Variety is the spice of life for target shooters

PHOENIX — Recreational clay target shooters can now enjoy the challenge of 5-stand at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s Clay Target Center in Phoenix. The center has added 5-stand to augment its current offerings of trap, skeet and sporting clays.

Likened to an abbreviated version of sporting clays, 5-stand offers shooters a variety of target presentations to simulate the random flight paths of upland and waterfowl hunting. For those that typically shoot trap or skeet, this game will prove to be challenging and exciting.

 “5-stand is a very popular game. Our regular customers are happy to see us offering it again,” says Range Master Bill Kelsey. “The other day I pulled about 60 rounds non-stop. That’s 1,500 targets. They love it. I had to beg the shooters to give me a 5-minute water break.”

5-stand is set up on one of the center’s lighted trap/skeet fields and offers both daytime and nighttime shooting. Each station offers five targets chosen from seven different throwing positions and trajectories. At each station there is a menu of what targets will be presented. For example, station one might consist of the following: “single 7, report pair 1 and 5, true pair 3 and 4.” Each station is different, and the menus may change.

A round of 5-stand consists of 25 targets, five from each station, and the cost is only $6.50 per round. Hunters of dove and quail will find that 5-stand is a great way to get your shotgunning skills honed before going afield.

Summer hours for the Ben Avery Clay Target Center continue until Oct. 15. For more information about hours, location and games offered, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department took over the operations of the Clay Target Center in 2006. Since that time the department has put in extensive repairs and improvements to bring the center to today’s standards. Improvements include lighting, shade awnings, all new throwers, voice-activated releases, new skeet houses, updated sporting clays course with electronic play card readers, and - currently under construction - a new visitor’s center.

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