Free seminars teach shotgun safety, sporting clays shooting
“First Shots” classes offered May 30-June 3 at Ben Avery Clay Target Center
By Tristanna Bickford, hunter recruitment and retention coordinator, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Are you interested in learning about shotgun shooting and the exciting sport of sporting clays, but don’t know where to start?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to offer a FREE introductory class on shotgun shooting. Each class includes instruction in firearm safety and shotgun shooting fundamentals, information on shooting sports opportunities, and the opportunity for hands-on shooting in a safe environment on the sporting clays course, supervised by qualified instructors.

Sporting clays has often been called “golf with a shotgun.” Participants shoot at different targets launched into the air or on the ground from different positions on a desert course. It’s a fun and exciting sport.

Classes will be held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center in Phoenix on the following dates:

• Wednesday, May 30 – 6 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, May 31 – 6 to 9 p.m.
• Friday, June 1 – 6 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, June 2 – 7 to 10 a.m.
• Saturday, June 2 – 6 to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, June 3 – 7 to 10 a.m.

The class is free, but pre-registration is required due to space limitations. To register, please e-mail Lori Jarrett at ljarrett@azgfd.gov or call (623) 236-7219. Please provide your contact information, and indicate which class date and time you would like to register for.

The Ben Avery Clay Target Center is located at 37016 N. Archery Drive in Phoenix (take I-17 to Carefree Highway, go west 1/2 mile to the entrance at Long Shot Lane and follow the signs).

For more information about the First Shots program, visit the First Shots Web site at firstshots.org.