Official Newsletter of the Dormont / Mt Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 2020 Edition

April 2020

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 9:00AM-12:00 - Air 8:00AM-12:00PM - Rifle NRA Highpower ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED***

12:00PM-3:00PM - 8:00AM-6:00PM - PA Open Shoot State Indoor 4P ***CANCELLED*** Championship ***POSTPONED***

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8:00AM-6:00PM - 7:00PM - Indoor 7:30AM-5:00PM - First Seder Passover begins Good Friday PA State Indoor 4P pistol (NMC) Envirothon Study Championship MPRL Week 13 Session 9:00AM-12:00 - Air 7:30PM - Board ***POSTPONED*** ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED*** Rifle Meeting ***CANCELLED*** 7:00PM-10:00PM - Trap range 12:00PM-3:00PM - Open Shoot ***CANCELLED***

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Easter Sunday 7:00PM - Indoor 7:00PM-10:00PM - 9:00AM-12:00 - Air 6:00PM-8:00PM - Trout Season Opens pistol (NMC) Trap range Rifle Second MPRL Week 10 ***CANCELLED*** Amendment Event 8:00AM @Doubletree on Work Party 12:00PM-3:00PM - Racetrack Rd. ***CANCELLED*** Open Shoot ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED***

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 11:00AM - CMP rifle 7:00PM - Indoor 7:00PM-10:00PM - 9:00AM-12:00 - Air 8:00PM - 11:30AM- 9:00AM-4:00PM - match pistol (NMC) Trap range Rifle Membership 12:00PM(approx) Outdoor Pistol MPRL Week 11 ***CANCELLED*** Meeting Silhouette Setup Silhouette Swap Tables All Upper Ranges All Upper Ranges 12:00PM-3:00PM - Closed Closed Open Shoot ***CANCELLED***

26 27 28 29 30 9:00AM-3:00PM - 7:00PM - Indoor 7:30AM-5:00PM - 9:00AM-12:00 - Air ARC Clinic pistol (NMC) MPRL Envirothon Rifle Rifle Range Closed Week 12 ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED*** Last MPRL 7:00PM-10:00PM - 12:00PM-3:00PM - Trap range Open Shoot ***CANCELLED***

Club News

MEMBERSHIP YEARLY DUES  COVID-19 Concerns: As we all know now, COVID-19 has Full Membership $100 infiltrated Washington County, PA. Currently, we have 24 Senior (65 and up, 10yrs $40 infected. Couple this number with the amount in consecutive membership) neighboring counties, the Club has decided to either Intermediate (18 -21) $40 Junior (12-17) $15 cancel or postpone events through April. Please review Spousal membership $50 the calendar to be sure that the event you are interested Initiation Fee $100 in is going to be held. Lost Gate Card $10

 Feeling Under the Weather: The Club would like you to EXECUTIVE STAFF evaluate yourself if you are going to be visiting the range. PRESIDENT GEORGE TAYLOR IV We aren’t your mothers, so please effectively gauge how VICE PRESIDENT THEODORE K. HILDABRAND you are feeling and then decide on whether you’re healthy TREASURER ELLSWORTH F. VINES enough to come to the range. SECRETARY BRUCE LONG  Capital Improvement Projects: The Club has received its EXECUTIVE RANGE BRUCE UNGAR Certificate of Occupancy for the new clubhouse! As of this OFFICER publication, we are waiting on just a few more items: door locks, bathroom partitions, A/V equipment just to name a ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF NEWSLETTER EDITOR CHRIS BIELINSKI few. We are getting close to moving in! MEMBERSHIP CHAIR BRIAN FINK  RSO's and ACT 33 CERTIFICATION: Just a reminder to keep CLUB DIRECTORS your status up to date. Your RSO certification is due every BILL FERTALL 724-260-0693 2 years and your ACT 33 certification is due every 60 BRUCE D. UNGAR 412-343-2256 months. Check yours now so you can keep them up to BRUCE LONG 724-941-3918 CHARLES R. AUGENSTEIN, II 724-255-6127 date. CHRIS BIELINSKI 720-273-9426  Gun Powder Recalls: There have been multiple recalls on DAVE WILLARD 724-941-6620 certain smokeless powders. More information is included DENNIS DEE 724-914-3310 in the Web version of this month’s Newsletter. ELLSWORTH F. VINES 412-721-9632 GARY SCHERER 412-699-5773  DMSC 2020 New Members: To expand on what was GEORGE TAYLOR, IV 412-855-6721 written above, there are talks about moving/rescheduling JOHN BRADFORD 724-228-0545 the Range Orientation Meetings to help accommodate RONALD J. WATTON 724-941-5891 everything related to COVID-19. If you are a perspective THEODORE K. HILDABRAND 724-942-2125 WAYNE THOMPSON 412-874-8888 applicant, please keep visiting the website for more JIM LOCKE 724-554-0211 information. LEE KIRCHNER 724-678-9585  April Work Party: As the Calendar indicated, this work party has been cancelled. AFFLIATIONS PA Federation of Sportsmen's Conservationists  LOST & FOUND: There are 2 wedding rings that have been Washington County Sportsmen found on site and are waiting to be claimed. One ring was th Metropolitan Police Revolver League found on September 30 near the Meadows Pistol Range, Pittsburgh and Suburban Rifle League st and the other ring was found on November 1 on the National Shooting Sports Foundation Bench Rest Range. Please contact one of the Board Members, or email [email protected] if you think SANCTIONED BY one of these could be yours. National Rifle Association Civilian Marksmanship Program Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association

CLUB COMMUNICATION Club Web Site: mdi.net/dml Membership Inquiries (412)831-4857 [email protected] Twitter @DMLSportsmen Facebook: facebook.com/DMLSportsmen Email: [email protected]

Shooting Events

Program Description Contact

Centerfire Pistol Rimfire Pistol Pistol Air Centerfire Rifle Rimfire Rifle Rifle Air Shotgun Muzzleloade r This program takes place year round. Indoors during the winter and George Taylor (412) 855-6721 Monday Night Pistol outdoors during the summer. Bruce Ungar (412)343-2256 X X National Match Course. First line fires at 7pm indoors, and 6pm outdoors This fires the 4th Saturday of the Outdoor Silhouette X X X X Month at 9 AM. April—September George Taylor (412) 855-6721 The Civilian Marksmanship Program rifle matches occur the third Sunday X CMP Rifle of every month January - October. Bruce Ungar (412) 343-2256 Matches begin at 11 AM. 200 yard match. 2014 season begins John Tupta (724) 941-1494 NRA High Power March 8. Matches begin at 9 AM. X March - October [email protected] Pittsburgh Suburban Our champion small-bore team X Rifle League practices every Sunday at 7 PM Dean Trew (724) 239-3012 Trap shooting occurs every Tuesday Trap starting at 6pm. The season runs April Wayne Thompson (412) 874-8888 X - October The season runs January - March. The Ted Hildabrand (724) 344-8171 shooters participate and shoot [email protected] Winter Indoor concurrent with the indoor open Mike Leone (724) 554-9544 X X X X X Shooting League shoots on Wednesday, Friday, Bruce Long (724) 941-3918 Saturday, or Sunday Dave Faust (724) 225-9057 This program typically takes place in June and November. Any centerfire

Antique Military Rifle original military rifle with original Bruce Ungar (412)343-2256 X Match open sights, no scopes, manufactured Gary Scherer (724)809-7358 prior to January 1, 1946 and in safe shooting condition. No semi-autos The Black Powder matches are held Blackpowder Semiannually. See the club calendar Ron Watton (724) 941-5891 X Skirmish for exact dates Wednesdays 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM. Indoor Air Rifle & October - March Mike Leone (724) 554-9544 X X Pistol CMP Junior Rifle Every Tuesday September - March at 7 Chuck Augenstein (724) 941-9538 X Program PM. Indoor Air Pistol Saturdays @ 1pm January - March X Silhouette George Taylor (412) 855-6721 See our website for more detail about shooting opportunities at the club: www.mdi.net/dml/programs.html

Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)

CMP High Power Rifle Match Dormont Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen February 16th, 2020 A 50 round match fired at 100 yards, with three different positions, slow and sustained fire stages, and mandatory in string reloads. Emphases on range safety, match procedures, and all aspects of firearm handling, respect, and range decorum.

Shooter Firearm Slow Rapid Rapid Off Total prone prone sitting hand .30 cal auto Paul Ceriani M1 Garand 137-1x 60-1x 67-1x 77 341-3x Ted Hildabrand M1A .308 195-5 85-1 80-1x 68 428-6x Brian Hise M1 Garand 97 70 69 33 269 James Hurley M1 Garand 110 45 19 15 189 Jeff Landsittel M1 Garand 55 33 27 19 134 Jim Locke M1A NM 177-1 92 81 92 442-4x Bruce Long M1A NM 189-3x 93 92-2 76 450-5x Mike Metzmaier M1 Garand 136 90-1x 55 15 296 Bill Mocker M1 Garand 145 82 57 54 338 Justin Schmitt M1 Garand 148 87-1x 62 41 338-1x David Burd M! Carbine 167-1x 89 68 69 393-1x Bill Fertall M1 Carbine 84 40 66 33 223 Sharon Fertall M1 Carbine 99 72 47 70 288-1x AR Style Chuck Augenstein Service scope 198-5x 98-2 79 85 460-7x Chris Bielinski Stag 5.56 LH 197-5x 93 79 52 421-5x Frank Bungard Colt HBAR 178-2x 74 79 77-1 408-3x Larry Fowler Sprngfld Saint 149-1 80 68 67-1 364-2 Michael E. Ligman Bushmaster 187-1x 77-1x 89-1x 57-1x 410-4x A.J. Nemeth AR-15 A2 186-3x 95 87 89 457-4x Bonnie Popso AR-15 154-4x 90 78-1x 70 392-5x Jon Stonestreet MAD DOG 15 190-2x 84-3x 84-1x DNF 358-6x Bolt Action Rifle Jim Madar M96Swed6.5x55 188-3x 92-1x 82-2x 51 413-6x Thank you for your attention to range safety! Bruce

Legislation

SATURDAY OPENER HEARING

Rifle season for hunting deer in Pennsylvania had kicked off the Monday after Thanksgiving since 1963. Last year, the PA Game Commissioners sought to change that opening day. Supporters of the change believed a Saturday opener could bring back lapsed hunters who struggled to find time to hunt as well as helping high school and college hunters that do not get the day off from school for opening day. Opponents of the change believed moving the opener would interfere with hunting camp traditions and complicate travel during the Thanksgiving weekend. After much debate and deliberation, the Commission adopted the change in April. Did that change make all the hunters happy? Nope.

After experiencing the effect of the change this past November, hunters were still split in their preference. The Commission reported an uptick in license sales and progress towards its goal, while some hunters decried the negative social and economic impact on the hunting community.

The House Game and Fisheries Committee, at the request of Committee member , hosted a hearing in Charleroi on February 20 to gather direct input from the parties involved as to whether to keep the Saturday opener or move back to the Monday opener. Representative Cook got the go- ahead for the hearing in exchange for dropping his proposed amendment on Sunday hunting.

The hearing ran from 5-7pm, so there were less than 50 attendees, few of whom were in the 18-50 year-old demographic that the new opener was designed to help. Participation was limited to testimony from representatives of selected organizations--Dennis Fredericks, PA Game Commission, District 2 Commissioner; Harold Daub, executive director, PA Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists; Randy Santucci, SW regional director, Unified Sportsmen of PA. Their written testimonies, along with that of our Club President, George Taylor, are on the record at the House Game and Fisheries web page. Attending from our Club were Ted Hildabrand, Lou Romito, and Bill Fertall, as well as Washington County League president, Chet Krcil. The thrust of our Club’s message was that whatever the decision is, it should be made by the experts at the PGC, not by politically motivated legislators. Regulation...not legislation!

Harold Daub, in the left-center of the picture, faces the imposing PGFC panel. From left to right: Barbara Glime, (R) District 199. Cumberland David Maloney, (R) District 130. Berks Bud Cook, (R) District 49. Washington (Belle Vernon), Fayette Gregory Raffensperger, majority executive director Robert Merski (D) District 02. Erie (R) District 193. Adams, Cumberland [Majority Secretary] Moderator in lieu of Majority Chair Gillespie. William Kortz (D) District 38. Minority Chair, Allegheny (Dravosburg) Steven McMullen, minority executive director Anita Kulik (D) District 45. Allegheny (Robinson) (R) District 17. Mercer, Erie

The effect of the hearing? We won’t know if it impacted the decision until the April meeting of the Commissioners. The Board of Game Commissioners will still take comments on the subject until their meeting on April 6 and 7 at [email protected].

Announcements

Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club P.O. Box 12692 Pittsburgh, PA 15241-0692

MARCH MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED

KEEP IT SAFE Safe Shooting Hours ALWAYS keep firearms pointed in a safe direction. Dates Begins Ends ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready January 1-15 7:00 AM 5:30 PM to shoot. ALWAYS keep firearms unloaded until ready to use. January 16-31 7:00 AM 5:45 PM ALWAYS unload, remove the magazine, and open the February 1-15 7:00 AM 6:00 PM action of a firearm when someone is going down range. February 16-28 7:00 AM 6:15 PM NEVER handle firearms while someone is down range. March 1-10 7:00 AM 6:30 PM ALWAYS wear proper eye and ear protection at the range. March 11-31 7:00 AM 7:30 PM April 1-15 7:00 AM 8:00 PM DMSC Conducts Safety Reviews April 16-30 7:00 AM 8:15 PM Range Safety Officers (RSOs) will conduct random May 1-15 7:00 AM 8:30 PM membership checks and safety reviews. RSOs will meet May 16 - July 31 7:00 AM 8:45 PM with members and guests while at the firing range. August 1-15 7:00 AM 8:30 PM Membership ID’s will be checked and a copy of the range August 16-31 7:00 AM 8:00 PM rules will be made available. It’s important for all September 1-15 7:00 AM 7:30 PM members to review safe gun handling procedures and to focus on the safety rules for each range used. The RSOs September 16-30 7:00 AM 7:15 PM will be a wearing a distinctive safety vest or hat and will October 1-15 7:00 AM 7:00 PM only ask for a few minutes of your time. Guests and Oct 16 - Nov. 5 7:00 AM 6:30 PM Visitors are subject to the same rules as members. November 6-15 7:00 AM 5:15 PM Violators will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from club grounds and termination of Nov 16 - Dec. 31 7:00 AM 5:00 PM membership. * Note: No shooting before 9am on Sundays

MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO CARRY THEIR GATE CARDS AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WHEN ASKED TO BY A RANGE OFFICER OR OTHER MEMBER