The smoke from 36 shooters has cleared, the awards passed out and the range cleaned up after three days of shooting guns from the 1800’s. The event took place at Jacob’s Plain Shooting Range in Hunt County, between Wolfe City and Greenville, Texas. The 36 shooters plus some family members and friends came from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and of course Texas. The event started on Thursday, November 12 with side matches and the main event was held on Friday and Saturday the 13th and 14th.

Joe Berger (on the left), the land owner and Ted Beechler alias “Cole Bluesteele” the Ranger Officer and Territorial Governor (on the right).

The theme of the match was events that took place in Texas history that involved the Texas Rangers back in the 1800s. Conflicts with outlaws, Mexican bandits, rustlers and the like were the common thread for these separate stages. Everyone involved in NCOWS (the National Congress of Old West Shootist) dresses in clothing that is period correct from the 1860 to 1899 time period. Leather gear, boots, hats, single action revolvers, lever action rifles and double barrel shotguns were used with plenty of black powder being used. 

NCOWS matches are not just for men. We had five women shooters compete in three different categories, all from Texas. There are divisions for women, men, kids, as well as age categories to level the playing field. There were vendors onsite selling leather goods, clothing, hats, bullets, jewelry, and other 1800s accessories.

The owners of the Chuckwagon Cuisine Catering Company that provided all the great food at the range and banquet.

A working chuck wagon was on hand to provide breakfast, lunch and supper at the range and the food was top notch.  The Chuckwagon was 1298 Cowboys & Cuisine headed up by Ervin and Gail Richards of which they provided cowboy style breakfast, lunch and supper for all the cowboys/cowgirls.  Those biscuits and gravy were delicious!

Speaking of awards, of the 12 categories, local folks from the North Texas area came away with 17 awards in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes so our local folks did well.  During the banquet it was announced that the officers of the club had voted to name the western town we shoot at “Lane Town” after the land owners that have been so supportive of the club since it was founded in 1996. Joe Berger and his wife Sandy, CFO who owns the land our town resides on.

The name of the club, the Texas Ten Horns, will remain the same. The club shoots both days on the 2nd full weekend and 4th weekend of each month. The club’s website can be found at www.texastenhorns.com that gives dates, times, directions for our events. Come on out and join in the fun. Watching is free!