Double Rifle Shooters Society

Attendees at the First DRSS Hunt

The chain of events that lead up to the creation of the Double Rifle Shooters Society started with a hunt report Mac M., (AKA “MacD37”), posted in 2000/2001 on www.HuntAmerica.com regarding a hunt he concluded with his recently acquired double rifle.  According to Mac he wanted to blood his “new to me double rifle, by shooting an eland bull” at Camp Cooley Ranch near Ridge, Texas.

Because of his eland bull hunt report that center pieced his double rifle, he received a lot of questions from other HuntAmerica forum participants.  One person who expressed a big interest in Mac’s hunt was Perry N., (AKA “PWN375”) another owner of a double rifle.  After corresponding with Mac, Perry expressed an interest to do a hunt at Camp Cooley with his double rifle.  Mac exchanged information with Perry through the internet forum and Mac suggested that they do a double rifle hunt for wild hogs.  Rusty K., (AKA “Rusty”) also expressed an interest in hunting with his double rifle and wanted to bring along his friend, Mark C. (AKA “400 Nitro Express”) who also had a double rifle.  When the logistics for the first hunt was arranged, there were five hunters in camp; Mac, Rusty, Mark, Perry, and Perry’s uncle, Mike.  The hunt occurred over March 1 and 2, 2002 and everyone had a great time and became instant friends.

Attendees at the June 2005 Crowell, Texas DRSS Hunt

At this point the little double rifle hunters group had a different name: The Double Rifle Society of Texas & Oklahoma (DRSTO).  This name was first coined in the hunt report that Rusty made on www.HuntAmerica.com, which recapped the double rifle hunt in detail for the HuntAmerica.com online community.  Later that year, on July 13, 2002, following the first double rifle hunt at Camp Cooley, Rusty organized a double rifle shoot at the Bayou Gun Club in Juliff, Texas, just south of Houston.  Although Mac was unable to attend, Rusty and Mark attended, along with Tony B., (AKA “NE450No2”), Tony’s wife, Peggy, Daniel L., and Bob C. (AKA “bobc”).  At this event Rusty coined the phrase “Double Rifle Shooters Society” and the name has stuck ever since.

Since its inception members of the Double Rifle Shooters Society (DRSS) have used the internet discussion forum www.AccurateReloading.com as its unofficial cyber home.  The original DRSS members added the moniker “Double Rifle Shooters Society” or “DRSS” to their profiles signature lines and other posters started asking questions about this society.  It was decided at its inception that the purpose of the DRSS was to promote the use and appreciation of the double rifle in the shooting and hunting sports.  The founders believe that anyone who had a double rifle or had an interest in double rifles could become a member of the society; additionally, owning a double rifle is NOT a prerequisite for being a member of the DRSS

After that initial group hunt and subsequent shoot at Bayou Gun Club, the DRSS has held numerous hunts over the years.  In June 2005, nine members of the DRSS got together in Crowell, Texas for a weekend double rifle shoot and hunt; in June 2006, 20 members of the DRSS got together at Camp Cooley Ranch, the site of the first DRSS hunt, for camaraderie, wild hog hunting, and double rifle shooting.

Since the interest in the DRSS began to grow due to the posting of members on www.AccurateReloading.com and www.NitroExpress.com, more and more people wanted to attend DRSS hunts.  Because of the logistics associated with hosting a hunt with approximately 20 attendees, the DRSS searched for a new location for their next hunt.  Thanks to recommendations from DRSS members, the DRSS hosted its next hunt at the 4 K Ranch in Brady, Texas.  In January 2007, the DRSS held its first hunt at 4 K Ranch, and also welcomed its first international hunter to a DRSS hunt: a professional hunter, Eduard K. (AKA “Katte”) from Zimbabwe.

With great success at the January 2007 hunt at the 4 K Ranch (approximately 20 wild hogs were harvested and three axis deer), DRSS has returned to this ranch in June 2007, January 2008, June 2008 and January 2009.  At the January 2009 hunt, 16 DRSS members harvested 31 wild hogs with their double rifles.  Additionally, we have welcomed more African Professional Hunters to our hunts, including PHs from Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.

Due to the extensive interest in DRSS events, and the limited space available at the 4 K Ranch, the all DRSS hunts since June 2007 have become invitational hunts.  For a chance to get to attend one of these hunts, join www.AccurateReloading.com, get to know the fellow DRSS members, and make it a point to attend local DRSS shoots or meet DRSS members who live close to you and make friends who share a common interest in shooting and hunting with double rifles!