Shooter Spotlight : Cowboy Carty

Alias

Cowboy Carty

Where do you live? (what state or country)

Monmouth Illinois (Wyatt Earp’s birthplace)

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

I started shooting at Shady Creek Shootists in 2008. Home of the Saint Jude charity shoot. Dapper Dan got me interested the sport.

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

Dapper Dan first showed me the basics. “spur” and my dad went to high school together. I learned many things from shooting with Spur. When I became friends with Deuce Stevens that is when I really started to analyze the sport and became a better shooter. Without a doubt Deuce Stevens is my best friend and mentor who has had the most influence over my shooting game and outlook on the sport.

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

That has changed over the years. There was a time I would practice live fire no less than three times a week and dry fire every day. These days I don’t get a chance to live fire practice much and I don’t dry fire as much as I need to. I mostly live fire when I test guns that I work on for customers. I dry fired the most when I switched from running a 97 to a side-by-side.

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

Multiple Illinois state overall champion. In the past I have won overall @ Michigan state, Indiana State and Wisconsin State, multiple midwest regional overall champion, one national title in my category and in 2019 I won the overall top gun shoot off at End Of Trail at the time I did not know that would be the last shoot off at Founders Ranch so that is a special one.

Tell us about your most memorable match:

Without a doubt Indiana State 2020 Deuce Stevens and I tied for the overall championship. We had the exact same time at the end of the match. We both had good matches and we knew it would be close that is something I will never forget.

What is your favorite aspect of CAS?

The people.. We’ve all heard that saying “come for the shooting stay for the people”. And that is definitely me I got into the sport for the competition but I have stayed all these years because I have met my best friends in this sport.

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

When I started honestly I didn’t think I would be around very long. My background is rodeo I was a calf Roper for many years and traveled all over the country. So Cowboy Carty was simple and easy. I guess looking back I wouldn’t change it because there aren’t many Carty‘s around and it’s a unique name.Deuce Stevens.

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

Deuce Stevens!

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

Paradise Pass Regulators in Etna Green Indiana Home of the 2021 40th Anniversary End Of Trail. I would have to say without a doubt Gunsmoke in Morristown Minnesota would be my favorite annual match to attend.

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

I have never tried any other category than traditional. I would have to say that I do enjoy watching frontiersman and Classic Cowboy.

What is you posse job of choice?

Posse Marshall

What is the time of your fastest clean stage?

Not exactly sure I know I have shot a few 12 second stages. 10,10,4

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

One year at the Midwest regional “ Gunsmoke“ early in the match I earned myself a procedural and I thought it was over for me. Deuce Stevens met me at my gun cart and talked me off the ledge his words of advice were “ Don’t Stop Believing” The title of a famous Journey song. I was able to tighten up my game for the rest of the match and bring home the Midwest regional overall title that year.

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

As far as shooting. Don’t ever try to speed up during a run that usually doesn’t go well. If you ever hear that voice on your head while shooting a stage telling you “I need to go faster” find out a way to ignore it. Other advice I would give is to enjoy the people while you’re at the match. This is a big family from all over the world and when we leave the match we’re not guaranteed to see each other again.

What keeps you playing this game?

Friendship

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

Spend time with my wife and my girls.