Shooter Spotlight: Santa Fe River Stan

I thought I would try something different this month with the blog and do a shooter spotlight. I figured we could pick a member and ask a few questions to get to know them better. If Y'All like it, we can do it once or twice a month. Let me know in the comments if you think this is fun and who you would want to see in the spotlight. This month is Santa Fe River Stan, a Florida cowboy and member of The Cracker Crew. A crack pot and a crack shot. Here is what he had to say.

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

I started in late 2000. I was buying a single action to use as a backup gun when bear hunting. A fellow at the gun shop told me that if I liked single actions I should go check out the Cowboy Action match up at the Ft White Gun Club. I was a member of that club and only lived a few miles down the road so several years later I decided to stop by and check it out. That day was actually the Rimfire Ruckus not the regular cowboy match. Unfortunately the shooting was already done but a friendly fellow named Withlacoochee Slim invited me to lunch. He told me all about it and I was hooked. I bought some 22's and started with the Rimfire Ruckus and almost immediately worked on assembling a set of guns for the centerfire match.

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

Withlacoochee Slim and his son Kid Maverick taught me a lot and then a cowboy by the name of Weewahootee from Orlando taught me a lot more. After that it was Dang it Dan who showed me how to really analyze my game and practice to improve it. I've also spent quite a bit of time talking about our game with Deuce Stevens.

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

It depends on how serious I am…..I USED to practice quite a bit. Getting ready for EOT in 2010 and 2012 I was probably shooting 10 thousand rounds a month downrange for the three months prior.

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

I am a 9 time SASS Florida State Champion, 2 time SASS SE Regional Champion, World Champion Wrangler and World Champion 49'r. I've also won the Georgia State, Florida State and South Carolina State matches.

Tell us about your most memorable match:

There's so many great matches I've attended over the years and there are many reasons why a match is memorable….You shot well, your friends shot well, the after shooting activities were fun, the folks you got to share time with were great, etc. To single one out is really difficult. There's a picture of the Cracker Crew with many friends out on the front porch of the Blue Willow Inn in Georgia that always warms my heart.

What is your favorite aspect of CAS?

I can't pick a favorite…..the people and the shooting always make the effort well worthwhile.

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

I was living on the Santa Fe River when I joined SASS and my late adopted fathers name was Stan. I put the two together.

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

The other half of the Sunshine Twins, Delta Glen and Dang It Dan.

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

T&R Ranch and Ft White Gun Club

What category do you shoot?

49r

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

Traditional (no longer exists), Wrangler, Gunfighter. I enjoyed them all.

What is you posse job of choice?

Timer Operator

What is the time of your fastest clean stage?

11.something

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

Red River Ray….it's Lever, Trigger, Lever, Trigger not Trigger, Trigger, dumbass.

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

Don't get so caught up in the shooting that you don't stop and enjoy fellowship with those around you. Shoot hard….laugh even harder. Play the game straight up…..At the end of the day you'll be remembered for how you played the game not how fast you shot. Don't sacrifice your integrity for a couple of 10ths time. When you're running the timer make the hard call every time because if you don't you're penalizing everyone else. If you want to shoot fast, the only magic pill is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

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

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of letting them know.

What keeps you playing this game?

Getting to shoot with my friends from all over the country…..WORLD!

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

Spending time with Family and Friends.