Shooter Spotlight: Scarlett Darlin'

In this Shooter Spotlight we are getting to know Scarlett Darlin' . This is what she had to say:

When did you start shooting CAS and how did you or who got you into the sport?

I shot my first match the first Saturday of December 2012.. The Palmetto Posse Christmas Match.  I first heard about CAS from Larry Page, knifemaker, alias Tucker T. Fudpucker, at the Greenville Gun Show.  Tommy and I hadn’t even started doing ear plugs yet - then, the first Saturday of August, we attended the Palmetto Posse Jimmy Buffet shoot to do ear plugs and hung around til the match was over.  Dunn Gamblin’ (Gerald Dunn) asked if Tommy wanted to shoot a stage and he said, no… I asked if I could and THAT WAS IT!  Dunn Gamblin’ set me up to shoot all the guns off the table... Doc Kemm, Carolina Gray Dog, Wateree Kid served as spotters.  Four guns, one stage… I was hooked.  There was a sign that said, “We don’t rent pigs”.  I didn’t get the reference (Bless my heart) and was told to watch Lonesome Dove.  We went home that day and cooled off and watched ALL six hours of Lonesome Dove.  I wept when Gus was dying and Tommy was crying because he was looking at the rules and thinking about how much money it was gonna cost.

Who was your mentor, either known to them or not?

Memorial Day 2013, Tommy had made arrangements to meet Stone Ground at the range to shoot some Class III!   Stone Ground said, “Have Scarlett bring her guns/leather and some ammo and I will help her.” When we got to the range, Stone Ground had set up targets and walked me through the process of staging long guns, how to plan to shoot a stage, etc...What a great eye opener that was!  I had only shot a few matches and hadn’t ever really thought about the things that Stone Ground was showing me.  There have been, and continue to be, numerous folks in this game who help me! I am most grateful to all of them.

How much do you practice, how many rounds a month do you send down range?

 Ugh.  You just HAD to ask this question!  I don’t practice very much at all - time is a factor. Depending on the time of year, I may shoot as little as 400 rounds per month to 1,500?  I don’t really count?  I don’t “buy” my bullets 500 at a time so I don’t really keep track. I would like to shoot more often and practice at least a little bit!  

Have you won any state, regional, national or world championships?

My third or fourth match was the State Championship.  Didn’t understand anything about how it worked.  We were in the back eating dinner while awards were being announced and someone said, “Scarlett, they just called your name”  WHAT?  I came back to the table the Ladies B Western Champion.  I have won SC State Lady B Western a few times and Lady Gunfighter.  I have won other state matches as well.  It took six attempts - 2018 I won the SE Regional Lady Gunfighter.  Haven’t ever been to Winter Range - going this next year!  I was the Second place Lady Gunfighter at End of Trail 2019.

Tell us about your most memorable match:

Gunfight in Dixie SouthEast Regional 2018.  High Cotton Kitty and I went by ourselves and we had a BLAST! We shot the Black Powder night match - Palmetto Traveler loaded the ammo for us.  We didn’t know that many folks there yet and were both a bit nervous about the BP match.  Needless to say, we had the time of our lives and were so sad it was only four stages.  Once the main match started, she and I were both really confident - we’d found our groove, so to speak.  I shot the main match to the best of my ability.  I don’t think I could have shot it any better.  I was clean (First BIG match) and fast - no shotgun make ups or rifle reloads.  It was awesome.

What is your favorite aspect of CAS?

The PEOPLE! I have never been around or associated with more fun folks in my life! And, having an alter ego - Scarlett!

Is there a story behind your alias, and what is that story?

 Yes.  I am NOT Scarlett O’Hara… I am Scarlett "as in A" - The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  The story - Tommy and I were married to other people and realized we loved each other.  He is an Episcopal Priest and I worked for him.  Contrary to rumor and gossip, we did NOT have some crazy wild affair (or love child) but folks were ugly.  Becoming Scarlett really helped me deal with the meanies.  

Do you have a travel/shootin buddy? (you know that friend that makes this game what it is)

High Cotton Kitty and I have a ball traveling together  - but it is hard now that she, too, has a CAS business.  Tommy and I have made so many friends in this game - even if we don’t know but one or two folks at a match when we arrive, we have lifelong friends when we leave - no matter where!

Where is your favorite place to shoot? (range or match past or present)

Tommy and I met Sgt. FL Cracker at the 2012 SE Regional, where I joined SASS, and he insisted that we come to the FL State match in St. Augustine.  At the St. Augustine match, Tommy met Half Breed (Classic Leather Work) and he invited us to the Ides of March. The Ides of March was one of the first “bigger annuals” I ever went to and I was smitten!  I think that I “came into my own” as a Cowgirl that match -   I felt like I belonged - had a real place in the “family".  Eustis Gun Club and the Lake County Pistoleros are awesome! A year or so later, I shot my first 10 stage clean match there and, a couple more years later, where I was presented with my Jedi Gunfighter pin. So, a lot of special things happened at Eustis Gun Club.  

What category do you shoot?

Lady B Western, Lady Gunfighter or Lady Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter

Have you tried other categories? What categories have you shot and how did that go?

I shot BW because I like the fancy dress up blingy stuff.  Its a fun category because you can shoot whatever style you want.  The fancy boots started to hurt my feet so I started shooting Lady Gunfighter because I could wear lace up Ariats! I haven’t really shot any other categories - I shoot Lady Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter whenever I can because its AWESOME and Lady Duelist for a time when I was trying to improve with my weak hand.

What is you posse job of choice?

Spotter (I take it very seriously), TO, LTO, ULT…Brass.  I will do whatever.

What is the time of your fastest clean stage?

Not exactly sure - sub 20 seconds 10-10-2+ shooting Gunfighter

What was the best advice you got from a fellow shooter, and who was it?

 Shoot Gunfighter - the cowboy formerly known Widowmaker Hill, now Widder.

What advice can you give to some of the shooters reading this?

 Learn to load your own ammo and how your guns operate - clean them yourself (cowgirl or cowboy).  If you know how your guns - especially rifle - operate, you will be able to fix some issues on the clock and save yourself on occasion.  On the two or three times that I have had a squib - its on ME.  I loaded the ammo… when my 73 hammer spring was too loose and the hammer wouldn’t stay cocked, that was on ME because I hadn’t tightened it properly after I cleaned it.

Is there that one rival that delivers a little extra sting when they beat you?

No…but missing the World Championship by 12 or 13 seconds and I had THREE misses (15 seconds) stung for a minute.

What keeps you playing this game?

The people and getting to travel to so many matches.  It is so much fun to meet so many folks that I know through Facebook and the SASS Wire at matches. 

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not on the range or shooting?

Resting up for the next match!