Iowa Field Target Association

[Iowa airguner]

I decided ti start a new thread for the club. The name has been decided.

I have found a home base in West Liberty  Iowa.
https://www.westlibertygunclub.org/

If you are in the area I encourage you to join. It is a very nice facility. I took the tour and they seem pretty safe and welcoming.

This is the Iowa Field Target Association update for the end of the year 2024

The Facebook group has almost at 25 members!
We still need to keep growing the Facebook group. So join if you want and tell your friends.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/12CaDjUYbWk/?mibextid=wwXIfr


Over the winter I need to get together with the gun range officials so I can get to work building an airgun field target corse.
I need to get a lot of stuff together.
This is what I plan for the first competition.

The plan is 15 targets in five lanes.  There will be three targets per lane. Each target will be between 10-55 yards apart. You will have seven minutes per lane. Two shots per target. And we will go through the corse twice for a total of 60 shots.  The reason for going through the corse twice and two shots per target are two fold. We only have a limited number of targets. And most people are new at this.  Having four chances to hit the target is a good learning curve. The corse will not be difficult at first.
I will use the Troyer scale for each corse.

There will be a sighting in range set up with a chronograph.
We will have hunter and open class of both PCP and spring guns.
We will set up in squads of three or four.
And have a cookout with some burgers or something directly afterward.  This is done while all the scores are tabulated.
We will work out the details about a field target competition schedule for the spring summer and fall.
 At this point I plan to be at the range every Saturday morning till around noon. And have a competition for the last Sunday or Saturday of the month. But that’s in the details. In the mean time keep practicing.
 

[Iowa airguner]

The Iowa Field Target Association monthly report.
The Facebook group has 27 members as of January 31st.
Not much activity but it is there and I post up videos that I hope will get people interested or at least aware of airguns. I am mainly focused on education at this point . But I think I’ll move back toward field target specific content. As the season draws near.

I am in contact with the gun club and will start to discuss airgun activity when it’s appropriate. At this point I don’t have enough information to put together a proposal that can be submitted to the board.  I am confident it will be all good. But it’s a process.

I have ten targets all modified and a proposal written. It’s just waiting for the weather to brake.
If you are interested in joining the Facebook group. I would appreciate it. And if anyone wants to have an airgun discussion. It might help the majority of the group. Because most don’t have airguns yet.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14hdZ92tEW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[bear air]

Good to see some fellow enthusiast's in the state.

[Iowa airguner]

Good to see some fellow enthusiast's in the state.

I see you are in Sioux city. Please join the group. If you could bring up some topics or conversation that would be appreciated also. But join in anyhow.  There is a surprising number of people I am now running into that currently have airguns. Not Field Target guns of course. But they have all sorts of vintage stuff. One guy went to his parents house and retrieved a couple of target rifles. Another guy has a Saharan 20 cal blue streak he has has since he was a kid.
They just need something to do with them.

[Iowa airguner]

IFTA monthly report

This is the February 2025 monthly report from the Iowa Field Target Association.

The Facebook group has 31 members .

The weather has switched from deadly cold to just cold and windy. So going outside is now possible.

I had had a meeting with the range officer from the gun club. So after talking with both the secretary and the range officer I feel they are going to be very receptive to my proposal.

I got a chance to get boots on the ground at the range. It is much different than I expected. I have been just using old Google earth images. Actually going and looking at it the area. The tree growth in much more than I expected . The area to the north is wide open and once the place is cleaned up it will be ideal. I think I can set up six to ten lanes with a sight in range and scope proofing range very easily.

The ground is a tall dry grass fire hazard at this point so cleaning it all up and making an airgun range will be a very good addition to the club.

My proposal is to build a permanent airgun range for club use and have it set up to hold monthly field target competitions.  We can even have a couple sausages on the grill while scores are tabulated and the corse brakes down.  It might take a couple months to get everything approved by the board of directors and then voted on by the club. But I think it is all good.

I have one month before the next board meeting. I need to get the proposal to the RO and President for review. Then it will be brought up in the board meeting as a line item.

Hopefully we can have a competitive event in the late summer or fall.

This is a link to the Facebook group. Please join and help bring Field Target to Iowa. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15zgdxdNyw/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

​

[Iowa airguner]

This is the Iowa Field Target Association monthly report.

The Facebook group has 32 members.

The weather has rapidly change from winter to spring. Shooting in the wind has become a very interesting learning experience.

I have come to an agreement with the West Liberty gun club to build and host field target events and general airgun activity at the West Liberty Gun Club facility.

I still have to clear the area and build the corse. That work will begin as the weather allows. But I am very happy to announce that the Iowa Field Target Association will now be part of the West Liberty gun club.

FIELD TARGET HAS COME TO IOWA!!

If you live in the West Liberty Iowa area. And you want to shoot Field Target. Please consider joining the West Liberty Gun Club.

We will be having public Airgun competitions soon. Those details have not been worked out at this stage. I have not started construction yet and the plan and layout are just beginning. But it is happening

 If you join the club you can use the range and corse anytime the range is open. And Public hours are Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm. Club members can shoot from 8am - dusk.

I will provide more details as things progress.

All club rules / safety protocols must be followed at all times. This is an active firearm range with police training and firearms competitions going on all the time.

When you arrive during public hours you must report to the Range officer in the small white building. The range officer will direct you from there.


This is a link to the West Liberty Gun Club.

https://www.westlibertygunclub.org/members-page

This is the IFTA email address.

Iowafieldtargetassociation@gmail.com

[Iowa airguner]

Get ready for the first ever Field Target competition in Iowa!‼️
The Field target competition scheduled for June 1 is looking good. The weather is cooperating.
 
The gates open at 1:00. You must go to the Range Officers building at the top of the hill to check in. Pay the $15.00 range fee and sign the waiver. Club members shoot free.

Then you can go back down to the South parking lot. It is a short distance to the airgun range from the parking lot. 
I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.

Here are the basic rules
Hunter field target and Open class field target AAFTA rules.

https://www.aafta.org/uploads/1/2/7/6/127666620/2025_aafta_official_field_target_rules.pdf

Power of the airguns is limited to twenty foot pounds of energy or less. This is to protect the targets and keep the playing field even.
There will be a chronograph station and all participants will be tested.

There is a sight in lane and after everyone is sighted in and we have a shooters meeting we start. Should be 2:00.

There are four lanes with three targets per lane.
You have seven minutes to shoot each target twice. 
These are fun rules so one point for a face plate and two points for a knock down. 
  I am using this comp and my base for building future courses. So I actually hope people can clear the corse. It will get more difficult in the future.
We will break up into squads of three or four. One persons shoots, one person keeps score and one person watches the timer. You can ask for a time update.
Each loop has 12 targets and will be 24 shots. I would like to do two loops and make it a 48 shot course.  Let’s see how time goes.
I would suggest bringing some lunch or snacks I will have a cooler with water.
Sunscreen and bug spray is definitely recommended. Also eye and ear protection is required.

[Iowa airguner]

This is the Iowa Field Target Association monthly report for May 2025.

We are having the first field target competition at the West Liberty Gun Club on Sunday June 1. Gate is open at 1:00.
Check the other postings for information and instructions.
The Facebook group has 46 members.
Thank you to all the people that and are making this happen.
The weather is hot. Sun screen and pop up tent time. Definitely need a hat. I am still having fun learning to shoot in the wind.
There is continuing construction on the airgun range at the West Liberty Gun Club.
 We have a couple areas cleared behind the firing line. A picnic table is set up there and there is plenty of room for chairs and a pop up tent.
The airgun range is open to the public and club members.  The sight in range is set with permanent markers and you can move your own targets in that area.  There are animal silhouettes with open kill zones set in the field target lanes. These are operated by shooting the lower paddle then the upper kill zones is reset.  Feel free to move the animal targets. Don’t push them in to the ground by the silhouette.  It will bend or cut you. Hold the base and just push the spike into the ground. Make sure the paddles work.
Eye and ear protection are required at all time and a hat is strongly recommended at the range.
   The field target corse is laid out. If you want to shoot past 60 yards the center lanes are very deep now. Probably 75 yards in lane three.
If you live in the West Liberty Iowa area. And you want to shoot airguns or Airgun Field Target. Please consider joining the West Liberty Gun Club.
If you join the West Liberty Gun club you can use the Airgun range, pistol bays, 100 yard range and trap corse anytime the range is open.  Unless there is a competition.
Public hours are Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm.         
           CHECK THE SCHEDULE! 
Public access is sometimes suspended during large competition events.
Report to the range officer building before going to the range.
Club members can shoot from 8am - dusk seven days a week. I will be at the range Saturday mornings.
If you are interested in getting together for Saturday or Sunday morning shooting matches . PM me or Email.
I will provide more details as things progress.

This is a link to the West Liberty Gun Club.

https://www.westlibertygunclub.org/members-page

This is the IFTA email address

Iowafieldtargetassociation@gmail.com

Thank you all for participating and getting the sport of Field Target going in IOWA.

[bear air]

Great to see you're getting things going. I hope you have a good amount of people show up and continue to grow.

[Iowa airguner]

Thank you
The gun range is really giving me a lot of support. I really think people will get into airguns after Sunday.  I am holding a club member orientation before the comp. Showing spring and pcp rifles and explaining the game. Should be a nice day.

[bear air]

Great work Eric. You sound like a real go getter.

[Iowa airguner]

Great work Eric. You sound like a real go getter.

No my get up and go has got up and went.
But after waiting around for nine years for someone else to do it I was getting tired of waiting. Then I bought the rifle in my profile. With no place to shoot and no one to shoot with my wife was not happy.
So I asked the Lord to guide me. And within six months this has all happened. It is really amazing how fast and smooth it was to find a place 17 miles from my house that would let me build a field target range and supply me with insurance, parking and bathroom facilities.  I fell like I need to keep this going now for some reason.

[bear air]

Most excellent may your efforts be blessed.

[Iowa airguner]

Today was the first ever Field Target competition in Iowa!
I just want to thank everyone for coming out and for supporting the effort to bring the sport of Field Target to Iowa.
And I need to thank the West Liberty Gun Club for allowing and supping this effort.  The West Liberty Gun club has really gone above and beyond with support.
Today we had a really nice fun shoot day. I hope everyone got a taste of the sport and I am looking forward to the next competition.

We had six shooters in PCP Hunter and Spring Hunter class.

Today was the first time shooting Field target for everyone and it was an informal fun shoot.

Bill Jennings  had the highest score in PCP with an Avenger. And Ray Elthon was the top springer with his Diana 48

Congratulations to all the shooters  today. And thank you all for coming out to shoot.


Bill Jennings. PCP
Ray Elthon. piston
Leland Belding. Piston
Christian Brauns piston
Apron Gupta piston
Fisher Curley. PCP

[Back_Roads]

 Eric it looks like you are off to a good start, it is a fun sport for sure!

[bear air]

Nice turn out. Your off and running!

[Iowa airguner]

Thanks
It was a very nice day. I put up a pop up tent and had half dozen chairs and a cooler. Everyone just sat back and relaxed. Then one by one we all took turns trying out the lanes.  Normally you come to the range and shoot then go home. This was not like they have ever had before and everyone seemed to have fun and start talking about what gun to buy.


The next field target competition will be held Sunday July 13, 2025 starting at 1:00 pm.