Cowboy Mounted Shooting

The dying words of William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill were to “let the show go on.” And if by some small chance you don’t know what show he was talking about, it was the legendary Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. From 1882 until shortly before he died in 1917 Buffalo Bill was the star of what has been considered the best touring show of all time.

Made up of whip crackers, cowboys, cowgirls and Indians, sharp shooters and other specialty performers, the show enabled those who couldn’t experience the Wild West firsthand to get a real feel for life the Wild West way.

A taste of the Wild, Wild West

And because we know that many of you coming to the 2008 Sturgis motorcycle rally aren’t coming from the Wild West, we thought we’d give you a taste of the way life used to be. So once again we’re glad to invite back to Buffalo Chip Mr. Phil “Red” Smith and his registered Quarter horse Mr. Pinkerton Straw. Yep, they’re coming back again to perform their version of the Wild West show for everyone.

If you don’t know Red well he’s a trick shot marksman who performs most of his shots while riding his horse Pinkerton. As you watch him perform you can’t help but think of the likes of Bill Cody’s trick shooters Doc Carver, Annie Oakley and Adolph and Plinkey Topperwein.

Red’s rendition of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show starts with Red shooting up 10 balloons that have taken flight. You’re probably thinking, “That’s no big deal” but it really is because Red’s going to shoot each of those balloons while his horse Pinkerton is on a dead run! He’ll have 5 rounds in each of his pistols and you can be sure he isn’t going to miss once. Remember, he’s a sharpshooter.

And even if one of his bullets somehow went astray, you still wouldn’t have to worry. That’s because the bullets Red uses in his shows are blanks. They’ve got enough oomph in them to pop those balloons but they aren’t going to hurt anybody in the audience. They are pretty loud though so you might want to bring along some earplugs.

Red’s grand finale is one pretty remarkable bull-whip demonstration. So from beginning to end, what you’re going to see at the Buffalo Chip Campground is a demonstration of outstanding marksmanship and some pretty impressive horse training skills.

Red and Pinkerton will be performing their Wild West-style cowboy mounted shooting show daily at the Buffalo Chip amphitheater. And you definitely want to catch this show at least once during your stay at the 2008 Sturgis motorcycle rally!