POCATELLO — Talk about “going postal.”

    Believe it or not, Mike Van Brunt, president of the Southern Idaho Rangers Old West re-enactors group as well as vice president of the Gate City Sports Shooting Association, is a retired United States Postal Service employee. You can't make things like that up, friends.

    “I know, it’s an old cliché,” Van Brunt said. “I might say that here we have better weapons, but really I don’t want to offend. Besides, we’re all about honoring the history of this region and having a good time while we’re at it.”

    At its monthly shootout at the Oregon Trail shooting range in Chubbuck, the group, consisting of about 40 members is part of the nationwide Single-Action Shooting Society, SASS. Some of them travel as far as Soda Springs to attend and fire single-action revolvers, lever -action rifles and black powder shotguns.

    The ear-popping cracks and the spent ammunition clanging off the burnished steel targets echoed through the canyon, along with the often hearty laughter of folks having a lot of fun and enjoying each other’s company at the public range.

    “I grew up in this area hunting rabbits in these hills long before houses were built here,” Van Brunt said. “I did not start competitive shooting until very late in life, though. I thought I knew how to shoot until I became involved with this group. The competition to beat someone else – or yourself – is quite a different experience.”

    The group, many of whom dress in actual Old West attire, gathers on the first Saturday of every month to shoot their favorite vintage weapons at a small western village framed façade that is currently under construction. When finished, it will bear an appearance like a cowboy movie set and allow the shooters to fire from two levels.

    He also spoke of the Oregon Trail’s goal of becoming a full-service range, especially with certified instructors available to help patrons take advantage of the newly-legislated concealed weapon permit statute.

    “It’s not just for members, though,” Van Brunt said. “Anyone can come and shoot with us for just $10 (and a $3 range fee). “It’s a lot of fun and we’re also planning some expansion and are working on two grants to help us with those plans.”

    Van Brunt added that many members of the club not only are expert marksmen, but are historians and instructors, to boot. And while the Old West period from 1870-95 lends itself to much speculation as well as fiction replacing fact, for some, though, it’s all about the accuracy.

    “I like shooting and all, but it’s not about that for me,” said Cody Foster, a diesel mechanic from American Falls who began the hobby three years ago. “I like the dressing up in as realistic costumes as possible. As any kid around here, I grew up going to see Wild West shows in Jackson and Yellowstone. I’ve always been a big fan of the cowboy era (his favorite western movie is ‘Lonesome Dove,’ after all).”

    Foster, there with his wife, Marci, was brandishing a 14-inch hunting knife which is part of a real cowpoke’s ensemble and wearing homespun pants and shirt that Marci sewed by hand.

    “She’s amazing,” he said. “This hobby can get expensive, though. We bought the material and she put it together, otherwise, it would have really cost a lot. You have to start out slow in this hobby.”

    As for Marci, it took her a bit of time to get used to the extremely loud reports of the gunfire, but now she’s used to it and enjoys coming out each month.

    “At first, I was really nervous and Cody had to almost drag me here,” she said. “Now I love to shoot any weapon I can get my hands on.”

    To raise funds for the club, a Ruger SR1911 pistol is being raffled. For more information on this opportunity or the Southern Idaho Rangers, call Van Brunt at (208) 251-4959; to find out more about the range, visit www.gatecityssa.com.