A LITTLE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:- During Canada's North West Rebellion of 1885 [follow this link, and later ones, for more details] the original ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS were an irregular mounted unit, consisting of three Troops (although FOUR troops were originally authorized) raised for defence and patrol duty, and made up mostly of ranchers and cowboys from the area of Fort MacLeod, in what was then in the District of Alberta, N.W.T. RMR Troops One and Two were sent east about 150 miles to Medicine Hat (then in the District Of Assiniboia), a fledgling community founded in 1883 where the Canadian Pacific Railway main line bridges the South Saskatchewan River. Number Three Troop remained at Fort MacLeod.
Because the Rocky Mountain Rangers presence in this area during the Riel Rebellion undoubtedly forms one of the most significant 'Wild West' components of our local history, the Medicine Hat Western Action Shooting group have chosen the name Rocky Mountain Rangers, No. 4 Troop. The lack of a truly 'wild' aspect in the history of the Canadian West is well illustrated by the fact that the original RMR Troopers saw absolutely no action during the Rebellion (except for long and uneventful patrols,) and found it necessary to relieve the monotony by 'living it up' and harassing the militia infantry unit from Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was also stationed at Medicine Hat at the same time. In the present day #4 Troop, we do our best to emulate our namesakes: small in numbers but big on spirit and bluster, determined to have a good time doing what we enjoy!
MEDICINE HAT CIRCA 1885 (From an 1887 C.P.R. booklet, though the photo is earlier.)
COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING AT MEDICINE HAT
The Rocky Mountain Rangers, No. 4 troop, currently hold two 2-day cowboy action shoots each year. In the spring, "Shootout at Cactus Flats" is always on the Victoria Day long weekend in May (which is always the weekend just before the Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., for our American pards.) In October, "Last Chance at Cactus Flats" is staged on the Canadian Thanksgiving Day weekend (again, for our American compadres, that is always on the same dates as your Columbus Day weekend.)
Although we are affiliated with the Medicine Hat Rifle and Revolver Club, which has a very nice shooting range on the northern outskirts of Medicine Hat, we don't actually hold our Cowboy Action Shoots at that location! Instead, we are extremely fortunate in being allowed to stage these shoots in an absolutely gorgeous natural area (see the photos in the "rogues Gallery") about 15 miles outside the city on the Ellis Ranch - a working cattle ranch which has been in operation for over a century -
UPCOMING SHOOT ANNOUNCEMENT
OUR NEXT SHOOT IS "SHOOTOUT AT CACTUS FLATS 2003", TO BE HELD MAY 17 & 18, 2003. A COPY OF THE SHOOT ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT GRANT "RATTLESNAKE JACK" ROMBOUGH (gromboug@memlane.com) OR BY PHONE AT 403-527-0798 (home) or 403-527-0798 (office).
NOTES
1. CONSULT MAP . . . THIS LOCATION (THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS NE-33-14-5-W4)
IS DESIGNATED AS AN "APPROVED RANGE" BY THE CHIEF FIREARMS OFFICER OF ALBERTA.
2. RELATIVELY CLOSE LOCATIONS OF MOTELS ALONG #1 HIGHWAY ARE DESIGNATED BY CIRCLED "X'S"
3. LOTS OF DRY CAMPING SPACE AVAILABLE (BRING YOUR OWN WATER.)
- PLEASE BE VERY CAREFULWITH FIRE!
- PLEASE CHECK WITH ONE OF THE SHOOT ORGANIZERS BEFORE SETTING UP CAMP TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE INTERFERING WITH THE LINES OF FIRE.
4. THE ELLIS FAMILY ARE VERY GENEROUS IN ALLOWING US THE USE OF THIS LOCATION - PLEASE DISPLAY COURTESY AND COMMON SENSE AT ALL TIMES.
WE USE TWO SIMPLIFIED FIREARMS CATEGORIES:
"OLD WEST" - FIXED SIGHT PISTOL AND HAMMERED DOUBLE SHOTGUN
"WILD WEST" - ANY OTHER COMBINATION OF FIREARMS
WITH APPROPRIATE SUB-CATEGORIES BASED ON AGE & GENDER
Adults- $35.00 Couples- $60.00 Juniors- $20.00
[$5.00 Off for Current Members of No. 4 Troop RMR - Dues $10.00/yr.]
LIKELY AMMO REQUIREMENTS: 125 PISTOL, 100 RIFLE, 50 SHOTGUN
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR AUTUMN SHOOT:
"LAST CHANCE AT CACTUS FLATS"
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND - OCT. 11 & 12, 2003
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ROGUES' GALLERY
"LAST CHANCE AT CACTUS FLATS - 2000"
"SQUIRREL" & "RATTLESNAKE JACK"
(I'm sporting the bonnet worn by each shootist while playing the part of a woman in one scenario - which is one of our "trademarks".)
Photo Credit: "Just Bob" (Sun River Rangers, Great Falls, MT)
A FEW PRESENT-DAY ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS AND FRIENDS IN 1997
From Left: "Alonzo", "Rattlesnake Jack", "Jerry Potts" (who is now "Bruin"), "Wobbly Threebeer" (hiding in the back), "Speedy Gonzales", "Squirrel", "Wile E. Coyote". "Seedy Red" and "Mule".
"SQUIRREL", "SPIKE" and "RATTLESNAKE JACK" - DRESSED FOR DINNER
"BRUIN" MAKIN' A JAILBREAK
"SEEDY RED" ENDURES THE UNWELCOME ATTENTIONS OF HILDEGARD HAMHOCKER
RESCUING THE MAIDEN IN "CRAZIER THAN SHITHOUSE RATS"
SOME OF THE FOLKS, FALL 1999
L to R: "Dynamite Dick Clifton", "Palladin", "Rattlesnake Jack Robson", "Speedy Gonzales", "Greenhorn", "Alonzo", "Black Eyed Ellie", "Iron Jack Rabbit".
MORE OF THE SHOOTISTS, FALL OF 1999
L to R Standing: "Eagle Eye", "Fatty Rice", "Two-Two", "Wobbly Threebeer", "Lone Stranger", "Wild Rose", "Lightn'n Jim".
L to R Kneeling: "Mad Dog", "Lucky", "Yosemite Sam".
STILL MORE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS & GUESTS, FALL 1999
L to R Standing: "Bruin" (compare his height here - at 16 - to him as "Jerry Potts" in the 1997 picture above. By the way, at 17, he placed first in the "Junior" category at the 2000 Montana State Championship Shoot hosted by the Sun River Rangers out of Great Falls),
"Smiling Sam", "Kelsey Kid", "Seedy Red", "Squirrel" (making out with Hildegard) and "Mule".
L to R Kneeling: "B.C. Babe, "Spike", "Silver Eye".
"ALONZO" AND "DYNAMITE DICK CLIFTON" SHOOTIN' THE BREEZE
A FEW OF THE PARTICIPANTS, 1998
L to R: "Rattlesnake Jack", "Dynamite Dick", "Alonzo", "Dalrymple Clark" of the NWMP, "The Last Novice", "Mule", "Happy Jack".
"KANADA KIDD" ON THE TIMER, "SPIKE" ON 'OLD PAINT', WHILE "KANADA GIRL" WATCHES AND "IRON JACK RABBIT" DOESN'T.
"WOBBLY THREEBEER" ENJOYS 'SUITING UP'(WITH THE GLEEFUL ASSISTANCE OF "SEEDY RED") IN PREPARATION FOR ONE OF OUR INFAMOUS SCENARIOS REQUIRING THE MEN TO PLAY THE PART OF A WOMAN
"BATTLE RIVER KID" HAPPILY(?) DISPLAYING HIS PRIZE
(SO....WHAT DID HE EXPECT TO WIN IN A TURKEY SHOOT, AND AT THANKSGIVING, YET?!)
AND FINALLY, BRINGIN' UP THE REAR AS USUAL: YOUR PARD, RATTLESNAKE JACK.....
(BUT DOIN' IT WITH STYLE! NOTICE HOW SHOOTIN' 'DUELIST' LEAVES A HAND FREE SO YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF YOUR OWN MISSES?)
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Link to Start Page of "Rattlesnake Jack's Old West Clipart Parlour, Font Gallery, North West Rebellion Emporium, and Rocky Mountain Ranger Patrol"
Link to "Rattlesnake Jack's" Table of Contents
LEFT CLICK ON SONGTITLES FOR BACKGROUND MUSIC!
CLICK ON ANOTHER TITLE TO CHANGE THE SELECTION. The music will keep playing as long as you are here. )
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