After the past 10 years of surviving several serious medical events, my life was forever changed. And, when my hunting labs all passed away within the same year, I lost the will to go into the field without them. So, I stopped bird hunting, and going to the club I had belonged to for over 20 years, and moved away.
Fast forward to the present. I've recovered well enough to be able to travel far and wide, once again.
On a whim, I decided to check out the old club, to see if it was still in business. Well, what do you know - it's still there. Sadly, the people who ran the place when I was an active member have also passed on, but they have a new man and he's e very conscientious man, and welcomed me back to the fold.
For those of you in the Dayton, Ohio area; I'm speaking of the Wright-Patterson Rod & Gun Club, located on the south end of the runway of the base, and a mere couple of miles from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Although the Pheasant-release bird hunting program has recently been discontinued, the Huffman Prairie land is still open to Dove, Rabbit, and (archery and gun) during the deer season, as well as the several ponds that are stocked with rainbow trout.
Huffman Prairie, (which is where the gun club is located) is a national historic monument site, and is where the Wright brothers built and tested their early aircraft, like the Wright Flyer; there is a memorial hangar erected there, a marker and flag pole just up the road - in view of the skeet fields that is open to visitors.
Trap and Skeet leagues, (shooting, and special shoots are in full swing throughout the year), and all are welcome to join. I believe there are six skeet fields and a couple or three trap fields. Unfortunately, they don't have indoor pistol range any longer or a rifle range. They do offer Wednesday night skeet shooting leagues. The club is closed on Thursdays and Fridays and open the rest of the week. The club is open to members and non-members alike. If you join, the membership fee is $35 a year, and the club has a cost plus 15% mark-up to buy firearms, ammo and all manner of shooting supplies and accessories at the club store there. Not a bad deal at all!
Soon after 9/11 occurred, the gun club grounds were fenced off from the perimeter of the active base, and a new gate was erected that is now accessible from Rte 444 at the south end of the city of Fairborn.
While you're at it, take a day or two to visit the new and improved USAF Museum this May 17-19, 2018, for the official unveiling (after a complete, 10-year ,ground-up rebuild) of the B-17F Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" (admittedly, the most famous and recognized WWII combat aircraft of all time); it's the 75th anniversary of the first AAF B-17F bomber to complete 25 combat missions in WWII, and return to the States.
Additionally, there will be B-17 activities taking place not too far away on the 17th; on Rte 68 (north of I-70) at Grimes Airport in Urbana, Ohio; in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary celebration. You won't see this many flying B-17 Flying Fortresses in one place since the war and will not be seen again. So, Google the info online.
I was at the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo last summer, and no less than 11 B-25 Medium Bombers showed up for the event; as well as all of the flying and rides offered at Grimes, the day prior to the Museum event.
They will most likely be selling B-17 rides (last I checked was $450 per head) before the Museum unveiling on the 18th. If you've never been on a flight on a B-17 - add it to your 'bucket list' - you won't regret it.
It's good to be back at the club.
Fast forward to the present. I've recovered well enough to be able to travel far and wide, once again.
On a whim, I decided to check out the old club, to see if it was still in business. Well, what do you know - it's still there. Sadly, the people who ran the place when I was an active member have also passed on, but they have a new man and he's e very conscientious man, and welcomed me back to the fold.
For those of you in the Dayton, Ohio area; I'm speaking of the Wright-Patterson Rod & Gun Club, located on the south end of the runway of the base, and a mere couple of miles from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Although the Pheasant-release bird hunting program has recently been discontinued, the Huffman Prairie land is still open to Dove, Rabbit, and (archery and gun) during the deer season, as well as the several ponds that are stocked with rainbow trout.
Huffman Prairie, (which is where the gun club is located) is a national historic monument site, and is where the Wright brothers built and tested their early aircraft, like the Wright Flyer; there is a memorial hangar erected there, a marker and flag pole just up the road - in view of the skeet fields that is open to visitors.
Trap and Skeet leagues, (shooting, and special shoots are in full swing throughout the year), and all are welcome to join. I believe there are six skeet fields and a couple or three trap fields. Unfortunately, they don't have indoor pistol range any longer or a rifle range. They do offer Wednesday night skeet shooting leagues. The club is closed on Thursdays and Fridays and open the rest of the week. The club is open to members and non-members alike. If you join, the membership fee is $35 a year, and the club has a cost plus 15% mark-up to buy firearms, ammo and all manner of shooting supplies and accessories at the club store there. Not a bad deal at all!
Soon after 9/11 occurred, the gun club grounds were fenced off from the perimeter of the active base, and a new gate was erected that is now accessible from Rte 444 at the south end of the city of Fairborn.
While you're at it, take a day or two to visit the new and improved USAF Museum this May 17-19, 2018, for the official unveiling (after a complete, 10-year ,ground-up rebuild) of the B-17F Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" (admittedly, the most famous and recognized WWII combat aircraft of all time); it's the 75th anniversary of the first AAF B-17F bomber to complete 25 combat missions in WWII, and return to the States.
Additionally, there will be B-17 activities taking place not too far away on the 17th; on Rte 68 (north of I-70) at Grimes Airport in Urbana, Ohio; in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary celebration. You won't see this many flying B-17 Flying Fortresses in one place since the war and will not be seen again. So, Google the info online.
I was at the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo last summer, and no less than 11 B-25 Medium Bombers showed up for the event; as well as all of the flying and rides offered at Grimes, the day prior to the Museum event.
They will most likely be selling B-17 rides (last I checked was $450 per head) before the Museum unveiling on the 18th. If you've never been on a flight on a B-17 - add it to your 'bucket list' - you won't regret it.
It's good to be back at the club.
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