 The Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association (CTAGA) was founded in 1957 in Wichita, Kansas as a not-for-profit corporation,
organized for the purposes of serving the interests of collectors and shooters of antique and antique-replica firearms and
to help preserve the craftsmanship and the history of the arms of our forefathers for the enlightenment and enjoyment of
future generations.The Association holds monthly club meetings, during which programs are presented, concerning various aspects of collecting, shooting, gunsmithing or firearms history. CTAGA maintains a shooting range near Benton, KS for the use of club members. Regular shooting matches for members are held at the range each month, featuring a variety of competitive events in rifle, pistol, and shotgun. Besides the member-only events, several invitational long-range matches and cowboy action shoots are held at the range during the year as well. In addition, monthly muzzle-loading matches and twice-annual rendezvous are also held at the club's leased property on the Arkansas River near Oxford, KS. All matches are shot with original or replica firearms. Cartridge guns must be chambered for an originally black-powder cartridge. The biannual WICHITA GUN SHOW, the largest gun show in Kansas, has been a major function of the Club since 1958. Proceeds from the shows support the clubs activities. The CTAGA Fall Rendezvous has been an institution among muzzleloaders since 1976. A festive, three-day gathering of buckskinners and other muzzle-loading enthusiasts -- and their families -- this event draws participants from far and near to enter shooting contests, to camp, to trade, and to enjoy the good fellowship that typify the rendezvous. The CTAGA also hosts a Spring Rendezvous, which is generally smaller, less formalized, and often caters more to the primitive side of rendezvousing. Both events are held at a splendid, forested site along the Arkansas River near Oxford, Kansas. CTAGA has long been at the forefront of young hunter education. Many of its members are certified instructors, and each summer the Club hosts the Young Hunter Education Challenge Weekend, which brings together youngsters from South-Central Kansas for an intense weekend of fun and instruction. Muzzle-loading is a central part of this instruction. Membership in CTAGA is by invitation. A person wishing to be a member must first obtain sponsorship by a member in good standing. Sponsors are responsible for guiding prospective members through an initial one-year probationary period. CTAGA has much to offer to its members; in return it is expected that members be active participants in and supporters of the club's objectives and its activities. |