I have never been a golfer. I did go once and found it to be the most incredibly boring activity I’d ever been a part of - well, next to watching golf or poker on television! But, I did get to participate in an activity that I’ve heard compared to golfing.... Thank goodness, it was nothing like golfing. It was fun!

Recently, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission sponsored a “women only" day of fun at a local shooting range. I had invited other friends to attend and when they declined, I went ahead to do my normal half-day Saturday work. While at work I decided that I would stop by the range on my way home to see if they’d let me join in even though the program had started at 8:00 that morning. If nothing else, I’d watch to see what I could see.

In spite of the fact that I’d grown up shooting, I’d never shot skeet, trap, or sporting clays. I remember serious shotgunners I’d known over the years and all their fancy shotguns in elaborate presentation cases and didn’t really know what to expect when I went to the range.

When I arrived, there were about a dozen ladies taking turns at the first station on the range. They ranged in age from early twenties to past middle age (I am somewhere in between, maybe more in the latter than I’d like to admit!), and ranged in levels of experience from competitive shooters to some that had never shot a gun in their life. They had completed their initial classroom training and had advanced to the hands on portion of the shoot. I spoke with Phyllis Speer, coordinator of the event, and when she asked me if I’d ever shot a gun before, I told her I didn’t want to answer that until I’d shot! Of course I was kidding...

Since I hadn’t really planned to attend, I did not bring my own shotgun. They had a variety of actions to choose from, all 20 gauges. I selected a little Browning pump because I normally shoot a pump (mine are Winchesters). The $30 fee included the classroom instruction, use of one of their shotguns, one-on-one training from one of the G&F representatives, ear protection, safety glasses, 100+ shells and lunch - what a deal!

The first station we shot at was a “wobbler” but they had it set to throw pretty much the same each time, the orange target gradually arching as it crossed from right to left. The game warden that accepted me as one of his shooters went over safety rules, asked me about my experience with a weapon and asked to see me shoulder and handle the gun before he gave me 2 shells. He watched me load them, check the safety and I looked to him for what came next. He explained how I was to shoulder the gun and when ready for the target to fly, say “Pull!”. I did and proudly missed the first 6 shots! He only commented that I had good form and it looked like I was “right on it”, then I settled down and started hitting.

From this point, we headed to the other stations at the range, carrying with us four boxes of shells for the five stations we would be shooting. I had never been to a sporting clays range before - I’d never even watched sporting clays on TV so I had no idea what to expect. There were G&F representatives at each station poised to offer help and to launch the clays at our direction. At the first station, I said “Pull”, the pigeon launched, I missed, pumped to reload, and waited on the second clay, but it didn’t come. I glanced over to the gentleman who was operating the launch device and he told me I needed to say “Pull” for the second one as well.... Or If I’d like I could do it the way he and his brother did for each other. “Pull” would launch the first target and when I fired, he would like the second. I told him I’d like to do it that way. To me, this more realistically replicated birds in the field and I was more comfortable with that.

Each of the stations presented different angles, speeds, arches, etc. One had a ground roller from the left followed by one from the right that seemed to go straight up. Since I had gotten there late, I didn’t have much of an opportunity to meet the other participants until lunch, but I did enjoy watching them as they shot. I was particularly impressed with one lady who had never shot a gun before (who wouldn’t be?). She seemed to have a natural instinct for leading the clays and was very graceful and deliberate as she followed through on her shots.

After 50 pulls and 100 shots, it was time for lunch. The organizers had a lunch that would have been a welcome sight on a day of “real” hunting - sandwiches and chips. Unfortunately, this was not what some of the ladies were expecting and there were too many concerns voiced (my perspective). But like they say, you can’t please everyone!

All said and done, I missed more than I hit, but I absolutely loved it! If you haven’t had a chance to go out and try sporting clays, I urge you to try if you enjoy shooting a shotgun! Although I haven’t had a chance to get back out - too many things in the way - (work and deer season you know!) I will go back and shoot again.  I’d like to one day shoot enough to compete. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point that I have one of those fancy shotguns in an elaborate presentation case, but I think I’ll shoot many rounds from my Winchester 12 gauge at a range.

In closing, I’d like to recognize Gunsmoke Sporting Clays of Pea Ridge, AR and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for their involvement in this activity. It was nice to see effort being spent to provide women an opportunity like this! The overall environment was non-intimidating, educational, enjoyable, and encouraged all of us. I’d also like to say I appreciated the ladies who attended. Again, as I arrived late, I didn’t get a chance to really visit with many of them, but hope they do have more opportunities to get out and shoot if they want. I know I’ll be back!

(Apologies in advance to those of you who are serious, experienced sporting clay people. There are probably terms and expressions that are incorrect for the sport, please remember that at this point, I don’t know any better - but I will learn!)

© December 2005