn more about the Defensive use of a handgun.

    This course addresses the effective concealed carry and use of the handguns popular today. The course will address the advantages and disadvantages of the various types, models, configurations and calibers of such Handguns, as well as the most effective support equipment and methods of concealed carry. The program consists of both classroom discussion, and live fire drills on the range. This course 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. Other course topics include Situational Awareness, equipment selection, safety, handling, loading, unloading, malfunction clearance, drawing and firing techniques.

    Cost of this class will be $100.00

    Required equipment list:

    • Centerfire Handgun in a minimum defensive caliber (generally, 9mm or .38spl or larger)
    • Ammunition 100 rounds.
    • Spare magazines or speedloaders
    • Spare ammunition pouches, carrier, or magazine holster
    • Method of carrying the handgun (i.e.- suitable belt and belt holster, Shoulder holsters generally not acceptable- you “sweep” others when drawing the firearm)
    • Ear protection
    • Eye protection
    • Clothing suitable for the weather
    • Cap with a brim
    • Rugged shoes or boots
    • Lunch and hydration fluid(water sports drink etc for the day)

    Click here to view a printable CLASS ENROLLMENT APPLICATION