Outdoors
Shooting club brings sporting clays to town
By Peter Ottesen
June 10, 2009
Record Staff Writer
Ron Bruno fired his shotgun and
watched helplessly as the circular-shaped disc sailed away, a lost
target. Then, he hit nine consecutive targets and broke into a
smile.
It all happened at the new sporting clays course at the Stockton
Trap and Skeet Club.
"The course was supposed to be set up a little easier for the grand
opening," Bruno, a member of the club's board of directors, said
Sunday. "What we are attempting to do is create a target-shooter
base in Stockton by offering a sporting clays course that is close
to home."
Sporting clays got its start in Europe, where shooters contend it's
like playing golf with a shotgun, and quickly is gaining a following
in the U.S. There are courses at Camanche Hills Hunting Preserve
near Ione and Birds Landing Sporting Clays near Rio Vista, but those
destinations are 40 miles away. The sporting clays venue at Rooster
Ranch near Stevinson is more than an hour's drive.
Bruno said he believes adding another course is like a shopping
mall.
"The more people get into the sport of shooting clay targets, the
more they'll branch out to try different courses," he said. "Just
like golf, no two courses are the same in appearance or degree of
difficulty."
The 10-station course at the Stockton
Trap and Skeet Club provides plenty of challenges, with targets
coming from every direction and angle. There are targets that
simulate a running rabbit, springing teal, quartering pheasant,
overhead grouse, flushing quail and crossing pigeons. Some targets
are 15 yards away and give little time to aim and fire. Others seem
to float at 55- to 60-yard distances, causing shooters to make
12-foot leads in order to hit them.
|
More than 60 shooters took part during
the opener, which included a lunch, for $38. The best shooter hit 85
of 100 targets. Many shooters, including me, notched scores in the
50s. So much for so-called "easy" targets.
Frank Portale, also on the board of directors, said the target
throwers are automatic and solar powered, with the capability of
tossing single or pairs of targets.
"They also have a delay system so a single shooter can pull targets
and have time to get ready and pull the trigger," he said. "You can
come out and practice by yourself, which is a real benefit."
Although the course is in its beginning stages, the venue is safe
and shooters can try new technology, activating the target throwing
system with a magnetic plastic card.
"We're the only course in the state that has this technology,"
Portale said.
Only low-base shells, size 71/2 to 9, may be used, and everyone on
the course, including non-shooters, must wear protective earplugs
and glasses.
The Stockton Trap and Skeet Club offers trap, skeet and 5-stand
ranges, as well as sporting clays, and throws more than 200,000
targets a month. The facility, which is open to the public, was
named "U.S. Club of the Year" because of the large volume of targets
and the number of state, regional and national tournaments it hosts.
"We're always trying to make the state's most complete shooting
facility a little better," Bruno said. "I believe sporting clays
will catch on real fast."
Targets may be shot from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesdays, and from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. There are discounts for
members and for youth, and lunch is available in the recently
renovated clubhouse. The club is located at 4343 N. Ashley Lane,
east of Stockton off Waterloo Road. Information: (209) 931-6803.
Contact outdoors columnist Peter Ottesen at (209) 546-8269 or
pottesen@recordnet.com
|
