Range Improvents Continuing--- Thanks Fieg Bros. Coal

Range improvements are an on-going process and we have been working on it.
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The Club has been making a push to strengthen the 100 yard backstop by increasing its height.  Clearing the trees and brush for the 50 yard handgun range in the area near the outhouse as commenced.  It is a step-by-step process.
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To this end, Fieg Bros. Coal just donated a couple of tri-axle loads of badly needed fill.  Scott Fieg was very gracious in making this donation.   Scott, please accept our appreciation for stepping forward with your help.
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Fieg Bros Coal making a delivery.

Delivery was made Tuesday (30AUG2016).  Joe Popovich reported 1.25 inches or rain at the coal dock Monday night so it was not surprising that the ground at the Club was too soggy to take the truck in where the fill is needed.  Plan B was used and the fill stockpiled near the tool shed to be moved later.
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A big THANKS to Fieg Bros.

Plans include embedding used tires in the backside of the backstop to help stabilize the fill.  This should allow us to reach the height needed making the best use the fill we have.
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An access road is being planned from where the fill is piled back to the head of the handgun range (to the left of the 50 yard backstop).  This will allow easier access to the handgun range when completed.
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Anyone wanting to get involved with this project, let us know.  The more hands, the lighter the load.
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Let's be safe out there!

An Experiment....!

A new member (Brian Wingard) wasted no time in getting involved......
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An avid fisherman (in competitions, too), he approached me about trying to improve the fishing in our dam.  He proposed "raking" the dam to remove some of the weeds to give clear water and less tangles for the fishing lines.
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I do not fish so Brian educated me on the ups and downs of this process and a plan was developed.  Since fishing was part of the Women In The Outdoors activities, Brian would rake the section of the dam that they would be using.  Then, data would be gathered on the success of the venture.
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The raking occurred at the end of July and the WITO took place on the 6AUG.  I have not had the chance to compare notes with Michelle Holt yet to find out if the raking made a difference.  You will just have to check back to get the final results.
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In the meantime, here are some images of the raking process-----
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The spit near the bridge was the test area.

Brian and unknown helper.

Quite a pile of weeds from a small area.

THE RESULTS.

Thanks !, Brian and unknown friend.
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And thanks to Scotty Wagner for the images... and for hauling the weeds away.   He is composting the stuff, but that's another experiment for another post.
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Let's see how this first attempt turns out.  Brian reported that there is a LOT of weeds in the that dam.  If this helps improve the fishing, we may need to gather a crew to make a big difference.
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Stay tuned for further updates and feel free to leave comments about this project.
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