Nobody makes any money organizing a Fast Draw Club! And that’s a problem because there are significant expenses, for both the club and, to a lesser part, the individual cowboy.
A cowboy is going to have to get himself a 45 caliber single action sixgun, and maybe a hat and some boots. And join the Cowboy Fast Draw Association (CFDA). But to have a club, the cowboys are going to have to have much, much more.
Social times are an important part of our events. Pictured are Bad Eye Lefty, the Coho Kid and Orygun Outlaw trying out a few guns and holsters at the Ted Blocker Holster shop in Tigard, Oregon
There’s the CFDA Club Sanction Fee, which is $500 for the first year and $250 every year after. Sanction fees provide much needed insurance for the club’s activities, as well as other benefits, including the ability to participate in a Cowboy Fast Draw match just about anywhere in the United States. Okay, there’s a few states that are still struggling to get their act together, and despite Oregon’s having two clubs, we’ve still got a ways to go. Which goes to the importance of collecting a little bit of money along the way.
Then there’s timers and targets–about $1500 for two lanes, additional lanes mean additional dollars–canopies in case of rain (duh, right? it’s Oregon), advertising and other support, and so on. It’s not a cheap endeavor.
The Fort Dalles Defenders shoot both inside and outside, depending on the weather. Pictured here: the inside range at the Senior Center.
The CFDA clubs in Oregon each have their own membership dues and expenses.
Club fees for the Fort Dalles Defenders are kept pretty minimal, given that Cowboy Fast Draw shooting is one of the many disciplines at The Dalles Pistol and Rifle Club. Membership at the club is $65 a year. And National Rifle Association membership is mandatory, as the Ford Dalles Defenders’ insurance is provided to the range through their NRA affiliation.
New Orygun Gunfighter Jeremy “George Uh” and Dan “Bad Eye
Lefty” Ahrens work on Jeremy’s draw at the L Bar T Bison Ranch
Membership with the Orygun Gunfighters is $45 a year (note raise in membership fee since 2009), as the club’s insurance program is purchased through the Cowboy Fast Draw Association. A $200 Life Membership is available as well, which provides the shooter with a limited edition club badge with the shooter’s alias engraved on it! Members who have them value the beauty of their Life Member badges!
Orygun Gunfighter annual memberships renew in January, no matter when an individual joins. Monthly contest shoots cost $20 and practice shoots are only $5. Members use their own ammo–C & R Wax Bullets are to be used by everyone on the range as they’re easier on the safety net–and should an individual club member not want to load their own ammunition, club ammo is available for rent for $5. National Rifle Association membership is recommended but optional.
