Clay Shooting?

[mikea]

New to this forum and to make it worse... I'm a Brit! apologies for that but not a lot I can do about it (even if I wanted to!)

Anyhow, I have previously spent time around the Lakes and now intend to increase my vacation times in the area (all seasons), but one of my true loves is clay shooting and I'd appreciate knowing if there are any proper skeet, trap, sporting or FITASC layouts in the area? If so what they are like? and any regulations and charges?

Also I'd be interested to know whether or not anyone else on the forum has any similar interests?

Cheers for now

Mike A

[upthesaukee]

First, welcome to the forum, and hope you enjoy all it has to offer.

Perhaps a good place to start would be to contact Belmont Firearms, who are retailers of firearms and an indoor range. They do not have an outdoor skeet or trap range, but may be able to refer you to a place(s) that does offer it.

http://www.belmontfirearms.com/index.htm

And from a Scot, enjoy your stay in the "colonies".:)

[Slickcraft]

Welcome to the forum Brit.

We are members at http://farmingtonfishandgameclub.com/
where they have a regulation layout skeet field but due to concerns about shot landing in the pond, shoot an informal modified game from only some of the stations. Tuesday evenings after 5pm under the lights and Sat Mornings after 9am. Small club house with wood stove. Only open to public during these hours.

Also we are members at http://20thskeetandclays.org/about_us.shtml
Sporting clays May - Sept, skeet and 5-stand year round. Must be a member or guest of a member except for NSCA shoots which are open to the public.

They shoot sporting clays year round here:
http://www.scarfg.org/twiki/bin/view/
With the frozen five series now ongoing.

Chester has 5-stand in the winter and sporting clays April - Sept.
http://www.chesterrodandgunclub.com/activities/clays


Send me a PM if you want more info.

[BrownstoneNorth]

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Links/fish_and_game_clubs.htm

[BroadHopper]

before the lake was crowded and much quieter, I remember a number of folks clay shoot out on The Broads.

[RLW]

Sorry I'm late.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif mikea, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. I am an old timer skeet and & trap shooter for what seems to be 50 or more years. I kinda gave it up as the rules for the closest club to me and one that I really enjoyed both the club and all it's members until a particular board of directors came on board and thought that all rules needed to be changed for the worse. Many beside me stopped being a member the next season. Sorry for the long spiel, but I do hope you enjoy the forum and that you can find a nice club that has nice skeet & trap ranges and good camaraderie. You just hit my 100th welcome to the Winni Forum.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

[mikea]

What a great welcome and set of answers. Many thanks... I guess I'm going to like it here!

Mike A

[bclaker]

The Pemigewassett Valley Fish and Game Club in Holderness, NH has Trap, as well as several outdoor Rifle Ranges and an Indoor Range and lot's of activities scheduled. If you are over 80, memberrship is free.

http://pemi.org/

[bigdog]

You may want to check out Belknap County Sportsman Assoc.
http://www.belknapsportsmensclub.com/

Good luck !

Bigdog

[mikea]

This is looking good, quite a few opportunities to check out!

Many thanks

Mike A

[Pineedles]

Welcome mikea! Just chiming in as another clay target shooter, as I believe most all of the spots have been mentioned here by others I don't have any other spots to mention. Although most of my clays are shot in Connecticut, I might see you in New Hamphire during an ATA shoot somewhere this summer. Cheers!:D

[Orion]

There's also the Winnipesaukee Sportsman's Club in Moultonborough:
http://www.winnisportsmensclub.org/

[mikea]

Welcome mikea! Just chiming in as another clay target shooter, as I believe most all of the spots have been mentioned here by others I don't have any other spots to mention. Although most of my clays are shot in Connecticut, I might see you in New Hamphire during an ATA shoot somewhere this summer. Cheers!:D

Cheers Fella, Might have to sneak down to Connecticut as well then !...

What's your discipline? ... For me its Skeet and English Sporting, not very good but I try hard!

Mike A

[Rattle Isle Windy Side]

Great thread. I too share the Clays Addiction...

During the season I try and shoot a few times a week in Conn area, mostly sporting and skeet. Dover Furnace is my usual haunt and a 32 inch K80 is my favorite steed!

Would love to attend some lake area Shoots this summer.

[codeman671]

Welcome to the forum Brit.

We are members at http://farmingtonfishandgameclub.com/
where they have a regulation layout skeet field but due to concerns about shot landing in the pond, shoot an informal modified game from only some of the stations. Tuesday evenings after 5pm under the lights and Sat Mornings after 9am. Small club house with wood stove. Only open to public during these hours.

Also we are members at http://20thskeetandclays.org/about_us.shtml
Sporting clays May - Sept, skeet and 5-stand year round. Must be a member or guest of a member except for NSCA shoots which are open to the public.

They shoot sporting clays year round here:
http://www.scarfg.org/twiki/bin/view/
With the frozen five series now ongoing.

Chester has 5-stand in the winter and sporting clays April - Sept.
http://www.chesterrodandgunclub.com/activities/clays


Send me a PM if you want more info.

Farmington is not accepting new members at this time, as posted in their site. I looked into it this week as I am looking for a place to shoot target informally during the off season. There isn't much down here on the seacoast.

Major waldrons in Barrington has a pretty good setup.

[mikea]

Great thread. I too share the Clays Addiction...

During the season I try and shoot a few times a week in Conn area, mostly sporting and skeet. Dover Furnace is my usual haunt and a 32 inch K80 is my favorite steed!

Would love to attend some lake area Shoots this summer.

Addiction is a great way of putting it... and a K80, very nice too. Personally, my preference is a 30" Browning XL Comp, mainly through the good balance of weight and pointability it gives me! (Still can't shoot like Digweed though!)

Out of interest, what are the Laws and Reg's on setting up any form of clay ground, either temp or permanent in NH, anybody know? Could be of interest to me a bit later on when I spend more time in the area!

[Slickcraft]

Out of interest, what are the Laws and Reg's on setting up any form of clay ground, either temp or permanent in NH, anybody know? Could be of interest to me a bit later on when I spend more time in the area!

There is no easy answer to that. At the state level see:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xii/159-b/159-b-mrg.htm

If all you want to do is have a trap or two for your own private use then it is primarily a matter of having enough land for safety and meeting any existing town noise regulations.

Opening a club for public or members shooting is another matter. In general you will have to gain town planning board approval which means town specific regulations and lots of public hearings where considerable public opposition can be expected. Limiting to shotgun only would help with safety concerns. In general the larger the parcel of land and the more rural the setting, the better chance of getting approval. Overall not an easy process.

[mikea]

There is no easy answer to that. At the state level see:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xii/159-b/159-b-mrg.htm

If all you want to do is have a trap or two for your own private use then it is primarily a matter of having enough land for safety and meeting any existing town noise regulations.

Opening a club for public or members shooting is another matter. In general you will have to gain town planning board approval which means town specific regulations and lots of public hearings where considerable public opposition can be expected. Limiting to shotgun only would help with safety concerns. In general the larger the parcel of land and the more rural the setting, the better chance of getting approval. Overall not an easy process.

Information very much appreciated. Thank you...