Golfing with a shotgun at the new shooting range

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club recently opened the newest addition to diversify the shotgun sporting experience.

The new sporting clays range completes Barksdale's shotgun sports spectrum, and grants shooters the closest opportunity to realistic hunting by providing an array of target trajectories, speeds and angles.

"We have all the venues for shotgun sports: trap, wobble trap, the skeet, five-stand and now the sporting clays," said Paul Williamson, 2nd Force Support Squadron Outdoor Recreation director. "Sporting clays is the most diverse and popular shooting sport available for shotguns."

The new course is 1.2 miles long, featuring 14 battery-operated, solar-charged stations. Each has a programmable delayed release card-reader system to electronically count targets pulled and allow individuals to enjoy the course alone.

Unlike skeet and trapshooting, with a repeatable target style, sporting clays offers a variety of targets.

"Each course will have two targets, one may bounce across the ground, which is harder to shoot, and the next may fly from left to right," Tommy Brooks, Community Services flight chief.

Shooters are allowed to navigate the course by using personal carts. However, all-terrain vehicles are prohibited. Rugged Gear push carts, shotguns and ammunition are available at reasonable rates.

"The range is here for all levels of shooters; everything you need is available," said Williamson. "Shooting is recreational, and it helps offset the daily stressors of life in work and family. It's a good, honest release of energy and stress."

Brooks encourages all of Team Barksdale to explore the pastime of hunting.

"With the diversity of our Airmen coming from different parts of the country, it's good to embrace what Louisiana has to offer," Williamson said. "It's intimidating for someone who hasn't done it before, but once they do it, they will want to come back."

The future of the Red Chute Shooting Range is bright with Brooks driving to implement incentive programs to help bring out new shooters.

"Activities provided by FSS are a benefit to the military and families," said Brooks. "I can't stress enough that people should come out and give it a try. It's a life experience that will open your eyes to a whole new avenue of things you can do."

For more information on shotgun sports, contact the Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club at 318-456-4582.