About
Harold has been shooting Field Target since 2006. However, he shot and taught firearms as a law enforcement officer for many years before. He is one of the most decorated FT shooters on the circuit.
Home Club
Invicta Field Target Club (IFTC)
Good Ole Boys Field Target Club (GOB)
Essential Field Target Gear
I think it’s essential to put together a rifle and scope combination that are reliable. My suggestion for new shooters is to buy the best you can afford when getting started. Go to local field target matches and talk to shooters. Ask about their equipment and see if they will let you shoot their rifles. It has been my experience that field target shooters are very helpful and generous. I also believe it is essential to determine the right pellet for your rifle barrel. Buy a good assortment of pellets in various batches, brands and weights from a reputable vendor like Pyramyd Air. Test each batch and see which pellet performs best in your rifle.
Competition rig
My primary field target rifle is a Steyr LG110, shooting about 11.5 fpe in the WFTF Division. My preferred scope is a Leupold Competition 35x. I have done extensive work to my Steyr to improve certain aspects of the gun. It travels well and is easy to travel with as it breaks down into a small package with the removable buttstock feature. I like this feature very much.
Go-to airguns
USFT PCP Air Rifle
How did you get into the sport?
I had an interest in finding a sport for my teenage children to get involved in with me. We started shooting together. They ultimately found other interests, but I stuck with the sport. I’m glad that I did! It has been a very rewarding sport to participate in.
How hard was it to get started?
Field target is very easy to get started in. Find a good local club and go meet the members. Even if you don’t have a rifle, but you are interested, at most clubs, someone will have a loaner rifle they will let you use. Just email ahead of time and the match director can help you out. Field target is a progressive sport that one can grow into. Even if you don’t have the funds to start out with a high end PCP rifle, you can still work your way into that aspect of the sport. Start with what you can afford, then as you learn, increase the equipment you own to meet you needs.
Advice to field target beginners
Read as much as you can about field target. Ask questions of shooters with experience. Watch good accomplished shooters and see what they are doing that helps them be winners. Spend as much time as you can working at first on your basic marksmanship skills. Try to use good form in each shooting position when you are practicing. What you practice will ultimately show up in competition with you. Once under stress, we all revert back to our training.
Where do you see the sport going in the next 5 to 10 years?
I think Field Target has the potential to explode with growth. Our European friends already have a much larger following in field target than we do here in the USA. That is partly fueled by the bans on firearms in Europe, but also here I think we will see more interest due to the cost going up and supply of firearms ammunition depleting.
Biggest change in the industry since starting
The improvement in equipment is obvious. There are more quality PCP air rifles now available at lower prices than when I started. The use of spring piston guns in competition has decreased dramatically as a result. The World Field Target Division has taken off in the USA as well. When I started, most shooters either entered the PCP or Piston Unlimited Divisions. Now we are seeing larger numbers in WFTF Division. I think we will continue to see growth in this area as USA shooters continue to do well on the World Field Target Circuit.
Awards
2017 Southern Open – WFTF 3rd Place
2016 AAFTA National Championship – WFTF 2nd Place
2016 Southern Open – WFTF 3rd Place
2016 TN Valley 120 – WFTF 1st Place
2016 Cajun Spring Classic – WFTF 2nd Place
2015 AAFTA Grand Prix – WFTF PCP 1st Place
2015 AAFTA Nationals – WFTF 4th Place
2015 Pyramyd Air Cup – WFTF 1st Place
2015 Crosman All American FT Championship – WFTF 2nd Place
2014 United States Field Target National Championship- WFTF 2nd Place
2014 Good Ole Boy’s Championship Match – WFTF 1st Place
2013 AAFTA Grand Prix – 1st Place PCP Division
2013 World Field Target Match, Ebern, Germany – WFTF -PCP – 8th Place
2013 United States Field Target National Championship- WFTF 2nd Place
2013 Republic of Texas Regional Match – WFTF 1st Place
2013 Tennessee Two Step Regional Field Target Match – WFTF 1st Place
2013 Northeast Regional Field Target Championship – WFTF 1st Place
2012 Cajun Classic Regional Match – 1st Place PCP Division
2012 Good Ole Boyʼs Championship Match – 1st Place PCP Division
2011 AAFTA Grand Prix – 1st Place WFTF Division
2011 Cajun Classic Regional Match – 1st Place WFTF Division
2011 Redneck 100 Regional Match – 1st Place WFTF Division
2011 Bluegrass 100 Regional Match – 2nd Place WFTF (tie for 1st)
2011 United States National Championship – 3rd Place WFTF
2010 American Airgun Field Target Grand Prix – 1st Place PCP Division
2010 Tennessee State Championship Match – State Champion – 1st Place Piston
2010 Division – 2010 Northeast Regional Field Target Championship – 1st Place WFTF
2010 Good Ole Boy’s Regional Championship Match – 1st Place
2010 Cajun Classic Regional Match – 1st Place
2010 Republic Of Texas Regional Match – 1st Place
2010 United States Field Target National Championship – National Champion
2009 Tennessee State Championship – State Champion – 1st Place
2009 Southern Grand Prix – 1st Place PCP Division
2009 Good Ole Boy’s Regional Match Championship – 1st Place
2009 Mt. Cheaha Challenge Regional Match Championship 1st Place
2009 United States Field Target National Championship – National Champion
2008 Southern Grand Prix – 1st Place Piston Division
2008 FL Super Bowl Regional Match – Piston Division Champion – 1st Place
2008 Dragon’s Breath Regional Match – International Division – 1st Place
2008 Good Ole Boy’s Regional Match – Piston Division – 1st Place
2008 Louisiana State Match – PCP Division – 2nd Place
2008 Cajun Classic Regional Match – Piston Division – 2nd Place
2007 United States Field Target Nationals – Piston Unlimited Division – 1st place
2007 World Field Target Federation World Championship – Piston Division – 2nd place
2007 United States Field Target National Championship – Piston Unlimited 1st Place