Our New Shoot Site
By John McCormick

As I am sure most everyone now knows, we are moving to a new shoot site starting with the Fall Rendezvous. The new location is the FWC Hunter Education Camp off of CR314 in the Ocala National Forest. It is about 25 minutes from our old Crooked Lake shoot site. Here is a map showing how to get to the new location in this issue. There is also an overview map that gives a good idea of how the facility is laid out and which areas we are using for a particular activity. You can tell from the overview map where the cabins are, where the ranges are, where registration is located, where primitive camping will be, where vendors will be, where generators may be used, where the cabins are, and even where the coon shoot range will be. It might be a good idea to keep the map handy for the first shoot, just until you have figured out where everything is.

This upcoming Fall Rendezvous will be sort of a test of the camps abilities to hold our masses. There is no doubt that the Fall Shoot will fit in this location. From this event though, we can determine whether or not the Spring Championship can be held here. We should have more camping area, and it looks like more room for ranges as well. This new location should be good for us.

There are some nice facilities at this new location. We have electricity, running water, showers, bathrooms, pavilions and much, much more.

I have always wanted to have a hunting video night at our shoots and thanks to this new location I can finally do that. On Friday evening of this upcoming shoot from 6pm until 10pm I will run movies and sell popcorn. It will be indoors, in the AC. We have a big screen TV available. I will have Fred Bear videos (just about every one), some Wensel Bros. tapes and two videos of the very first two TBOF shoots held back in 1990 and 1991. They are real classics! If there is enough interest, I will run the videos again on Saturday evening. The only thing I will be selling is popcorn and it will be cheap! You can even bring your own if you would rather. This deal won't cost you a dime! As a matter of fact if you have an old TBOF shoot video you can bring that in and we will all watch it with you. We will hold semi-Democratic votes on which movies will be watched next, so you might get shot down unless you bring a bunch of buds to vote your way. All videos will of course be in good taste and uphold our high standards.

Another neat thing we will get at this site is a long pavilion, with electricity, water and a fireplace to use for our trade blankets. It is an open pavilion with a roof to keep us dry, a table and overhead lights to be used if we want. We could also just hang our lanterns from the trusses if we preferred. Look at the map to find this pavilion. It is located near the bunkhouses.

Speaking of bunkhouses. These large buildings have bunk beds, restrooms and showers. The men's and women's bunkhouses are separate. They are under cold AC. We can house over 100 people in the bunkhouses alone. They will be rented out for $10.00 a night. You get a bed, a shower, electricity, and a restroom for a measly $10.00. We do ask that you bring your own pillow, bed sheets and towels. You can come to the registration area and pay in advance if you would like to stay in a bunkhouse.

There are also a limited number of cabins available. These have anywhere from 2 to 7 beds. They have electricity and are also under AC. They do not have showers and restrooms inside but are conveniently located right near a large restroom/shower facility. Once again, you will need to bring your own, pillow, blankets and towels. We have a limited number of these available. They are $100.00 for the weekend. If you want one come to the registration area and see Bruce Hamlin.

The facility is located along side of Lake Eaton. There is a boat ramp and dock right at our site. You can bring your pole and catch your limit of fish. You can fry em up and eat them in camp too, if you like. No catch and release stuff here! If you want to bring your boat with you, be our guest. Just be mindful to obey all regulations regarding their use.

There is a nice nature trail located behind the registration area, take an afternoon walk. The place is loaded with wildlife and it should be a good opportunity for taking wildlife pictures. Many of the animals you will see while here are rehabilitated and do not have proper fear of humans or their pets. For this reason, dogs will not be allowed on site no matter how small. This will be inconvenient for some of you we know, we just hope you will understand. There is also a strict policy that does not allow firearms on this property. Who brings a gun to a bow fight anyhow?

There is a special area reserved for our vendors that is right in the thick of activities and under some real nice oaks. We hope to have electricity drops in time for the shoot, but you are able to bring a generator and use it during business hours.

There is an area that allows generators 24 hours a day for those with the big rigs and portable generators. It is marked out on the overview map and they will be restricted to that area. There is plenty of room there and it should be located far enough away from the other campers so as not to spoil their stay.

The primitive camp area allows tents and small campers. No generators. The primitive camp area is down by the lake and under some beautiful old oaks. There are picnic tables and a community fire ring. Ground fires will be limited to the community fire pits. It is probably the nicest area at the site. With the lake, there should be some good breezes, and the oaks will offer ample shade. Camping during our Fall Shoots will be much more pleasant now.

There is a private residence on site with a fenced yard. We would like to ask everyone to allow them the privacy that they deserve while we hold our events.

As you can see this new site has a lot to offer. It is up to us to take advantage of the new facilities and have some real good shoots here. I believe that all of you will like the new location and see the advantages as soon as you arrive. Come on out this August 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Visit with your TBOF friends and have some fun. I'll be there, shooting my bow, eating popcorn and watching some movies!