Range Update: Busy Summer Ahead

There’ll be plenty of activity this summer at the range. CVOA directors at their May Board Meeting authorized construction of a new multi-purpose building, an archery range and a canopy structure to cover the firing line at the rifle range. The latter two projects will be designed, built and partially funded as part of separate projects undertaken by two Eagle Scout candidates from Troop #525 sponsored by CVOA.

New Building

The new building will be a 16 x 20 foot structure built on skids so it can be moved if necessary in the future. It will be used for range storage, as a warming hut for fall and winter activities and as a meeting location for small groups, perhaps up to a dozen or so.

It will feature a four-foot wide porch on the front side, facing the driveway entrance to the range, with an overhang off the gable end of the roof to cover it. It will have windows on either side of the front door.

The side of the building facing west – away from the range activities – will have a four-foot overhang for outdoor storage.

The east side, facing the Bigelow Range, will be mostly windows so occupants can watch activities at the trap range or just view the beautiful mountain range. A wood stove will be installed for use during the cooler months.

The new building will be located near the existing storage building, which will continue to be used primarily for clay target storage.

Archery Range

Eagle Scout candidate Ian Wilson of Carrabassett Valley proposed the archery range, a project long on the wish list for the Range Committee. It will be located in a section of woods south of the entrance to the range and will consist of a static range with three firing stations and a “traveling” range that will feature up to six locations.

Each of the “traveling” range stations will be located in natural forest settings with simulated game targets, such as a deer, partridge or bear, placed in the woods. That concept provides a simulated “hunting experience” with a loop returning back to the beginning to avoid multiple hunters criss-crossing the range.

The “traveling” range loop will cover about a quarter mile of woods between the pistol range and Rt. 27.

Rifle Range Canopy

Eagle Scout candidate Matt Beauregard is undertaking the firing line canopy at the rifle range as his Eagle project. Matt originally proposed a structure similar to one done as an Eagle project by his brother, Christian Beauregard.

The CVOA board recommended that the design be changed to reduce the overall costs. The proposal calls for a pole-barn type of structure utilizing old utility poles as uprights with a shed-type roof providing the shelter. It will be designed for six shooting stations.

Overall, the canopy will be the same size as the pistol range building – 10 X 24feet --but of different design. It will accommodate four shooting stations, each of which will include bench rest tables.

CVOA to pioneer ‘First Shots’ Program in Maine

Working with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, CVOA’s Range Committee will introduce to Maine a program designed to introduce new people – particularly youth – to the sport of target shooting, and to promote firearm safety.

CVOA will host the new programs on Aug. 6 and Sept. 10, running from 9 a.m. to noon. The first session will focus on young people and their families while the second will be open to anyone interested.

The NSSF will loan rifles, pistols and shotguns for the two sessions and cover the costs of ammunition and targets. In addition, in cooperation with the Keystone Firearms Company, they are donating five Cricket Rifles, junior-sized 22-caliber rifles to CVOA for participating. In return, CVOA will provide instructors and assist in promotional activities for the programs.

If anyone is interested in serving as an instructor or obtaining more information on the program, please contact Range Chairman Neal Trask at 235-2732 or at nltrask@tdstelme.net, or John McCatherin at 235-2121 or at johnmccatherin@tds.net.

NSSF is the firearms industry trade association, working to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.

Trap Machine Training/ Work Day Held

A half dozen volunteers showed up Sunday, June 12, for training on the operations of the trap machine and a work project to get the range in shape for the summer.

Three range members took part in the trap machine training and will now be qualified to operate the machine on their own and serve as a range officer on regularly-scheduled shoots.

Those qualifying were Blaine Holding, Bill Hardt and Rick Young.

They, along with Jim Heichel and Cindy Estes, joined in with Range Chairman Neal Trask and Range Secretary John McCatherin on the cleanup project, wielding brush cutters, trimmers, chain saws and a lawnmower. By the time it was over, the range looked quite spruced up and ready for the busy season ahead.

The work session was followed by a cookout with Chef McCatherin at the grill and, for dessert, Linda Trask’s wonderful chocolate chip cookies..