First annual BBQ & Get Together Shoot for the Whitecourt Pistol League

 

The Whitecourt Pistol League held its first annual BBQ & Get Together Shoot on Saturday, August 11 at the gun range on Highway 32. Gary Koenig founded the group last year. He had previously taken part in competitive pistol shooting elsewhere and after moving to Whitecourt he decided to start a group here. “I just wanted to get everyone together to have fun, bring our handguns out, and make some new friends.”

Koenig said participation steadily increased during the first year. The group started by meeting every Tuesday evening but as numbers grew they ended up adding another day and now meet on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each week they switch up the scenarios and change up the targets. “It’s called action pistol shooting. We shoot out of a holster and shoot simulated scenarios with cardboard targets. It’s a safe environment for everyone because safety is a top priority. We have different stages from fairly simple to more complex to make it more challenging for the shooter,” he explained, adding with a laugh, “You’re basically trying to make your competitors look bad but just for fun, of course.”

Those who took part in the timed shoot had great prizes to win thanks to numerous sponsors including Eagle River Casino, Big Guy Sports, Town of Whitecourt, Woodlands County, Total Oilfield, Canadian Tire, A-Zone Sangudo, and Double J Tank Services. “The support we have received has been overwhelmingly amazing and the whole group and I are very grateful for it. It means a lot.” Koenig’s wife also donated her time and cooked up the donated food from Eagle River Casino on the big barbecue from Total Oilfield.

Those interested in joining the Pistol League will need to have a membership with the Whitecourt Fish & Game Association as individuals need to be insured to utilize the gun range. “Once you have that you can contact us through Facebook (Whitecourt Pistol League) and we will help you get started. You’ll need a minimum of a 9mm or a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, three mags, and lots of ammo. You don’t need a holster or mag holders to participate though it does make it more fun if you do,” explained Koenig.

New members will also need to take a course if they haven’t already taken a handgun certification course, and the league offers courses for that. It is planned to have another in the spring when the new season begins. League seasons start in May and continue until the middle of October. Koenig said he would love to see the numbers grow even further and hopes that people will be intrigued to try it for themselves.

“It is an absolute hoot. Running around and playing cops and robbers with real guns in a completely safe and professional environment is genuinely worth trying out. We invite anyone to come join us. We have a great group of people and we love having fun together.”