Gunning for the record books

The 2014 Alaska State Territorial Muzzleloading Match, sanctioned by the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is over. I don’t have a full summary of results yet since 26 shooters participated in literally hundreds of individual matches and final results are still being summarized, but I do have some highlights (serious and humorous).

First, this blackpowder shooting event involves folks from all over Alaska and is the place where state records are set and occasionally broken. There were several new record scores this year. One is for the most number of aggregates fired by one individual over the course of the three-and-one-half-day event. The old record was nine aggregates, which translates to around 34 to 36 individual matches.

Each match is fired in a half-hour relay and essentially means the shooter is on the firing line all day, every day, during the shoot. Jeff “Bean” Binegar completed 11 aggregates this year and promised to go for even more next year.

During the awards and business meeting afterwards, it was decided that, in order to make more aggregates available for his participation, “Bean” would be allowed to shoot in the ladies’ aggregates as long as he wore a dress during those matches. The challenge was accepted.

Next year’s Territorial could be a little different!

Mike Kelly is a national class blackpowder pistol shooter and held all but one of the Alaska state records for blackpowder pistol prior to this shoot. After chasing that last record for years, he finally added it to his collection this year. He also added several more new state records to his resume by taking the gold in all the matches and the aggregate in a brand new revolver aggregate added to this year’s territorial schedule.

Sandy Thomas set a couple of new records in different ladies’ aggregates and other open aggregates as well as winning the “Top Gun” award for the overall shooting event. This is the third year in a row that Sandy has won the “Top Gun” award, beating all the other participating shooters, both male and female.

I only participated in two aggregates and didn’t place at all in one. I’m proud to say I placed in all four matches of the second aggregate, winning two gold and two bronze match medals and the gold aggregate medal. The three gold medals represent three new state records as well.

Now, before you make any assumptions about my shooting expertise, let me explain. The aggregate I placed in was the blackpowder cartridge event. The overall format of this aggregate was changed since last year. All state records under the old format still stand and are frozen in the record books. Any winning score under the new format creates a new state record, at least until next year. So, at least for the next year, I hold three state record scores.

Boy do I now have an incentive to practice, work on reloads, cast bullets, and practice some more. I was told by fellow competitor Cal Pope that I now have a target on my back and several folks gunning for my records.

Bring it on big guy!

Fishing report

King salmon fishing is done for the year and silvers are just beginning to show around the valley. Chums and pinks are also beginning to show in good numbers and sockeyes should become noticeable in systems along both Knik Arm and the Susitna Drainage.

From what I hear, king runs were generally better than last year but are still well below the “normal” run strengths of the mid-2000’s. For that reason, my wife and I didn’t go king salmon fishing this year.

Personally, I can’t justify trying to harvest a fish when it’s questionable whether even the minimum escapement goals for that population will be met. That’s me. If the professional managers feel some opportunity can be allowed, that’s fine. I just prefer to wait and attempt to harvest fish when there’s no question a surplus exists.

On that note, we plan to hit the silvers hard this year since there should be good numbers of fish available given the revised management plan adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries this past spring. Assuming Fish and Game follows the plan, the drifters should get the Kenai and Kasilof fish they always worry are being “overescaped” while the bulk of our Northern District silvers should pass through the Central District commercial fishery and arrive in our area. Let’s hope things work as expected.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.