Visiting Various Shooting Venues

 

I have been lucky enough during the years that I’ve been shooting skeet to have shot at many venues. While these have all been great places to shoot, there are also some that had beautiful facilities.

Among these beautiful facilities is The Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club at Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana.  In fact, until I was able to shoot in Springfield, Missouri, at the Springfield Rod and Gun Club recently, I had considered Red Chute as the most beautiful venue that I had been to.

The Springfield Rod and Gun Club is located north of Highway 44.  It is located on 119 acres of forest with an area of what looks to me as over 20 cleared and mowed acres where the very nice club house and their skeet fields are located.  They have four fields. I shot on field 2.  The targets were outstanding and easy to see.

For several years I had heard about this club, but this was my first visit there. I only had time to shoot the 20 gauge, as I had booked four people for lessons the next day.  It was a 2 1/2-hour trip each way from the Tulsa area.

After seeing the Springfield club, I have to imagine there are many other venues that are just as beautiful that I just haven’t been able to visit yet.

The shoot was run like a well-oiled machine. Everything ran smoothly. The people were as friendly as any place I’ve shot.

I was treated as well as if  I had been a four-gun shooter. I got lost on the way to the club and called for directions.  Micah Gibbs, one of the gentlemen running the shoot, was more than helpful in getting me there.

I believe that everyone should visit all of the clubs within two or three hours of where they live. Maybe you’ll discover a hidden gem like the Springfield Rod and Gun Club. I will be going back.

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.