Punching Paper versus Woodswalks

[Minnesota Mike]

Recently dealt with situation involving expressed desire by club member(s) on shooting preferences for primitive events.

Traditional arrangement is to have one or two days of woodwalks followed by thrid day of punching paper at a 'scribe's match'.

(For newbies:
- A woodswalk is a shooting event along a path that involves shooting at a variety of target types, usually novelty targets, but all your shooting materials are carried with you. This is also referred to as 'shooting from the bag'. Shooting is scored in variety of methods, but usually is done on a score card each shooter carries with them and records hit/miss. Shooting is done by groups who proceed down the path with delayed intervals between groups so that you avoid bunching up at any target along the woodswalk route.  
- A scribe's match is a shooting event on the range with paper targets posted on target frames. The paper targets are turned into a scorer (scribe) who calculates the score based on value of the holes made in the paper. Because this is shot usually at the range with loading tables, shooters can bring all of their shooting supplies and cleaning boxes with them. Shooting is usually done in timed relays with the range called 'cold' so that targets can be posted and retrieved.)

Observation was made however, that if one was trying to keep 'feel and flavor' of a primitive event, that a scribe's match kind of spoiled the atmosphere.

Would like to sound out the crew here and see what are some of the insights available regarding woodwalks versus scribe's matches - which do you prefer and why?

Thanks for the input.

r/
MM

[BEAVERMAN]

MM, most of the rondys here are woodswalks or gaongs on a range, each event rifle, pistol, TG, have a 1 shot on paper as a tie breaker, I prefer actual woods walks at rondys, but don't mind shooting paper every once in a while at a monthly shoot or such.

[Gambia]

There is a shoot at Tenino,near Olympia, that is all shot at paper from the bag at different distances.Its fun with everyone shooting at the same target at the same time and a whole lot more difficult than a woods walk IMHO

[Minnesota Mike]

Thanks guys - I guess I'm looking to peel that onion back a couple of layers further back and really get at what drives good shooting events. So . . .

Beav - WHY do you prefer the woodswalks at a rondy? What is it that makes it more preferable?

Charlie - What makes that paper event from the bag more difficult that a woodswalk?

Thanks.

r/
MM

[Bigsmoke]

My observation is that as a young fellow with excellent eyesight, I really liked paper matches, because it was easy to see the target.  I thought gong shoots were sort of unspecific as you got a whole lot more area to shoot at for the same points as a bulls eye.

Now, as a more mature shooter (read that as older) with vision not quite as sharp as it once was, and no doubt a hold that has deteriorated as well, I am starting to prefer shooting at gongs and such, as a hit anywhere is a hit and that counts the same as a bullseye.  Ain't life grand?

[rollingb]

Woods walk vs. punching paper??

I enjoy "both",... and I ALWAYS "load from the bag" regardless of what type of shoot I'm attending.  

[biliff]

I prefer the trailwalk. Mostly because its fun and the targets are different. I can punch paper anytime but the trailwalk is something I don't get to do very often.

[Hank in WV]

I can shoot either but prefer the woodswalk. Seems to be a looser feel to it and more comraderie. Line shoots always seem to be more formal. Like rollinb, I shoot from the bag in either situation.
As to walks being easier, I've shot some that were downright evil.

[melsdad]

I like the woods walks myself opposed to shooting paper. Some targets can be easier, and some can be plain evil like Hank mentioned. It all depends on how twisted the mind is of the person hosting the shoot.  

Don't get me wrong I still like shooting paper, Heck I am one of the few that shoot the TMA postal shoots, and I credit those targets to most of my shooting improvements. It all boils down to the enjoyment of just plain shooting. I make smoke, and send lead flyin', and have fun shooting at either type of target.

[BEAVERMAN]

Mike, I like the atmosphere and the difference of target depth, uphill, downhill, shadows etc that a woodswalk gives you, combo of gongs and some novelty stuff like cards, taters on a post with a toothpick stuck in it and an olive on that, call your shot, tater for 5 points olive for 10, split the ball etc. makes it lots of PHUN! The rondy that the PLR guys put on in sequim has a great woodswalk, side hill on a trail along a ravine, shooting to the other side through holes in the foliage ans such, more like a real hunting application! The GRMM monthly shoots and Rondy are held on a range and were stuck without a woodswalk, monthlys we shoot a combo of gongs and paper , fortunately we have about 40 diff paper targets so mixing it up month to month usually isnt a probelm!

[flyfisher76544]

I prefer the trailwalk. Mostly because its fun and the targets are different. I can punch paper anytime but the trailwalk is something I don't get to do very often.

Yep, wish I had one nearby. All the different scenarios that could be put into a woodswalk, especially if it is kept hush-hush so the people competing don't know whats over the next ridge. Toughest shot I have seen was a cantaloupe that was lined on both sides by small trees so the window your ball had to go thru was no more than 6 inches at about 60 to 70 yards. Gongs are great, but something about exploding fruit and clay targets...well thats just good fun. Bud of mine had a great one we shot at before he got stationed in Alaska. 20 targets, every one of them was harder than the first and was more of a hunting scenario.

[Thunderhawk1828]

MN Mike:

I like the woods walk type shoots. I enjoy the different yardages involved and not knowing the exact distance. Plus the variety of targets and positions to shoot from (kneeling, standing offhand; behind some obsticle, etc).

If we're speaking of rendezvous, and the normal monthly shoots are mainly paper targets, then I would go with something different at the Rendezvous such as the trail walk. That said our smaller club  rendezvous here in AZ is a combo of paper targets at 25, 50 and 100yds; paper target 25 yd pistol shoot; hawk and / or knife throw, trail walk and a Mountain Man Run.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Thunderhawk

[Sean McKown]

I shoot woodswalks,  I also shoot paper from a line, with all my "stuff",  also do paper (regulation targets and also novelty) from the bag..   I like it all, doesnt matter to me as long as im shooting.   I do notice that a lot of strict paper punchers, have a harder time with the woodswalk or even just loading from the bag,  Because the targets are not at just 25,50,75,100yds.(but most in this category, that I know, also dont hunt)

  I like the primitive stuff, but I do like the convenience of my box, especially since myself and a couple others are always asked for help when a problem arises, so the tools and stuff being handy, is helpfull.

[Captchee]

myself , i hate paper  shoots , detest them with a fever . so much so that i have been known to requested my money back , pulled up stakes  and left  events that score more then 50% of total score on paper .
  I have no problems with eyesight  and can shoot paper  just fine .
 However what I dislike about paper is that it to often is at a set distance .
 Also I dislike have a specific point . Simply because it does not teach you to shoot  at anything but a  defined point . In real life there is no defined point .

  Thus  clubs place 10 to 15 shots  that = 25 to 30 shots on the trail  you will see me just stay in camp . No need to waste powder and lead .

I find to often those who  do well on paper  don’t do well on trail walks  even when the targets are large . Yet put those who  are in the top 5 of a shoot  on the trail  will most often be in the top 10  even on paper .
 Simply put , the trail makes you define a target , judge the range . Pick  your shot ..
 Get cocky and  think a big target is easy to hit  and your likely to be left standing wondering what just happened ..
 At an event I helped put on  some years ago , the club insisted  on having paper . So I said fine . I would do the paper  range . Target was a 12 inch solid black  target  with the ¼ inch X center 5  shots .
 Next target was a white  12 inch circle  with ¼ inch black X center . 5 shots .
 Last target was a standard  pistol target  5 shots .
 All  was scored on the tights group
 You should have heard all the crying coming from the paper guys . Funniest thing I ever saw .
Ohm the did wonderful on the last target . But on the others which gave them no  specific point of aim  LMAO

Naa no paper for me
 Want to show your marksmanship , then split playing cards at 15 yards . Take the tips off of matches at 15 yards or drive tacks or nails .
 Put candles out  or something . Even shoot balloons at 150 yards off hand .
 But stand around poking  holes in a piece of paper  with funny pictures on it . I would rather put my eye out with a  dull dear antler

 did i ment i HATE paper  

[Gambia]

I agree Bigsmoke paper targets are more difficult for us well over the hill crowd.There is not much margin for error on a paper target.In any case I do a whole lot better on woodswalks than I do at a paper shoot.Although shooting is shooting and a day on the range is better than" most" anything else,at least the stuff I can still do.