Mar 2021 @ Bradford

 Bradford Sportsmen’s Farm

We shot two of the three sporting clays courses Thursday afternoon.  Passed on the skeet in the woods course.

Had the place to ourselves except for one other shooter. 

Feb 2021 @ Jacksonville

 Jacksonville Clay Target Sports

Shot both sporting clays courses.  Easy to moderate targets.  

A number of repetitive targets.  Easily fixed if they would move machines away from shooting stands.

On one course I asked a shooter if the targets get any harder?  He just gave me a look.  I'm not a Master shooter, but I shot enough targets in both the USA and Canada to know the level of targets presentations being thrown, and I know when I'm getting bored (especially at $.51 cents per target).  Not courses to train on if planning on attending a major shoot, such as the Florida Challenge held at Bradford last week.

But, it is what it is and shooters on the course seemed to be having a good time and that is the bottom line for the club.

Only one machine not working for us.

Last visited the club a few years ago. A nice addition was restrooms built on both courses.

Non-member rate for skeet/trap: $11.25 per round.

Challenger ammunition being sold for $9.50 per box. We brought are own.  A club we visited last week was selling Challenger ammunition for $6.50 per box.

Feb 2021 @ Flagler

 Flagler Gun & Archery Club

Shot a couple rounds of trap.

Blue skies and great shooting background.

Member access via gate key card. You have to be a guest of a member to gain access. 

For when the trap fields are not open they have a coin operated field you can access seven days a week.

I'm told you can get a key to the skeet fields and shoot on non operational hours on the honor system. 

Jan 2021 @ Amelia

 Amelia Shotgun Sports

Northeast part of Florida. Almost at the Georgia line.

76 degrees.  Overcast.

Busy, very busy.  

$39 for 100 targets.  Ammunition available.

14 stations.  3 machines per station.

They have a five station "Yellow" course for beginners.  Very basic targets.

You can easily walk the course without a golf cart (available for rent, as well as hand carts).

We didn't have any machine/target issues.  As we arrived at one station a young man was replacing a battery.

When we were leaving there were six or seven women who were gathering to learn how to shoot sporting clays with whom I assume was a club instructor.

Rabbit

Pavilion

Jan 2021 @ Saltwaters

Saltwaters Shooting Club

Morning fog.  Overcast. In the 70's.

Two sporting clays courses and a FITASC parcour.

Read about ammunition shortages and brought are own, 12 gauge, 1oz., Clever shells. 

Shot with a Beretta 400 and a 300 sporting.  No shell issues.

The club does have ammunition for sale.

Recommend you rent a cart.  With club membership you have use of a cart.

John Wooley (shooting instructor) was on the course teaching a new shooter.

We tend to bounce around and sampled targets from both sporting courses.  Targets for all levels of expertise.  Beginners need to stick to the course starting at the club house.

Trump greeted by chanting supporters as he arrives in Florida

 

Supporters gathered with Trump flags to show support.

Odds and Ends - October 2020

I filmed the 5-Stand shoot at North Country Sportsmen's Club in Vermont.  12 and 20 gauge events.

VIDEO as well as results.

I got the impression it was a well run shoot. Heard some good comments about target presentation.  The club lucked out in regard to rain and turned out to be a nice day for this time of the year.

I didn't shoot but did pull three 20 gauge squads.  I made a few mistakes, but didn't piss off to many people.  I did get better.  It did wear me out... Don't tell my doctor : )

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Next day my wife ask where's my shooting cart?  Opps... Left it at the club. I was using the cart to transport camera gear. Picked it up on Wednesday.  The club had it stored in a locked building.  

Back in the day when I helped out at the local club I had a couple of phone calls asking if I was missing anything.  Yep... my gun still in the gun rack at the club : (

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Canadian boarder closed until November 21.  Looks like I won't be shooting in Canada until the spring of 2021.  I'd really like to get back into ATA trap shooting but until the boarder opens no where close for me to get targets in.

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I don't expect to be posting anything in regard to my shooting or club visits until February 2021.

Odds and Ends - Sept 2020

Wife has been shooting an A300 Sporting for the last nine months or so. Just in the last several weeks she has shot trap with it.

The main concern was the lack of a conventional shell catcher. Yes, there is a wire shell catcher available that you glue on, but hoping not to go that route.

The deal was she was always going to shoot to the left of me, so If a problem it would only be my problem.

Turns out nothing to worry about (hitting the next shooter over with spent hulls).

Two different types of hulls. No hulls flying and hitting the next speaker over, nor hitting the shooter or hitting the concrete pad.

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Federal Top Gun shotgun shells. Wife going straight and missing the 25th shell. Maybe she dropped one on the grass.... Go back to the vehicle and open up another box and it only has 24 shells. A brand new, never opened case of shells....

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Canadian/USA border not to open until late November. I suspect not until spring of 2020.

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Canadian shooter (and great fisherman) Andre Garneau passed away. I lost saw Andre fishing off a pier in St Augustine, Florida near the light house. We talked of getting together to shoot sporting clays, but unfortunately several days later the virus became serious and all Canadians returned to Canada. He will be missed!

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On a personal note. As a result of the immunotherapy treatment I was receiving for cancer, a side affect left me with something like rheumatoid arthritis, but isn't. Sore joints and muscles. Hard to lift out of a chair. Could only lift a shotgun for just a short period of time. No strength in my hands to speak of.

Finally, been on a medicine for three weeks that seems to be working. Today was the first time I went shooting without being in pain.

Canada-US border closes for another 30 days, till Sept. 21, 2020.

 ARTICLE

US/Canadian border closes - Jul 21

The US/Canadian borders will remain closed to nonessential travel until July 21. 

‘Speak Truth’ ad supporting police

“Speak Truth,” the 2-minute ad focuses on how difficult it is for police officers to keep the peace in an imperfect world, and that how too often their heroic acts that save lives go unnoticed and unappreciated.

College Shooting Sports Teams

I often see postings asking about colleges that support the shooting sports.  
See the schools at the below link.
COLLEGE SHOOTING SPORTS TEAMS.xlsx

Defund the Police (really)

So when did the nuts take over the nut house ...

"Demilitarize Communities" = Ban Guns.

"Free People from Prisons and Jails".  Use your imagination! 

I gather "repealing laws criminalizing survival" means you can "shop lift" at Walmart and Target at will.

Vermont allows for some out of state travel non-resident (Jun 8)

OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL

In addition to changes in dining regulations, Vermont is taking its first step toward reopening out-of-state travel.

State residents and residents of neighboring states will be allowed to participate in some recreational travel across state borders without observing a 14-day quarantine beginning on Monday. The changes will only apply to counties with less than 400 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 1 million residents.

At the time of the announcement, that includes the North Country of New York and all but three counties in New Hampshire ⁠— Rockingham, Merrimack and Hillsborough. 

This is a survey to enroll you in Sara Alert.

Roue du Roy: Precautionary policies to ensure a safe environment

I thought shooters would be interested in what one club in Quebec is doing in regard to ensuring safe distancing and other aspects of re-opening after being closed by the government because of the virus.

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We have instituted several precautionary policies to ensure a safe environment for our staff and guests.
 
Please read the full list of protocols which we will adhere to strictly:

* While at one of our Club, all customers and employees will need to maintain a social distance of 6 feet (2 meters) between them and anyone that is not a member of their household. Please note that this includes in the parking lot, the clubhouse, and clay target courses.

* Groups for clay shooting will be limited to five (5) people and do not encroach on other groups.

* Customers will not be permitted to use the clubhouse for seating or lounging.

* Customers will not be permitted to bring guns, gun cases, shooting bags, or any other gear into the clubhouse. After you have paid, you may return to your vehicle to pick up any gear that you need for the range.

* The clubhouse will be limited to no more than five (5) customers at any one given time.

* We will have ammunition, eye and ear protection.

* We will be accepting only credit or debit cards until further notice. Weaccept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

* Shotgun rentals will be suspended until further notice. We will also not be providing clipboards or pencils for keeping score.

* Golf cart usage is permitted and all golf carts will be disinfected after each use by staff.

* We have installed plexiglass shields, or “sneeze guards,” at the cashier counter.

* We will disinfect shooting benches and stations on a regular basis throughout the day.

* We ask that you bring your own gloves, disinfectant, and whatever else you deem necessary to protect you, your family, and your guests. You are participating in an outdoor activity at your own risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

* If you see problems or areas for improvement, do not hesitate to let us know.