This just posted on the ATA Web site about WSRC opening back up

On February 18, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
officials and representatives of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s
staff confirmed to ATA officials that the suspension of target
shooting events at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex
(WSRC), Sparta Illinois will be lifted in the coming weeks.
Due to the Illinois budget impasse, target shooting activities were
suspended at the state owned facility October 1, 2015, however the
on-site restaurant, Event Center, fishing docks and vendors have
remained open to the public.
Currently, the initial target shooting event scheduled is a Glock
sponsored handgun event at the pistol berm in early April.
However, this event may be precluded by resumption of the
Thursday evening trap league and youth practice sessions in mid to
late March. Shooting events for the entire year are being scheduled
now. Day to day casual shooting schedules have yet to be
determined.
IDNR will also return to the plan initiated prior to the budget
situation to hire an Executive Director for the Complex.

 

Good news Hope they stay with the program. Time will tell.

 

You would think they would be shouting it from the highest mountains , there was nothing on any of the States site this morning or on the ATA web site until just a little while ago ... Anything can usually happen and usually does , now at what cost ... ? The ATA should set the fees so those who attend have to pay what ever increases are incurred and keep the people who do not attend out of peril ... The local Sparta residents are so excited they are wetting them self, more than usual ... Hope it happens, will be a good warm up for the Cardinal Center ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The Dr and Herman Munster must be on suicide watch!!! Watch for their obits!!

 

This is a big day for pistol shooters in the Sparta area. Pistol target shooting has a good chance at Sparta as there is very little electric involved.

 

I was wondering what twists to the good news you guys would come up with. Thanks for not disappointing me.

By the way I do like ALL shooting sports, not just shotgun. I guess if you're not narrow minded you can enjoy all types of recreational shooting.

 

An expert pistol shooter no less I am sure. Get to Sparta. They got one coming up. This will bring in big money for the ATA. Even announced it on their site. Heard SCTP has changed their minds? lol

 

Can anyone attend the pistol shoots. Will they take an ATA card?

 

http://www.gssfonline.com/registration.cfm


http://www.gssfonline.com/pdf/forms/new_comp_brief.pdf

http://www.gssfonline.com/pdf/forms/RegForm_fillin.pdf

 

I often sit here and wonder.. . do you people treat your family the way you treat others here ??

 

Fla, the people that want to see the ATA/WSRC fail, will fight to the end of the Grand, that it won't be there, or won't be successful. Now they will start up with, it's only opening for a pistol shoot, and the kid in charge of updated the IDNR website hasn't updated the calendar.

It's beyond me why anyone would want any shooting venue to have hard times and/or shut down. There is only one reason they come up with, when they want to be honest, and that's they want the Grand back in Ohio. All the other talk is just noise.

 

Duff,
As if on cue to prove you do not have the ability to follow the forum or you are just plain dumb you make that statement.

The grand was turned down by the Cardinal Center. But you are Duff.

Ohio does not want the corruption. They have 5 huge shoots at the CC.

Try to follow the forum Duff. The mods may think you are just a troll.

 

FG,

I know it must hurt, but don't take it out on me.

 

What are you disputing Duff? Did you not know the CC met with the ATA?

Do you read the forum Duff?

 

I also found the nonsense posted by the anti WSRC crowd hilarious as well.

The more they try and douse the flames the more ridiculous their arguments become.

 

I read with great interest and anticipation some of the comments and or responses about people being "anti WSRC', , "ATA haters" "SpartaHaters" and so on from people who really have no idea what they are talking about, or any of the reasons why people are not satisfied with some certain things that they actually complaining about ... There is an abundance of people who have just recently joined the ATA, one of the shooting sites or more and find fault with other peoples beliefs and they having the right to not agree with what has been happening for several to many years in the not so distant past that can and will effect the future of the WSRC, ATA, and in all probability Sparta to some degree ... There are shooters who boast about how great the WSRC is, but have nothing to compare it to being as they probably have not shot any place else outside of the neighborhood ... The loss of members can only give one the impression there is a problem when at one time it was quite the opposite ... The attendance at the grand is probably a combination of all things that people are not happy about and location is a part of it , like it or not ... There are shooters who have attended the grand for 40 plus years who all of a sudden do not realize (have) the desire to do so any longer, beside the fact they have aged considerably and do not want the hassle involved any more ... Then there are shooters who have attended the grand every years its been in Sparta, they just happen to reside in Sparta so whats is the big deal if you drive a few miles to attend, as opposed to a few thousand miles (cost more to get there and back , than they will spend all 2 weeks) and then have a daily commute besides if you do not have a motor home or travel trailer ... The ATA cut its own throat, the members had nothing to do with it which has been stated several times when someone (flyersarebest) said " the ATA left me, I didn't leave the ATA" and that is the truth ... The Mods need to weed out some infiltrators who make idle comments and do not know, but have an opinion like they really do know something ... (JMHO) ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Nice post wpt.

I am able to compare the WSRC to the Cardinal. And I am able to compare those two places to Mason, MI, Indiana Gun Club, Central Kentucky Gun Club, Linn Creek, MO, Elysburg, PA and many others such as the Silver Dollar and Tuscon. I shoot the year round.

I have noticed the changes over time just as you have. We have lost shooters due to all of the facts you point out above. But as far as I can determine the largest single contributor to the decline of our sport is the failure to attract new (and younger) shooters. Back when I first started (and I guess you as well) it didn't take near as much of our disposable income to participate in the sport. Now it is cost prohibitive for most younger guys.

If nothing had changed and the Grand was still in Ohio I think that the numbers would still be down. The times they are a changing as the song goes (and now you know how old I am, lol.)

The ATA could have done a better job to combat this decline that's for sure. But even if they had done everything right I still feel our numbers would be falling. Golf courses are being turned into housing developments. Who plays tennis anymore? Our young people cannot get their faces out of their smart phones long enough to see any sport.

Moving to Sparta was just part of the perfect storm. Having the ATA at the rudder of the boat just added to the problem as those guys couldn't run a popcorn stand.

Our grandchildren are going to sell our trap guns for penny's on the dollar.

 

spectacularsparta,
I was not making a personal attack on you ( I can see if it you thought it (if you did) was after rereading it) but there are the newbies who do not have any idea about what they are talking about and do not know what has transpired even while the grand was still in Vandalia because they had never and have still never been there ... I'm not 100% any of us have all of the answers but we do know what is being done is not working or beneficial to the ATA (membership ) in any way, yet they fail to change , alter, or modify it ... I have been a Life Member for over 40 years, have shot, quit, shot , quit more times that I care to remember depending on the situation be it financial or personal, now , I have the time and can afford to shoot but find myself not wanting to support the ATA or the State of Illinois based on personal knowledge of both ... We will see what happens and go from there to where ever it takes us ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

WPT, I didn't want to use too much space so I copied only this line

"The Mods need to weed out some infiltrators who make idle comments and do not know, but have an opinion like they really do know something ... (JMHO) ... WPT ... (YAC) ..."

EVERYBODY can say what they want. Hell, if it wasn't for the 4 stooges from that old worn out site and their " I thanked this" crew posting here my week would be all stress and work instead of the laughs they provide.

 

I agree , it was a continuation of a thought and I typed it down ... WPT ... (YAC) ...