IFG - USA meet 2012

[xl_target]

The location is between the Mississippi and Illinois river valleys in Southwestern Illinois.
This is on private property owned by Mark and his family.
Please remember that this will be a camping type weekend. It would be nice to sit around a campfire at night and listen to everyone's stories.

The nearest major Airport is St Louis, MO
Airlines serving St Louis: http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore ... /airlines/
The nearest Railroad Station is Alton, IL.

However, I'm sure that there are Hotels close by for those whose spouses have no interest in camping.

I'll let Mark fill in more details when he gets back.

[Hammerhead]

Thanks , things getting in line.

Any suggestions ......?

agenda ........?

politics .......?

problems .........?

future plans .......?

contracts and insurances ........?

any other requirements .......... ?

Bring your suggestion forward please, you may have many many - Haji

[Mark]

Ok gentlemen I am back for a while now.

Anyway, the zip code here is 62065 so anyone can look it up in mapquest to find directions and distances.

There is plenty of space here, and I have at least 7 tents available, in addition to our lodges.

The gun range is about 70 yards, and plenty of space to set up 25 yard pistol and if someone wants to do 10M air guns we can do that too.

As it gets nearer we can discuss food, I can get goat here if people would like to get one and we can butcher it, which might be educational for the younger members of families who have never seen meat other than what is wrapped in cellophane at the store.

Additionally, I can organise some fishing too if anyone is interested. (just bass/bluegill/crappie pond fishing)

Plenty of trails for hiking and such. Another thing I was thinking about but do not wish to promise anything yet would be to fire up a forge and teach whoever is interested how to forge knife blades, but I have to get some logistics straightened out first. I can also teach people how to flint knap arrowheads and make fire without matches if there is interest.

Anyway, let us hear who is planning on coming, and if there is anything that someone else would either like to learn or teach!

Mark

[Mark]

Gentlemen,

I will be driving with my family and few other CanadianGunNutz any way, only 2400 kilometers ,

So hit it people - Haji

[/quote]

Haji,

I have to say that when I mentioned this to my oldest son his smart-alecky remark was "I thought this was Indians for Guns and not Canadians for Guns!

Looking forward to meeting you in person,

Mark

[xl_target]

Possible Agenda:
1. some people had expressed an interest to see some of the big sports/gun shops in the area. A day or half a day for that.
2. Sitting around the campfire, telling stories in the evenings.
3. Hiking around Mark's property
4. I will bring a couple of .22 rifles and a pistol. I can also bring a couple of 9mm pistols and my home-made bowling pin setup. Baljit can bring a timer and officiate as Range Master and we can have matches.
Since we are limited to one weekend, it is going to be hard to pack too many activities into two days and still have a relaxing time.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.
It would help if everyone PM'd Mark their email addresses so he could communicate any changes.

[Hammerhead]

Gentlemen,

I will be driving with my family and few other CanadianGunNutz any way, only 2400 kilometers ,

So hit it people - Haji

Haji,

"I thought this was Indians for Guns and not Canadians for Guns!

Looking forward to meeting you in person,

Mark

Mark thanks - I'm Canadian Gun Nutz first who happens to be an Indian. And I'm so proud of my country ( CANADA ) that let me pursue my passion and it was never ever possibly possible if you just stayed Indian. No offense to my brothers back home. And Hunting .............. priceless - Haji

[HSharief]

Hello Guys,

I just caught up on this thread and I would love to join you guys if I can. For now, my travel plans are bringing me back home on Friday, September 21st. I may drive over Saturday morning and drive back Sunday afternoon. Its about a 7 hour drive for me according to Google maps. If I can adjust my return a bit, I would drive Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon.

Maybe at this time we should get a list started of who's coming and the daily/hourly schedule of activities. Maybe we keep the shooting for Saturday afternoon, fishing for Sunday morning. Maybe not plan to do too much. Just a couple/few things.

Amit, if Mark can find some dove hunting in the area, maybe you can go Saturday morning with a few lads. See if Mehul baba would join us at Mark's.


Sharief

PS: Thanks xl for getting this started.

[Baljit]

Thank's Mark and XL,i can get the flight on Thu. Sept.20 back on Monday.Please let me know what's the plan you guy's have for Thu. So i can book my flight.it this ok with you guy's?

XL,Yes indeed i'll bring the timer.It's going to be lot's fun.

Mark,I agree with Haji because i am also Canadian gun Nuts and Indian.

Looking forward to meeting everyone in person.

Baljit

[conty1]

Yes, I think, we MUST make room for a dove hunt on our schedule. It will be a fun event with IFGians!

Mark, any possible venues on or off your property we can hunt doves?

Cheers,
Amit

Hello Guys,

I just caught up on this thread and I would love to join you guys if I can. For now, my travel plans are bringing me back home on Friday, September 21st. I may drive over Saturday morning and drive back Sunday afternoon. Its about a 7 hour drive for me according to Google maps. If I can adjust my return a bit, I would drive Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon.

Maybe at this time we should get a list started of who's coming and the daily/hourly schedule of activities. Maybe we keep the shooting for Saturday afternoon, fishing for Sunday morning. Maybe not plan to do too much. Just a couple/few things.

Amit, if Mark can find some dove hunting in the area, maybe you can go Saturday morning with a few lads. See if Mehul baba would join us at Mark's.


Sharief

PS: Thanks xl for getting this started.

[Mark]

I will make some inquiries and post back here.

[Baljit]

Hi guy's any new update on this meet ?


Baljit

[Mark]

To recap-

The meet is officially Sept 22 and 23, you are welcome to stay longer if you wish.

No real official agenda right now, it sounds like a group will be going to Bass pro and Cabelas on Saturday morning.

Amit (Conty1) is wanting to dove hunt, I have asked a couple local hunters (I'm not a dove hunter myself) but I have not heard anything back yet. Other than that, 70 yard range with a shooting table available whenever someone feels like using it. Plenty of places to set up a shorter handgun range.

Nothing committed in regards to food, I have a nice cooking facility and one thing I would like to have is for anyone who wants to prepare a traditional dish please do so. We'll prepare some traditional N. American Indian food for a meal or two as well.

Fishing can be arranged too no problem.

That's about it right now, feel free to make suggestions!


Mark

[conty1]

Ok, let's drop the dove hunting idea guys. I don't think it is going to work out, but that's alright. Let's plan on doing some fishing instead!!

And, do we really want to go to Cabela's or Bass Pro? I mean I am sure we can find one of these closer to wherever we live!! I really don't see the point in going as a group. But again, if that's the consensus, I am game.

Finally, Mark, how much is it going to be per person?

Cheers,
Amit

[xl_target]

Amit,
We do have some non-US residents coming to this meet. They have requested this chance to see some of the big chain sports stores, etc. The chance to see a Cabelas or similar store is not something that they have where they are located. Even then, a short visit like one morning is barely going to scratch the surface of a store like that.

Guys,
Another thing that we have to consider, as Amit brought up, is that Mark is very generously giving us a place to hold this meet, we can't expect him to feed us too. We should set up a small fund to pay for the food.

[Safarigent]

A bit late getting here, but yes, food and drinks should be shared by all of us.
Some wing shooting would be absolutely great.
That dove shooting sounds good!
Fingers crossed.
A