4/21/06 - 4/22/06 24 Hour Sporting Clays Shoot (report by Kenneth Kidd)

Upon arriving at the historic 74 Ranch Resort, west of Campbellton, Texas around mid day Friday, April 21, 2006, two officers, two members, and four guests (including three first-time guests) had a smashing good time until mid day Saturday, April 22, 2006.  As promised the 24 hour clay shoot was all it was cracked up to be.

I have no idea how many thousands of clays were broken by our devoted group but somewhere near 7000 rounds were fired by the group.

 

Upon arrival  we were met by Milo Abercrombie, the host/general manager.  Milo checked us in, acquired the proper release forms where we promised not to hold the ranch responsible for any dumb things we might do to ourselves.  He then collected the balance of our fees, showed us where the drinks, chow, and rest rooms were, assigned us to our rooms, gave us keys to golf carts, told us the place was ours have a good time, and don't miss the meals served at the announced times.

 

First order of business was lunch: fresh garden salad, meat loaf, carrots, and roasted potatoes, desert, and lots of ice cold tea.

 

Armed with great anticipation, cases of shells, shotguns, and bottles of water we eagerly attacked the course of 15 stations each with four traps from approximately 1:30 PM until it was to dark to see (close to 9:00 PM).

 

Dinner was prime rib and/or baked salmon, asparagus, mashed potatoes, salad, and of course desert.

 

After a long day and a short night we needed and received a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, orange juice, fresh cut fruit, and great coffee to prepare us for the rigors of the day ahead (after all it was four hours till lunch).

 

The course offered a 20 and a 40 foot tower as well as two 100 foot towers, several stations over water with a good variety of presentations.  Many stations offered opportunities for multiple shooters to fire at the same time.

 

Some of the more challenging targets were off a high levee shooting down  the back side into a draw or ravine.  There were three stations on the levee with 12 different presentations, all long shots.

 

Lunch time: beef and chicken fajitas with all the fixin's, ice tea, and more desert.

Pack it up, turn in the keys to the golf carts, say good byes and head home.

 

This trip is definitely all it was promised and then some.  Start saving your money for next year.

 

The lodge room where we relaxed was full of all kinds of stuffed animals.  If you have been to Cabelas, well this was as good or better.  A wall of flying ducks, a full grown lion standing on his back legs catching a deer in flight.  An elephant head with ears extended and trunk outstretched appeared to cover a wall (it would make a republican proud).  A bobcat catching a tom turkey at a run graces the floor in the dinning room.

 

The food was fantastic, the service was superb, the hospitality was unbelievable, the shooting was unequaled, the weather was fantastic, and the fellowship was sweet.  It was a near perfect outing with friends and brothers in Christ.