Food, camaraderie, and shotguns mark the 41st annual Gordon Half Beef Shoot

With the scent of gunpowder wafting in the air, the sounds of laughter and conversation, and a shooter scoping out the target, 25 shooters gathered to test their aim out at the Tug Bar and Goose Bay Inn off of Knik-Goose Bay Road for the 41st Annual Gordon Half-Beef Shoot.

“Alaska-where else would you see this besides Alaska? It’s pretty cool,” joked co-organizer Bob Boyle.

“This is a shoot that Gordon Romriell started many years ago at King Mountain Lodge.”

After the building was torn down, Boyle says, the men and women moved the event out to the Tug Bar, giving everyone a place to eat and keep warm if the occasion called for it.

This is the 41st year of the Half Beef Shoot, started by Romriell, which has continued on after his passing last August.

“We started with a bunch of guys from Chickaloon and Sutton, getting their bunny boots on and their Carhartt coveralls, and we’d go out there to shoot,” says ‘Ivory’ Joe, the other organizer, explaining that it began as an end-of-winter shoot.

“We’ve got people shooting here today that helped us hand out trophies and medals when we started, and now they’re part of it,” said Joe. “We have carried on and are keeping the shooting going.”

A true Alaskan family event, the annual two-day event includes centerfire rifle, 5 shots, offhand, any sights, 100 yards and handgun 5 shots, offhand, iron or open sights 50 feet on the first day. It continues the next day with pistol and .22 shooting.

There are also evening “Annie Oakley” shotgun competitions.

Of course there is also food, camaraderie, fun, and safety.

“Safety’s a big thing that gets preached here, and the people are really good about it,” Boyle said.

“It’s something to do, knowing the guys, we’ve been coming out a long time,” said Ed Benson, who has been participating for years. And even though he has yet to win, he has placed in the top five several years in the past, which he seems content with. He prefers the Annie Oakley shooting events.

Normally, Boyle says, there are more shooters than the 25 that turned out this year, but he was still pleased with the turnout, who still has posters from all of the events.

The Best Overall Shooter, based on points, walks away with a half beef and, of course, bragging rights.

In addition to this event, Boyle says that there is an Annie Oakley style turkey shoot the second Sunday of every month, also for meat prizes.

“This is another event started by Gordon Romriell many years ago.”

Boyle says that the competitions are open for anyone, and on the off chance someone does not have a rifle, they provide one to use.

“New shooters are very welcome,” he says.

This year the youngest shooter was 13 year-old Ven Maixler, who shot an impressive 45-1X out of 50 during the first centerfire event.

“He (Ven) doesn’t even realize what he’s done, how great he just did,” said Benson after Maixler finished firing his rounds at the centerfire.

For those who may be a little intimidated to try their hand, Joe says it’s really all about the friendships, having a good time, and be supportive of each other.

“We’ve got some really, really top-notch shooters out here, and we’ve got some that aren’t so good. But nobody cares. They come out to see what they can do. They’re just trying to best their scores and see the best they can do. And we’re here to help them out.”