Off-Season Shooting Events

I have a friend who loves to hunt and is able to chase grouse most days during the season. But when hunting time is over, he banishes his guns to the cabinet until the following year. He has a beautiful side-by-side that just sits in the corner and pines for action while he drowns worms and barbecues during the “off” months. What a waste!

That’s why I shoot clay targets with my hunting guns when I’m not after the real thing. I like to think that it keeps my bird shooting from getting any worse than it already is.

If you like to shoot side-by-side guns, there are lots of opportunities to wring them out on clays in good company while waiting for fall. The Vintagers http://www.vintagers.org/ have this all figured out with the big Vintage Cup in September and the frequent shoots during the year with the 11 Vintager chapters throughout the country. 

Thanks to the Vintagers’ idea, there are now plenty of other side-by-side shoots, too. A popular one is the Upper Peninsula SxS Classic in June, but there are literally dozens of others and more each year. People are having fun at these events, and range owners are responding.

One of my favorites is the Southern Side by Side Championship & Exhibition Spring Classic at Deep River Sporting Clays (http://www.deepriver.net/), in Sanford, North Carolina. I attended the 11th annual shoot this past April 22 to 25. SSM Editor Ralph Stuart was there (see “From the Editor,” July/August, SSM), as were SSM’s Terry Bombeke, Vic Venters, Chris Batha and Silvio Calabi. We will go to any length to keep our readers informed.

The Southern is rapidly approaching the size and importance of the Vintage Cup. There were five huge vendor tents plus a food marquee and the standard clubhouse. The sporting clays events were held on two six-station woods courses, and there were two 5 Stand setups. The birds shot at each event were kept modest—usually 50—with 80 in the main out of respect for the fact that many of the side-by-sides being used were “of a certain age.” It also kept the cost down so you could shoot more.

There were opportunities for just about everything that sported horizontal barrels. There were separate events for 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, 32 and .410 bores times two—one for hammerguns and the other for hammerless. You would have needed 14 guns to play everything. 

And play people did. These weren’t NSCA registered targets. Few of the entrants were even NSCA members. Participants shot for event trophies, period. They were there to share their favorite guns with like-minded friends. These shoots are celebrations of the sport more than they are killer competitions. Of course, everyone wants to shoot well, but the most important thing is to participate and honor marvelous shotguns and those who enjoyed them before us.

Of equal importance to the shoot were the vendors. In addition to the sponsors (of which SSM is always one), there were about five dozen well-known exhibitors showing literally thousands of good guns and accoutrements. The list included Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co., Charles Boswell, Atkin Grant & Lang, Griffin & Howe, Holland & Holland, Parker Gun Collectors Assoc., L.C. Smith Collectors Assoc., Wingshooting Adventures, William Larkin Moore, Steve Cobb, Dave Riffle, Fieldsport, Ivory Beads, Puglisi Gun Emporium, Mid-South Guns, Safari Outfitters, Steve Barnett, Vintage Doubles and Willoughby-McCabe. Talk about hog heaven!

This type of side-by-side competition/exposition is clearly growing in popularity. Nothing wrong with hardcore sporting clays matches, but these side-by-side shoots add another dimension to the fun. Blast and buy. Fire and fondle. 

Next year the Spring Southern will be held at Deep River from April 29 to May 1. A slightly smaller version of the Southern is held in October at the Backwoods Quail Club, in Georgetown, South Carolina. But look around the Web for other side-by-side clays shoots. It’s catching on and it is a great way to get some shooting time with your favorite gun in between seasons.

Here are a few photos I took at the Southern:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bcbuck

That’s it for now. Boots off. Beer open.