Saltgrass is gone

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

Hi Folks,
I have shut down the archery club and selling the 3D targets.

Galveston Co. has presented me with the user group contract, after over 15 years without, and it is not acceptable to me.

I am moving my strings and pointy sticks to Banana Bend and will be participating in their events. I have been impressed with the quality of events that Banana Bend puts on and looking forward to helping them to continue with the excellent archery experience that is shown there

I am posting pics on the saltgrass website of the targets for sale. Feel free to call, text or email me.

I love the archery community and have met some wonderful people over the last few years. Saltgrass was great for me as a newbie in the world of 3D and hope to see you all at Banana Bend !!

Best regards,
mike
713-248-7179 www.saltgrassarchery.com

[Brinkley]

Sad news Mike. I know MCAC was having trouble finding a place as well. sad to see you guys go we always enjoyed the shoots!!!

[rut n buck]

How do I access the photos of targets?Went to link but didn't see any way
to view them.Thnx

[Mac...]

What is a "user group contract"?

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

Sad news Mike. I know MCAC was having trouble finding a place as well. sad to see you guys go we always enjoyed the shoots!!!

Thank you, Fingershooter !! Yes, my good friend from MCAC told me the land they used was sold. We were trying to amalgamate the two clubs but the logistics are too great.

There is a small probability that I will pay Galv Co. a PER EVENT fee, trailer in the targets, and we will have a 3D shoot on the Saltgrass range. That would be later in the year, if the event price is reasonable.

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

How do I access the photos of targets?Went to link but didn't see any way
to view them.Thnx

The photos are not there yet. I am working on it. I want to have it completed today. Or at least, a large part of it.

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

What is a "user group contract"?

Galveston County has many parks. If I go into a park and set up shop as an archery club, and use the park for my club location for 3D events, I am considered "a user group".
In Jack Brooks park, where Saltgrass has been since 1975, there are a model airplane group, that has a pavilion, and runway and other buildings for their activity. There are softball fields, disc golf, mountain bike clubs that ride the trails, and horse back riding trails.
The contract is the rules that the county has put on paper that specify what you are responsible for, and how much you are going to pay to use the county's land.

[Mac...]

And that scared you off?
Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture.
Seems like an easy fix to me.

Up the membership and shoot fees to cover what you need to cover.
Is there not a way to fight it, or do something to kee the range open?

I've never been there, but I've heard about it from a lot of people. Sounds like you're well established I'm sure you could get some support from the public.

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

There is more to it, Mac
The club is only me and one local man who loves the sport and is retired. Yes, I have paying members, but they never show up at the meetings, they never show to place targets nor pick them up.
The problem is the archery range is in MAJOR decline. It will take $40,000 to fix it up to it's condition before Hurrican Ike.

The number one reason is: the county decided the park is open to the public 24/7. Are you going to pay money to me so you can drive in , anytime, and shoot the practice range or the spot range ? When it is free ? A recent member asked me "why would I pay a membership fee when the place is open 24/7 ?? So, human nature takes over, and many folks use the place ( I talk to them ) but, no one wants to be on the club and do any work. I told the county that IF you want it open to the public, then you build it up and fix it back to the original good condition, and I might think about maintaining it.
I spend my money to fix it up so anyone, anytime can shoot it up and damage it.
Right now, the electricity cables ( over 200 yards of it ) was cut and stolen out from underground conduit. People come in and shoot guns at the range, they have shot the container, tried to smash the locks and get in the container, drive all over the practice range and rut it up cutting donuts. I have found everything sexual from beginning to end, and all the plastic baggies that weed and cocaine and other stuff comes in.
I have the county sheriff on speed dial. Ask Buffaloe Field archery if they have those kind of problems, or Bannana Bend.
I'm not bitchin, it's too much for one guy to take on John Q. Public.

[Zookeeper]

If you are not familiar with the bureaucracy of Galveston county there is no way to assume an easy fix is possible.
The demands that they put on groups wanting to hold an event can make putting on the event cost prohibitive. A perfect example is that they require liability insurance that names each individual on the county and city park board. Not as a group but as individuals. They also require limits far higher than ASA provides. Three years ago one 2 day archery event cost me $600.00 just for insurance at this location.

[Mac...]

Dang man...
Sounds like you made it a lot longer than I would've in the same situation....
That sux man. Sorry to hear about your battle.

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

If you are not familiar with the bureaucracy of Galveston county there is no way to assume an easy fix is possible.
The demands that they put on groups wanting to hold an event can make putting on the event cost prohibitive. A perfect example is that they require liability insurance that names each individual on the county and city park board. Not as a group but as individuals. They also require limits far higher than ASA provides. Three years ago one 2 day archery event cost me $600.00 just for insurance at this location.

that is correct !! I write a huge check on January one of each year to cover the insurance , just to post the schedule. If it rained every weekend, and we did not have ANY shoots, you are still out the hundreds of dollars !!

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

Dang man...
Sounds like you made it a lot longer than I would've in the same situation....
That sux man. Sorry to hear about your battle.

The real winners are the archery community that uses the archery range, because all the little problems ( and big ) have been laid on the table and the Parks and Rec Dept now have a idea about what they have.
I am sure that in the next couple of years, the archery range will get a new set of target butts and if we are lucky, a rebuilt field archery range.

TBH has been most helpful, and when I was REALLY in a bind, I put the word out on the GS and help came out of the wood work !! Special thanks to Russel Bradley aka russ81. When he comes to help, he brings the family

[Saltgrass Mikerr]

How do I access the photos of targets?Went to link but didn't see any way
to view them.Thnx

The pics are almost ready.......probably be up on the website by midnight tonight.

[SwampRabbit]

Sorry to hear Mike. Never fun to shutter a club that you've put a lot of time and effort into. I was hoping to make the long drive down south to visit ya'll at least once.

I'd be interested in some of the targets once you have them posted. I am specifically looking for a turkey target (and other small targets.)