The crunch of fallen leaves. The soft patter of tumbling snow. The steady pops of airsoft guns. Just another Saturday for a group of weekend warriors.
Yorkton’s Double Tap Airsoft Group (DTAG) brought their season of airsoft competition to a close this past weekend in a wooded area near Orkney Road and Highway 16. Members spent the morning and afternoon chatting, eating snacks, and shooting at each other.
The group started playing airsoft in 2016. They usually play a variety of activities together, so they decided to start a airsoft team. Many of them played it when they lived in the Philippines before moving to Yorkton.
Airsoft is a simulated gun battle, similar to paintball. It originated in Japan in the 1970s as a way to please shooting enthusiasts while also conforming to the country’s strict gun laws. Players use replica guns that fire pellets instead of live ammunition. Players use padding, face masks, goggles, and camouflage during the game. Unlike paintball, airsoft shots often don’t leave a visible sign. Joel Montelibano, one of the founders of the group, prefers airsoft over paintball because of the former’s realism.
“Paintball [weapons] look like space guns,” he said.
DTAG is open to anyone. People can register at www.dtag.com. The group plans to start playing again once the winter weather melts away.
