East Texas Rifle & Pistol Club
Message from the President – August 2026
Dear Members,
I hope this message finds everyone happy, healthy, and well.
Letter from the President
Well, fall is just about here, and dove season is already underway. Some of our hunters have probably already pulled out their shotguns and tested them at the range or out in the field. Before long, the deer hunters will be bringing out their trusty rifles—or maybe a new one they have put together for that special hunt coming up. No matter what kind of shooting you enjoy, a lot of it is best shared with family and friends. Those times with firearms, friends, and family can be pretty special, and they often turn into memories we keep for a lifetime.
I still remember getting up with my dad in the early morning hours to go deer hunting in Central Texas. I remember the cold morning air as we drove down those back roads to that special place. We would sit there waiting on the sun to come up, wondering what might step out for us to see. Other times, it might have been a friend from high school inviting you over for a weekend hunt at a local ranch. We all loved heading out on those hunts and seeing what the day had in store. More often than not, those trips became the stories we told again and again. I think anyone who has been on one of those adventures has a good story to tell. And it does not always have to be about the big buck with the great rack. Sometimes, the best stories come from rough weather, hard luck, or the little things that made the trip memorable. Either way, it was always about the stories and the fun we had together.
When I am at the range shooting rifles, I often run into someone sighting in a gun. Maybe they have a new scope, or maybe they just want to make sure the rifle is ready to do its job. The other day, a man brought his grandson out to the range so they could sight in their guns. He talked about taking his grandson to Cisco, Texas, for a deer hunt, and it brought back a lot of memories for me. It was also great to watch how his grandson handled and shot the rifle. He did a fine job and handled it safely the whole time. He sighted it in at 50 yards, then at 100 yards, and finally took a couple of shots at steel targets at 200 yards. After that, they were ready to head out and make some memories of their own.
All in all, I hope our members will use the range to get ready for whatever adventures are ahead of them. Whether you enjoy hunting, plinking, shooting competitions, or just spending time improving your skills, the range is a great place to become more comfortable and confident with your firearms. And remember, the safety habits you practice at the range carry over into real-life use. We want every member to be safe so accidents do not happen. Your skills with your pistols, rifles, and shotguns matter, because they can affect not only you, but the people around you as well.
We want your experience at ETRPC to be a good one. We hope you continue building your skills, gaining confidence with your firearms, and hitting your targets more consistently. With cooler weather hopefully on the way soon, I hope you will come on out and get some practice in. More than that, I hope you make some great memories with friends and family while you are here at the range.
Best regards,
Obie Oliver
President, East Texas Rifle & Pistol Club