What is the Ben Avery Clay Target Center?
The Clay Target Center provides a recreational venue for skeet, trap and sporting clays shotgun shooters. It is on the property of the 1,600+ acre Ben Avery Shooting Facility, which is located near the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in Phoenix. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Why did the Arizona Game and Fish Department take over management of the center in 2006?
The Department received direction from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to assume operational control in September 2006 at the end of the existing vendor’s lease agreement. The Department is a strong supporter of shooting sports, administers the other shooting ranges at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and has a great deal of expertise in shooting range management. The Department also administers the Scholastic Clay Target youth program, and the center will play a key role in the development of that program.
What changes will customers notice at the Clay Target Center?
Renovated trap and skeet fields
The Clay Target Center is undergone extensive renovation. The first 18 fields on the trap and skeet line (overlays) have already been refurbished with renovated skeet houses, new fencing, new pre-cast trap houses with hydraulic PAT trap machines, card readers, a voice activation system, new skeet machines and lights for night shooting. In addition, trap and skeet Field 2 is an ADA accessible field. All trap and skeet fields also include shade structures, refrigerated water fountains and desert shade trees.
Renovated and expanded sporting clays area
The renovated sporting clays area features a 6-station Executive "Quail" Course (which is lighted for night shooting) and our challenging 15-station "Rattlesnake" Course. Both courses have new shooting stations, benches, gun racks and card readers. The 6-station Executive "Quail" Course features some high flyers and a “rabbit” target, while the ever-changing 15-station "Rattlesnake" Course will challenge even the best sporting clays enthusiast with long shots, 8-foot-high shooting platforms and a scissor lift tower machine.
Other improvements
Other improvements being made at the Clay Target Center include the new 1,000-amp electrical system with lights throughout the Clay Target Center and plans to renovate the old clubhouse into a new business & visitors center. This should be completed in conjunction with the new RV parking area (40 full service spots) by late 2008.
Does the Clay Target Center offer registered shooting events?
The center has a full schedule of NSSA/ASSA registered skeet events, ATA/ASTA registered trap events, and NSCA/ASCA registered sporting clays events for 2008 and 2009. Click here for a schedule of events.
What is the Game and Fish Department’s vision for the Clay Target Center
The Arizona Game and Fish Department believes the Clay Target Center has huge potential in serving the needs of our local shooting community. Our vision is to turn the Ben Avery Clay Target Center into one of the finest trap, skeet and sporting clays facility in North America. We want every visitor to the Clay Target Center, whether he/she is a first-time shooter or a seasoned competitor, to enjoy their experience and want to return again and again.
For more information
Contact the Clay Target Center at (623) 434-8119. |
