Articles:

Black Point Released Chukar Shoots Spring 2007

Driven Pheasant Event at Camanche Hills

New Year’s Greetings from Robert Devlin, President

Another Successful Flighted Mallard Shoot

Loan Pay Off

December 17th Sporting Clays Gathering at Oak Tree

Gerald “Jerry” Alan Avakian

Coon Creek

First Dove Shoot at Rooster Ranch

Second Annual Bay Area Chapter Game Dinner

Joint Event A Big Success

Grand Finale at Rock Springs Ranch

Wild Boar Weekend at Rock Springs Ranch

Black Point Released Chukar Shoots Spring 2007

Roger Sanger, Founder and Past President

(Click on images for larger views)

Thanks to Roger Stuart, Chairperson of the Greater San Francisco Bay Chapter, many of the northern California members and guests were able to enjoy to released chukar shoots at Black Point Ranch in Marin county on March 29 and May 2. Amid sounds of nearby Sears Point Raceway, scenes of rolling hill sides of grapes, and smells of San Francisco Bay; shooters accompanied by guides and dogs were treated to walk up chukar hunting at its finest. After a morning of hunting, it was back to the ranch club house for a roaring fire in the fireplace, wine tasting from the surrounding area, viewing of displayed fine guns, chukar appetizers, and a steak BBQ lunch fit for the aristocracy. Shooters left mid afternoon with plenty of chukars cleaned and packaged.

At the May 2 event the group was delighted to have as its guest the new NRA Executive Director of the Office of Advancement from Fairfax, Virginia, Ben Case. Thanks to CSXSS member and NRA Western Regional Advancement Officer, David Bundesen, the group got to enjoy a very enlightening discussion with both Ben and David about the exciting programs offered by the NRA, especially those involving young people and women interested in the shooting sports.

These two events will be repeated next year according to Roger Stuart. They offer a wonderful opportunity for members to do a day hunting program very close to home and enjoy the camaraderie of hunters, dogs, and fine guns.

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Twenty members gathered at the historic Ione Hotel in Ione for dinner and a show and tell display of side by side shotguns. The town of Ione has a rich history from the California gold rush days and was a fitting venue for an evening of good food and outstanding fellowship. As you might guess, conversation centered on guns, gun dogs and hunting. Dale Tate joined us for dinner and added greatly to the discussions about guns and the fine points of shooting driven birds which we were all looking forward to the next morning.

Friday morning dawned bright and clear with not a cloud in the sky. The last remnants of the previous evenings hail storm was still evident on the North facing hill sides but the spring grasses and foliage rendered a clear and vibrant air to a morning for the memory bank. A total twenty-six of guns met for breakfast at the CHHP Cafe and proceeded to caravan to the site for the morning shoot which commenced with everyone being given the opportunity to warm up on clay targets under the tutelage and close eye of Mr. Tate.

The results on the clay targets fortunately did not translate to the success that was seen on the live birds. The birds flew very well presenting challenging targets. Each gun rotated thru thirteen pegs and experienced a wide variety of presentations. From what I observed, the percentage of kills was quite high, in the range of 65-70%. The walk up shoot following the driven shoot raised the numbers to something in the neighborhood of 85-90%. Not bad for what is largely a bunch of "old guys."

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New Year’s Greetings from Robert Devlin, President

As your newly elected Society President, I share the passion for the out-of-doors and fellowship that our double gun hobby affords us in a multiple of different venues. For 2007 the four chapters have scheduled a wide variety of events that should prove attractive to our membership as well as to prospective new members. 

During the off season we are in the process of establishing the first state-wide shooting event. It is being organized by Jerry Kitto and Larry Shelton and is scheduled for sometime in the month of May. We have chosen the Bakersfield area to try to attract as many people from both ends of the state as possible. Each chapter should attempt to support this clays competition and make this the beginning of an annual meet that brings us all together in one central location.

Up north we have many jointly-sponsored chapter events such as bird hunting in early September. We start with a dove opener followed by driven or released chukar, pheasant, quail and duck shoots. Our spring couples shoot regularly attracts eight to twelve couples. In between these gatherings we hold sporting clays shoots, both fun as well as competitive events. Most recently the “Colonies versus the Colonials”, a competition between domestic and imported guns was added. This meet includes a ladies sub-event. We even invited another society of shotgun collectors to participate in an event and show their guns to our members.

Another recently introduced -- and highly practical -- happening is our annual game dinner. This couples event allows members to reduce the inventories of game birds from their freezers, lets someone else deal with all the preparation and provides a great reason to get together and share stories of hunting exploits! We’ve held wild turkey shoots, boar hunts, black powder and muzzle loading events. The sky really is the limit. All it takes is a little imagination and where-with-all to organize get-togethers and spread our love for double guns. 

In the new year I plan to travel around the state and attend chapter meetings to discuss expanding our membership and possibly opening new chapters. We are looking to the Pacific Northwest -- specifically Oregon, Washington and Idaho - for a sub-chapter perhaps to be called the Lewis and Clark Group. We have some ten individuals in that area who would bring additional knowledge to our society. Another chapter could be formed in Nevada and Arizona. It’s time to think “outside of the box” and explore as many different opportunities as possible in order to expand and enliven our membership.

I wish to thank the generous efforts of the various chapter presidents, the expert leadership of our outgoing president, Marshall Stevens, the ongoing efforts of our current treasurer, Steve Kesselring and our newsletter editor and publisher, Barbara Nyholm. Their collective volunteer efforts are the fiber that holds our Society together. As I have personally discovered, there is great pleasure and satisfaction derived from leading or assisting in the organization of our events. Try it, you’ll like it!

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Another Successful Flighted Mallard Shoot

by Marshall Stevens

Loan Pay Off

With his year-end treasurer’s report to the Board, Steve Kesselring announced the single most significant news item - the pay off of the original incorporation loan for this society. As a result of this news, each chapter will begin receiving a greater split of the member dues collected annually by the society. This will ensure more funds available for chapter events. A big thank you is due Kathy and Roger Sanger for having generously put up the funds in the first place.

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December 17th Sporting Clays Gathering at Oak Tree

by Mark Effle, LA Chapter

“Are we going to shoot or not?” That was the question. The days preceding the scheduled shoot were cold, sometimes wet and forecast to be the same on the chosen day. The answer was “Of course we’re going to shoot!” Arriving at Oak Tree I wasn’t sure how many members would brave the forecast but I need not have worried. By daylight the skies had cleared and soon members were showing up for what turned out to be our best and most well-attended shoot.

With the help of the able staff we soon had members signed up on squads, setting up display tables and catching up on who had gotten what new gun. Being delegated to squad # 1, I rounded up the rest of the gang and drove up to station one. Several of our members were new to this course and surprised by the stations hanging out (literally - see pictures at right) over a canyon, forcing them to shoot downhill. Another of the novel stations had one shooting birds before they hit a cliff face. Another station was set up to have one shooting down an avenue of trees at crossing birds with little warning of their approach. Needless to say, it was a challenge for us all. Finally at station eight through ten we actually got to shoot up at the birds!

After comparing hits and misses with the other squad members, we got back to the club house with plenty of time to relax before lunch. (It helps to be in the first squad). In order to prove that we really could hit birds, we fielded a trap squad and shot a couple rounds of trap. As is always the case, a squad of side by side shooters gathers attention from other shooters and this time was no exception. After a lively discussion of the merits of a side by side we invited our new friends to view our display tables. The theme for this event was the “Lefever Shotgun”. Ben Loving brought the bulk of the display and his collection includes some very fine examples. I was unaware that there are so many different models and grades of Lefevers. 

The friendly, courteous staff at Oak Tree prepared a wonderful tri-tip/chicken luncheon for us. Jerry Kitto, our president, recapped the shooting results and presented the awards. Harry Davis managed to finally win the s x s buckle he’s been pursuing. The Class A, B and C winners were: Richard Edlund, Mack Novak and Alan Gornick respectively (pictured to the right). New member Ron Abrams collected the prestigious DAL award. I thought for sure it was my turn for that award, but I couldn’t even win that one. Well, maybe next year..

A big thanks to all the members who helped put on this holiday event and especially to Ben Loving for sharing his fine collection of Lefevers. A fun, lively shoot at Oak Tree is the perfect way to end the year.  

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Gerald “Jerry” Alan Avakian

1953 - 2006

If you ever had the opportunity to shoot with Jerry, or even watch him shoot, you know that he was a world-class shotgun competitor – and a world class wit.  His mischievous and legendary sense of humor wasn’t content to merely follow him around – it often preceded him, announcing his entry in advance.

Jerry’s long career in the wine industry included Carillon Importers, Seagram's Wine Properties, Franciscan Wines and Icon Estates Wines.

Jerry participated in many central coast Side by Side Society activities over the years, but is especially remembered for shooting those high birds at Rock Springs Ranch and providing some wonderful wines for our society events at the ranch.

Throughout nearly two very painful years of battling cancer Jerry never lost his sense of humor. He continued to be upbeat and always ready to help others with their problems. Jerry passed away in August and is sorely missed by his many friends.

Submitted by Nola Range

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Coon Creek

By Larry Shelton

Dr. John Hilt put together a fun shoot at Coon Creek the 19th of August for our Central Valley chapter members. Dave Fjelline had the course in tiptop shape for all of us. Twenty-six shooters participated and five from the San Francisco chapter joined in as well. Three prizes were awarded for shooting. Gene Bayer won the Class AAA with a score of 77, earning a case of shells and beating out Craig Vallely in a tie-breaker station. Class AA was won by John Hilt with a score of 66; Class A was won by Jon Webb with a score of 54. Both gentlemen also each received a case of shells. Club owners George and Joan Ahart made a donation of a silver coin with the words “Coon Creek” inscribed. Jim Gleason won the drawing for that coin. Afterwards we gathered under a shaded patio for lunch and a display of guns. Ed Koelker, who had suffered a farm accident earlier in the year, is looking steadily better. He had some great guns on display. Vern Brinkerhoff's cased Frederic Beesley won the "Featured Gun" spot this time. The gun, manufactured in 1897, received an award for best English gun at the 2001 Gold Medal Concours. Look for Vern and his gun on our photo page of our web site, www.casidebysidesociety.com. Thanks to all those who made it a wonderful day. George and Joan have an interesting shooting program and are always great hosts for our events.

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First Dove Shoot at Rooster Ranch

By Larry Shelton

Thanks to the efforts of Mal Weaver and Mike Spies, thirty-three society members had an opportunity to shoot dove for the first three days of September at Rooster Ranch. This Central Valley upland game club which had experienced so much flooding this spring is fully operational these days. The club is part of a corporation whose landholdings encompass nearly 9,000 acres and 18 miles of riparian habitat at the confluence of the San Joaquin and Merced rivers. As luck would have it, we did not experience any cool nights leading up to the shoot which can send the birds south. As a result the shoot was fantastic!

On the afternoon prior to the shoot, the group gathered on the club house patio for a display of fine double guns. In particular, Craig Vallely's beautifully restored 16 gauge Sauer was a big hit. The “show and tell” was followed by a steak dinner and chocolate cake for dessert. The next morning’s wake up call came at 4:00am followed by a quick continental breakfast. We then lined up in our cars for the 6 mile drive with our guide, Richard Ensley, field manager at Rooster Ranch and several assistants leading the way. Still before daylight and after some brief instruction, we scattered out in a huge field of natural cover.

Some members ended up in better positions than others, but all had plenty of shooting. One hunter even managed to deplete three boxes of shells that first morning. The results were mixed (some shot easy limits, others only got a few birds). Those without dogs spent a lot of time looking for downed birds. At 10:30am we headed in for a full breakfast of hot cakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. Those who didn't limit in the morning went out that evening and had just as much shooting. The same routine was repeated the second day with the same results. Mal Weaver and John Ratto, went out the third morning and reported that there were still plenty of birds flying! This was the best flyway that I have experienced in years.

Some of the ladies took Saturday afternoon off from the hunt and toured the Hilmar Cheese Co. nearby. Interestingly enough, this company is the largest cheese and whey products manufacturing facility in the world. It receives over 9 million pounds of milk daily and produces over one million pounds of cheese and 350,000 pounds of whey protein and lactose powder each day. That evening we were treated to a sampling of these cheeses as well as appetizers provided by other members.

I’d like to thank the Rooster Ranch staff on behalf of all of us who came for the fun: Judy Frisbie, operations manager, for being so organized, helpful and pleasant; Richard Ensley, field manager, who promised our group the best dove spot and delivered; and lastly, Lorraine Ensley, for doing a fine job cooking for our group. Special thanks also go to the originators of this event - Mal and Mike.. We will be forever grateful.

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Second Annual Bay Area Chapter Game Dinner

By Roger Stuart

On Saturday, June 25, 2006 Bob and Diane Wilson hosted the second annual game dinner at the Peasant and the Pear Restaurant in Danville. Twenty members of the California Side by Side Society and their spouses including new member, Clint Pridmore and his wife, Nancy participated in the festivities. Like last year, members of the Bay Area Chapter contributed the entrée – pheasant, chukar and dove. Under the watchful eye of Chef Rodney Worth, the kitchen prepared each type of game with delectable results. The evening began with cocktails and an assortment of delicious hors d’œuvres, including beer batter asparagus with garlic lemon aioli and grilled pork skewers with a roasted peach barbecue glaze. All who attended agreed that it was a memorable evening and a wonderful tradition to maintain in years to come. We thank all who were involved in making it a success.

Menu

Salad of baby greens with candied walnuts, gorgonzola and a creamy balsamic vinaigrette

Citrus-roasted pheasant and dove breasts, braised pheasant legs and thighs and maple-balsamic glazed chukar all served with a spicy poached pear sauce or a black pepper game sauce

Sautéed French green beans and honey polenta

Chocolate decadence cake topped with a pinot noir-chocolate reduction sauce

Click here to visit the 2006 Game Dinner Photo album!

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Joint Event A Big Success

By Bob Devlin

Bay Area Chapter President 

A jointly-sponsored California Side By Side Society and L. C. Smith Collectors Association event was held Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Coyote Valley Sporting Clays in Morgan Hill. The purpose of the event was a friendly competition between domestic and European manufactured shotguns. Thirty five shooters turned out to compete in seventy-five rounds of clays to qualify for an Annie Oakley style elimination round. Sixteen brought American-made shotguns and the rest brought imports. In addition, eight lady shooters joined us to participate in a separate round of fifty clays at the five stand.

We assembled at 8:30 am for coffee and pastries before dividing up into groups of five. The course consisted of six sporting clays stations with fifty clays and one wobble trap with twenty-five clays. After more than two hours of qualifying, we arrived at the top five shooters for each group. Following a briefing of the rules, the first group then moved to the five stand for the Annie Oakley style shoot-off. We witnessed a lively competition with the shooters rotating the calls for the variety of clays which were released from the five stations. Eventually a winner emerged - Dave Slade - shooting a 12 gauge A.H. Fox.

With the advantage of having observed the first round, the top five shooters using imported guns stepped up to face a tight elimination round. Bob Shimmon won this round with a 12 gauge Issiac Hollis & Sons. A final contest between Dave and Bob was needed to determine the overall winner. It lasted only a few minutes and four or five clay station calls. To the great cheers of the assembled audience, Bob Shimmon became the winner.

We then retired to the welcomed shade of the Oak Grove picnic area where our de luxe barbeque buffet lunch was being served with cold beer and wine offered once the shooting was completed.  A number of tables featured a show and tell exhibit of members’ side by side shot guns including a special display of various grades of L. C. Smiths. The L. C. Smith Collectors Association’s Executive Director Frank Finch even journeyed from New Jersey to oversee the exhibit.

The top qualifiers for the shoot-off were:

Winners

The above listed participants received silver engraved awards or boxes of 12 gauge shells. The ten qualifiers received magnetic lapel pins with decorative side by side shell heads provided by society president, Marshall Stevens.

A big thank you goes to members who either donated their services or sponsored portions of the event:  John Shanafelt, Marshall Stevens, Steve Kesselring, Frank Finch, Alexandra King, Aimee Fowler and Betsy and Bob Devlin.  We thank Tom Ebert and his associates at Coyote Valley for the excellent venue for our event. Thanks also to all who participated. We look forward to increasing the participation of members with domestic guns in 2007. This would ensure a successful sub-event featuring these guns.

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Grand Finale at Rock Springs Ranch

On March 17, 2006, thirteen couples of the California Side by Side Society met for the seventh annual couples weekend at Rock Springs Ranch, an Orvis endorsed wingshooting destination. The couples included the Sangers, Stevens, Devlins, Kesselrings, Stuarts (all society officers/directors), the Dawsons, Rothmans, Wulfmeyers, Stewarts, Lundys, Bareilles, Lakes and our hosts, the Ranges. The ranch owner Carol Casey and her husband Lyman were also present. Sadly it was also the final weekend for Rock Springs Ranch as a private hunting preserve and our society felt honored to have been the last group designated to stay at the ranch. Rock Springs Ranch, encompassing 19,000 acres in central California, has been sold and closed its doors on March 20. Given that fact, every quail, chukar and pheasant in the holding pens were released on Saturday and Sunday and the barrels of some member guns are still hot!

The gun display on Friday night resembled a mini “Gold Medal Concours” with individual members displaying their oldest, best and favorite guns. On Sunday morning before breakfast, Roger Lake gave a talk on the history of the British shotgun.

In a ceremony on Saturday night preceding dinner, Ken and Nola Range, the husband and wife team who have hosted us over the years, were presented with tokens of our appreciation. They received an engraved wine cooler and a matching pair of Barbour coats in anticipation of the weather on the Oregon coast where they plan to retire. Carol and Lyman Casey were presented with a fine bottle of champagne and a photo album of the ranch displaying various activities since it opened as a private hunting lodge in 1994. Both Carol and Nola were given flowers.

The weekend would not have been complete without a little friendly competition between the men and the women and between couples in both shooting activities and dress, courtesy of Marshall Stevens. For shooting the best women’s score went to Jeannie Kesselring with second to Suzanne Lake and third to Cody Dawson (the Dawsons college age daughter). Best men’s score was awarded to Roger Sanger. The Kesselrings won the award for best shooting as a couple. Also presented were best dressed categories from the previous Continental Pheasant Shoot on February 18^th with Ray Stewart winning for “Best Scottish Dress” in his kilts. “Best British Dress” went to Roger Sanger for his tweed breeks, shooting jacket and St. Hubertus cape. Roger Stuart, who had the courage to wear his kilt while shooting in cold temperatures, won the O.B.B (Order of the Blue Buns).

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. This weekend at Rock Springs Ranch was the most successful couples event ever. It allowed many spouses to feel comfortable shooting for the first time, thanks to the great instruction of Ken Range and his guides. For others just seeing the dogs work was an enriching experience.

We will miss this lovely place in the San Benito River valley where a lot of us hold fond memories of hunting with family, friends, and dogs. We extend a big thank you to Ken and Nola, Carol and Lyman as well as all the guides, chefs, wait staff, housekeeping staff, bird cleaning staff and ranch staff. We wish you well in the future. We thank you for the past.

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Wild Boar Weekend at Rock Springs Ranch

By Roger Sanger, Founder and Past President

The weather may have been cold but the hunters were prepared for our annual Wild Boar Hunt at Rock Springs Ranch March 3-5, 2006. Members Michael and Sheila Bonsignore, Steve Helsley, Dan Mayers, Roger Sanger and Ray Stewart stalked wild boar on the green slopes of the snow capped Gabilan Mountains east of the Salinas Valley in central California. Both the quarry itself and the use of vintage rifles with iron sights contributed to the challenge of the hunt. As I sit here writing, I’m happy to report that a wild pig ham marinated for the last several days has just come out of the oven for our dinner. Vintage Syrah from a California winery will compliment the meal.

Ken Range and his guides led the stalks with each hunter having his own guide and vehicle. We hunted both at dawn and at dusk, trying to surprise the packs of wild Russian boar that have roamed these hills since being introduced by William Randolph Hearst in the last century.

Dan Mayers, our web site director, shot his first wild pig, using a Purdey 450 BPE single shot rifle made in 1875. The Purdey belongs to his father-in-law, Steve Helsley. Not to be upstaged, Steve used a Sharps single shot cap and ball breech loader converted to center fire breech loader .45-70 made in 1863. Other members had hunted boar here successfully in the past, but for Dan this first time experience was a real treat.

When not hunting boar, the group was able to shoot released birds. In fact one member, Jack Wulfmayer came to Rock Springs Ranch just for that. The group also had the opportunity to shoot sporting clays and practice at the rifle range.

As usual, our hosts, Ken and Nola Range and their entire staff made the weekend a very memorable one

P.S. The ham was delicious!

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