Congratulations to our HOA winners for the winter season:

• HOA – Cody Van Patten (NV) – 709
• British Columbia: Peter Ahrens – 671
• California: Mac Robertson – 691
• Colorado: Trevor Vaughn – 690
• Hawaii: Mark Hironaga – 653
• Idaho: Jeff Scott – 656
• Nevada: Todd Delong – 684
• Oregon: Ryan Kramer – 688
• Washington: Jeff Mitchell – 680

The random draw winners below will receive a special item from our sponsor – White Flyer

• Paul Moore (WA)
• Mike Rosachi (NV)
• Rich Adams (NV)
• Dan Miller (WA)
• Joe Stuart (OR)
• Robert Miller (WA)
• Mike Seeber (CA)

Fellow Shooters,

As you have heard, a review of the PITA budget found that an increase in membership and daily fees was necessary.  We have had a few questions as to what lead to these increases and I would like to offer the following in response.

The PITA is a non-profit corporation and our day-to-day expenses are covered by membership and daily fees.  We keep some funds in reserve, but all other funds are returned to the shooters in the form of refunds to the state and provincial associations, added money at the Grand Pacific, and the production of the Grand Pacific itself.

The PITA membership and daily fees are set by the PITA Executive Committee and the last time the fees were increased was 2011.  Since that time, the association has gone through some significant changes:

• We were unable to reach an agreement with Evergreen Sportsman’s Club for the 2017 Grand Pacific so we moved  the event to the Spokane Gun Club (SGC).  The 2017 contract with SGC included an increase in the price per target and SGC took over the RV reservations, which caused us to lose a significant portion of our annual income.
• The 2018 Grand Pacific contract with SGC is a flat fee and requires that the PITA do everything.  From scorekeepers and traps to garbage and water, we will be doing it all.  This is a departure from our usual contract and we will need a substantial number of volunteers in order to make a profit on this event, or at least break even.
• In 2016 our Executive Secretary, Sue Brewer, retired from that position and moved into a part-time position as the PITA Assistant.  At the same time, Rusty Brewer retired from the Assistant Secretary position. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that the PITA had a pretty good deal going for many years with Sue in the Executive Secretary position and Rusty in the Assistant Secretary position.  We received much more value than what we were paying in wages.  As such, the cost to hire a new Executive Secretary and continue to pay Sue for half-time work, is significantly higher than it was when we had Sue and Rusty in those positions.

So, in short, the cost of running the PITA has increased and we have reached the point where our membership and daily fees have had to increase as well.  Thank you for your continued membership and please feel free to contact me or any of the members of the PITA Executive Committee if you have any further questions or concerns.

Jennifer Carter, PITA President

The 2016-2018 PITA Rulebook with recent changes is posted below – bottom right corner.  Please review the changes that have been made.  Any questions should be directed to Nadene Pope, Chair of the Rules Committee.

The Hermiston Gun Club PITA shoot scheduled for July has been moved up a week to June 29-July 1.  Please mark your calendar.

Results are posted!  All scores/results are final.  Scores of 49/50 in the handicap earned 1/2 yard so be sure you stand at the correct place at your next event.

This was a record event – 70,700 targets shot in the 12 gauge events at 51 different clubs.  There were 535 contestants which breaks the previous record of 485 – up by 50!  PITA thanks those clubs/volunteers/shooters that made this happen.

Highlights of the January event:

• 70,700 targets shot at 51 clubs (does not include the Sub-Gauge events)
• 18 perfect scores in singles, none in handicap and one in doubles
• 49’s earned 1/2 yard in handicap – Congratulations! (be sure your average card is punched)
• 3,850 sub-gauge targets shot at 3 OR clubs, 3 ID clubs, 2 WA clubs, 1 HI club, 5 CA clubs, 1 CO club, 2 NV club and 1 BC club – 77 shooters
• Pawnee in CO registered the most target (option at Del Norte excluded) – 3,600 in 12 ga and 750 in sub-gauge
• Clubs with the most targets in each State/Province are (includes Sub-Gauge):
  • AK (1 club) – Juneau (900)
  • AZ (1 club) – Yuma (1000)
  • BC (5 clubs) – Nanaimo (1,950)
  • CA (10 clubs) – Livermore (3,300), Del Norte (option at shoot) (7,200)
  • CO (1 clubs) – Pawnee (3,600)
  • HI (2 clubs) – Big Island Trap Club (option at regular shoot) (1,900)
  • ID (5 clubs) – Boise (1,650)
  • NV (8 clubs) – Winnemucca (1,950)
  • OR (10 clubs) – Hillsboro (2,400)
  • WA (8 clubs ) – Yakima – (1,850)

The last shoot of the winter season is February 3 or 4 – checks for Jan/Feb will be mailed after that event is complete.

Joe & Joy invite you to attend the Valentine’s Day shoot in Boulder City, NV.  Just a few miles south of Las Vegas the Boulder Trap club is growing.  The program offers $700 in added money – who will be the big winner?  Cross registration to ATA and the Silver State 50 option is offered.   Hope to see you there.

In an effort to squelch some of the rumors that are floating around, I would like to let everyone know what is going on with a rule proposal involving alcohol at PITA shoots.

The PITA Executive Committee  has recently been discussing the need for a rule that addresses the consumption of alcohol or non-prescription drugs PRIOR TO OR DURING a PITA Sanctioned event. This rule would have no bearing on what a shooter does after the competition has ended for the day.  In no way is the PITA proposing a ban on alcohol. We are simply putting, into the rule book, a formal statement of what 99.9% of the shooters are already doing.

Rules of this type are not uncommon in any sporting association, let alone one whose main component is a gun.  The rule has not been formalized yet.  The entire PITA Central Handicap and Rules Committee (which includes the Executive Committee) will meet on Thursday night (2/8/18) to discuss. 

We will keep you posted as to the outcome of that meeting. 

Jennifer Carter, PITA President.