Brandon Powell of Comer, Ga., repeated as the champion at the NWTF’s 19th annual Turkey Shoot after battling stiff competition as well as wind, rain and record low temperatures. Powell hit 193 targets – a two target improvement from his winning score in 2012 – to win the main event, a two-day, 200-target competition. Bill McGuire of Charleston, Tenn., finished second, breaking 191 sporting clays. Story Link: http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press_releases.php?id=13991
“I always love coming down here,” said the 27-year-old Powell, after claiming his second consecutive Turkey Shoot main event title. “I come out here to have fun; I think having fun has to come first. If you are worried about just winning instead of having fun you are going to shoot terrible.”
More than 500 participants, including many of the nation’s top shooters, competed for $100,000 in cash and prizes. Plus, more than 100 guns were given away.
The 2013 Turkey Shoot had a record number of youth participants, including 18 youth shooting teams. Through a partnership with the Scholastic Shooting Trust, the NWTF provided $5,000 endowments to all the youth shooting teams that participated in the Turkey Shoot. Additional endowments were awarded for the top placing youth shooting teams. Scholastic Clay Target Program of Central Georgia was awarded $5,000 for finishing in first place, Rocky Knoll Shooting Club received $3,500 for a second place finish and Etowah Valley Sporting Clays received $2,500 for finishing third.
“We are excited about the opportunity to host 18 youth shooting teams, and even more excited that we were able to help fund those teams,” said Rhett Simmons, NWTF director of special events. “The endowments will support these teams for years to come.”
The NWTF and the Scholastic Shooting Trust awarded a total of $101,000 in endowments at Turkey Shoot to help youth shooting teams fund their shooting activities.
Sporting clays, which many describe as golf with a shotgun, is a form of shooting sports in which clay targets are thrown at different speeds, distances and trajectories to simulate a range of hunting scenarios.
Photos of the winners, shooting action and the challenging weather conditions are available online.
Shooting events are designed for all ages and skill levels. Winners of the shooting events, arranged by class, were:
National Sporting Clays Association Division
Main event, 200-target event
High overall, Brandon Powell – Comer, Ga.
Runner-up, Bill McGuire – Charleston, Tenn.
Master, Kevin DeMichiel – Macon, Ga.
AA, Perry Royal – Griffin, Ga.
A, Tommy Bourn – Homer, La.
B, David Beard – Calhoun, Ga.
C, Chad Pullen – Acworth, Ga.
D, Aaron Sims – Locust Grove, Ga.
E, Tommy Shaw – Dallas, Ga.
5-stand event
High overall, Bill McGuire – Charleston, Tenn.
Runner-up, Brandon Powell, Comer, Ga.
Master, Brandon Powell – Comer, Ga.
AA, Chris Cantrell – Fort Mill, S.C.
A, Jeffery Mitchell – Statesboro, Ga.
B, Wesley Hobbs – Cochran, Ga.
C, Landon Messer – Boston, Ga.
D, Jacob Whitaker – Brooklet, Ga.
E, Jon Wynn – Pavo, Ga.
12-gauge preliminary
High overall, Randy Ryan – Boston, Ga.
Runner-up, Brandon Powell – Comer, Ga.
AA, Chris Cantrell – Fort Will, S.C.
A, Seth Woodall – Sylvania, Ga.
B, Hugh Smith – Toccoa, Ga.
C, Boria Condrey – Baconton, Ga.
D, Daniel Smart -Savannah, Ga.
E, Robert Womack – Pavo, Ga.
20-gauge
Master class, Randy Ryan – Boston, Ga.
28-gauge
Master class, Jeff Vick – Northport, Al.
.410
Master class, Jeff Vick – Northport, Al.
Pump event
Master class, Dwayne Hardee – Starke, Fla.
Side-by-side event
Master class, Charles Boswell – Sylvania, Ga.
Hunter Division
Main event
Barry Zuckerman – Roswell, Ga.
5-stand event
Tim McKinney – Ninety Six, S.C.
12-gauge preliminary
Lanny Griffin – Wartrace, Tenn.
20-gauge
Jeff Davis – Sylvania, Ga.
28-gauge
Barry Zuckerman – Roswell, Ga.
.410
Jeff Davis – Sylvania, Ga.
Pump event
Kasey Hemingway -Crittenden, Ky.