Okay, so, let me tell you about my little adventure with shotgun sports in East Wisconsin. I’ve always been intrigued by shooting, and when I found myself with some free time, I thought, why not give it a shot? Literally.
First, I went online to find shooting places. I found some shooting events from last year, like the one at Wescot Sportsman’s Club in December and another at Sauk Prairie in October. But they were all old news. I needed something happening now.
Then, I started asking around. Someone told me about a place outside Racine called Winchester Gun Club. They said it had everything: trap, skeet, 5 stand, sporting clays, you name it. Another place called Boxhorn was also mentioned, apparently just a bit further north.
But I wanted to explore more options. I found this place called Milford Hills, near Johnson Creek. Someone highly recommended it, so I put it on my list. And then there was McMiller Sports Center, managed by Wern Valley. It’s supposed to be the biggest outdoor public shooting facility in Wisconsin.
I also stumbled upon a group talking about college-level shotgun shooting. It was interesting, but I’m not in college anymore, so I moved on. Then, I found the Hodag Sports Club Shotgun Range near Rhinelander. It looked promising, so I made a note of the location.
Gear Talk
Now, about the gear. I didn’t have a shotgun, so I started reading up on that. I learned that 12 or 20 gauge is the way to go. They’re the most common, and if you go to an event where ammo is provided, that’s what they’ll have. People also talked about 16 and 28 gauge, but those are apparently more expensive and less common.
I also learned a bit about barrel lengths. Trap shooters and sporting clays folks like longer barrels, between 30 and 34 inches. It’s because the targets are moving away and rising, so the longer barrels help with those longer distances. Then there’s this thing called a choke. Apparently, a modified choke (around .020 inches) is good for all-around sporting clays. They say you can hit targets up to 65 yards away with it.
Making the Call
I decided to start with McMiller Sports Center, since it was the biggest and closest to me. I called them up to get the lowdown. They were open every day, from 9 am to dusk, from mid-April to early November, at least for members with a Sporting Clays Card. They told me how to become a member, and it all sounded pretty straightforward.
So, I got my membership, grabbed a friend who was also curious, and we headed to McMiller. We rented shotguns there – they had 12-gauge ones, just what I’d read about. We bought some ammo, got a quick safety briefing, and we were off to the range.
The Experience
Let me tell you, it was a blast! We started with some simple trap shooting. It was challenging but fun. Then we moved on to sporting clays. That was even more exciting, with targets coming from all directions and at different speeds. We missed a lot, but we also hit a few, and each hit was incredibly satisfying.
We spent the whole afternoon there, trying different stations, laughing at our misses, and cheering our hits. It was a great way to spend a day, and I was hooked. I’ve been back a few times since, and I’m even thinking about getting my own shotgun now. Maybe a 12-gauge with a 30-inch barrel and a modified choke. I’m no expert, but I’m learning!
So, that’s my story about getting into shotgun sports in East Wisconsin. It’s been a fun and exciting journey. If you’re ever in the area and want to give it a try, I highly recommend it. Just remember to be safe, have fun, and don’t worry about missing a few – it’s all part of the learning process!
