NSCA News

Alabama State Sporting Clays Championship

December 8, 2022 By Cara Woodard

The fall colors and cool, comfortable weather rolled in perfectly to support the 2022 Alabama State Championship at Bright Star Sporting Clays, October 6-9. Bright Star Sporting Clays is a family-owned operation that started as a few practice machines for owner Jason Jackson and his son. It has grown from its humble beginnings to a full course that throws more registered sporting birds than any other range in Alabama.

Jason brought in Corey Howell, of Howell Traps, and Dean Blanchard to set the courses and provide additional machines for the Sub-Gauge, AFS, FITASC, True Pair and Super Sporting courses. Shooters from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and one from Ohio attended to test their skills and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere.

The Prelim and Main Event were set in the wooded area of the property, while all other events were set on the rolling pasture land of the property. Jason wanted courses where everyone would have fun and still be challenged.

Corey and Dean delivered perfectly with courses that tested all but allowed everyone to break their fair share. The shadows and filtered sunlight on the leaves of the Prelim and Main courses presented added challenges of their own, beyond the wide variety of birds set.

The Friday Prelim finished up with a four-way tie at a score of 98. The shoot-off for all the ties were conducted on the Super Sporting course, but with 20 to 30 yards added to the shooting distance and throwing true pairs. It was literally like a true pair long-bird competition and a lot of fun. The Prelim was won by Jeff Cramblit, with Brad Collins taking runner-up and Chuck Cranford winning the 12-gauge event.

The Saturday Main Event course ended with several Masters in the mid- to high-90s, but the leaders were Alex Ryan Clark of Georgia and two-time Alabama State Champion Chuck Cranford tied at 98. Chuck was having a tremendous weekend competing in 9 of the 10 events offered at the tournament. He ended up with four HOAs, one runner-up and a Master first.

For most, Sunday’s Main course proved more challenging, but not for Junior shooter Hunter Stover of Mobile, Alabama. Hunter succeeded in shooting an amazing score of 99, a full three birds ahead of the nearest competitor and enough to win him his first Alabama State High Overall title. Chuck Cranford’s scores were good enough to hold on to the runner-up position, and Alex Ryan Clark was third, also taking the Non-Resident High Overall.

Alabama shooters didn’t win everything; one of Mississippi’s top shooters, Steven Tzotzolas, stepped in and won the True Pair event. High Lady was won by Alabama Junior shooter and match photographer, Katie Skinner. For full results, visit ScoreChaser.com.

The Alabama State was very much a family-oriented tournament with many father/son, husband/wife pairs shooting together. For Hunter Stover and his father Benny Stover, it was a very rewarding crown to years of competition.

For Bruce Park, it was his first major tournament and also the first he had shot with his son Sumter, who won D class in both the Main Event and Super Sporting, while dad earned punches in a tie for C1 in Super Sporting.

All three of the Alabama NSCA delegates were in attendance, and all three took home awards. Rocky McCluskey was runner-up in AFS, Perry Johnson took A1 honors in both AFS and FITASC, and Steve Dickinson was M3 in the Prelim event.

It seemed as though everyone won something. Reviewing the payouts on ScoreChaser, over 80 of the shooters won a part of the very generous $18,000+ payout. The tournament sponsors were Albertville PowerQuip Kubota, Atlas Traps, Howell Traps, Comp-N-Choke, Sand Mountain Toyota, White Flyer, and Lake Guntersville Tourism Board.

Everyone seemed very happy with the tournament, thought it ran smoothly and was having a good time. The Saturday evening dinner was catered by the local SCTP group and was delicious. Thanks to all the SCTP shooters and family who took on the duties as trappers for the event.

Bright Star and the Jacksons wanted to put on a match where everyone had fun, promoted fellowship and camaraderie, and felt like they were a part of something, and it seemed the crowd agreed they succeeded. Many were already looking forward to and planning for next year’s event.

– Contributed by Jeff Cramblit

Photos by Katie Skinner

NSSA-NSCA Response to CA AB #2571

July 15, 2022 By Sherry Kerr

In observance of the recently passed California Assembly Bill #2571, NSSA-NSCA must cease all advertising and marketing activities directed at individuals 17 years and younger in California. This includes ceasing to distribute Clay Target Nation magazine, Target Talk/Target Talk Lessons newsletters, CTN Extra newsletter, event promotions, and other association communications to affected members. We have purged all mailing and email lists of affected members for magazines, newsletters, and other communications. Processes are now in place to maintain compliance as affected member numbers change.

In addition to ceasing all advertising, marketing, and other communications with affected members, we have taken the following actions to ensure compliance with AB #2571 and mitigate risk to our association, our clubs, partners and affiliates:

Requesting that member clubs immediately cease promotions to affected NSSA-NSCA members, as well as evaluating their communications and event/product promotions to ensure they are in compliance
Notifying our advertisers, sponsors, and industry partners of NSSA-NSCA’s actions being taken in response to AB #2571
Notifying MySkeet, Score Chaser, Winscore, other third-party registration and scoring platforms, and other vendors who communicate with NSSA-NSCA members, that they must refrain from marketing events to affected NSSA and NSCA members
Adding exclusionary language to digital and print publications, newsletter sign-up forms, and media kits
Instructing staff on maintaining compliance with this law
Notifying NSSA-NSCA Chief Instructors of AB #2571 and requesting that they refrain from contacting and marketing to affected members.
Notifying NSSA-NSCA governing bodies of the law and the actions being taken

You can learn more about California AB #2571 at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2571.

Any questions relative to NSSA-NSCA’s actions in response to AB #2571 should be directed to NSSA-NSCA Executive Director Michael Hampton, mhampton@nssa-nsca.com.

Digital Extra: World FITASC Photo Gallery

August 28, 2019 By

The USA Sporting Clays Team traveled to E.J. Churchill Shooting Grounds in England in July to represent NSCA and the USA in the World FITASC Sporting Championship. They were joined there by many more NSCA members, as well as competitors from around the world. You can read about the event in the September issue of Clay Target Nation magazine. Enjoy this “digital extra” photo gallery of some of the sights at the 2019 World FITASC. Click on any photo to enlarge it, and use the arrows to scroll through the enlarged photos.

Photos by Thaddius Bedford/Liquid Image

2018 NSSA-NSCA Scholarship Recipients

May 17, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Congratulations to eight 2018 high school graduates who are recipients of $2500 NSSA-NSCA scholarships. The scholarship winners were chosen for their leadership, academics, and participation in NSSA-NSCA. Watch for profiles of each scholarship recipient in the June issue of Clay Target Nation.

NSSA Scholarship Recipients

Olivia Grace “Gracie” Woelffer

Congratulations to Gracie Woelffer of Fort Mill, South Carolina, on being awarded a $2500 NSSA scholarship. Gracie is a recent graduate of Christian Liberty Academy and plans to continue her education at Liberty University. Her home shooting club is Mid-Carolina Gun Club. Gracie began shooting about five years ago, following in the footsteps of her older sister Maggie, who had joined the Gaston Young Guns (GYG) team. She has been recognized with many honors such as multiple Krieghoff All-American Teams, NSSA Honor Squad, HOA Junior State Champion, and placing in the Krieghoff Masters and Zone 4 shoots.

Noah Dove

Noah Dove from Raleigh, North Carolina, is the son of Tim and Angie Dove. Noah is a graduate of Millbrook High School and a member of the Durham County Wildlife Club. Noah plans to study business management at East Carolina University. His skeet accomplishments are many, with places on Krieghoff All-American Junior Teams and Honor Squad, honors at the Junior World Skeet Championships, Krieghoff Masters Skeet Championship, North Carolina State Championship, and Zone 4 Championships. NSSA extends its congratulations to Noah on his scholarship and achievements.

Kyler “Kordell” Drake

Congratulations to Kordell Drake from Buda, Texas, on being a recipient of a $2500 NSSA college scholarship. He plans to use the scholarship at Texas State University where he will study construction science. Kordell graduated from Veritas Academy in Austin and shoots at San Antonio Gun Club. He started skeet shooting as an 8-year-old in the Hays 4-H Shooting Club. Kordell, an Eagle Scout, was named to Krieghoff All-American Teams from 2013 through 2017 and to the Texas State Team as a Sub-Junior and Junior in the same years.

Nicholas Godfrey

A 2018 graduate of Carroll Senior High in Southlake, Texas, Nicholas Godfrey is the son of Elizabeth Neuberger and Dennis Godfrey. He plans to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas. He began shooting skeet with his high school’s clay target team where he was a three-year team captain. His shooting accomplishments include being 2016 TSSA Junior State Team Captain and many others. Among his major wins are the 2017 Blaser 28-Gauge Champion, 2017 Texas State 28-Gauge Champion, and 2017 Metroplex 20-Gauge Champion. Congratulations to Nicholas.

NSCA Scholarship Recipients

Shabaz Bassi

A 2018 graduate of Valencia High School in Placentia, California, Shabaz Bassi began shooting sporting clays eight years ago with the So Cal Top Guns youth shotgun program. He now volunteers for the team doing set-up, safety management, coaching, and clean-up after every Saturday event. Shabaz’s home club is Mike Raahauge Shooting Enterprises, and his parents are Navdeep Bassi and Narinder Bassi. He plans to attend shotgunning powerhouse Lindenwood University in the fall and will study biology. Congratulations to Shabaz on earning a $2500 scholarship from NSCA!

Garrett LeJeune

Congratulations to Garrett LeJeune of Jennings, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Hathaway High School and shoots at G.O.L. Shooting. Garrett has been shooting for nine years and is another product of a youth shooting organization, the 4-H shooting program. In addition to 4-H, in high school he played basketball and golf, was a member of the track team, and was involved in FFA. In the fall, he will attend Schreiner University as a member of the shooting team with a shooting scholarship. Garrett is the son of Nathan LeJeune and Debora LeJeune.

Nathan Armstrong

Congratulations to Haslet, Texas resident Nathan Armstrong, a recent graduate of V.R. Eaton High School. He plans to use his scholarship while attending Texas A&M University where he expects to be an engineering student. He started shooting sporting clays during his freshman year of high school when he joined the school’s clay target team and later became the team president. His sporting clays honors include being a Houston Stock Show Senior Male finalist, and class honors at the Oklahoma State Shoot among others. Nathan credits his coaches and parents for his accomplishments in sporting clays.

Cody Hada

Accomplished athlete and scholar Cody Hada of Andrews, Texas is the son of Benjamin and Jennifer Hada. Cody began shooting sporting clays in 2013, learning the sport from his dad. Among his high school honors were induction into the National Honor Society, Academic All-State and All-District in football, Texas 4-H State Games Senior 1 Division Champion, and selection as a member of the Texas 4-H State Shooting Team. He has been named to more than a dozen NSCA All-American Teams since 2014. Congratulations, Cody!

10 Ways to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month

August 9, 2017 By Sherry Kerr

Shooting ranges and firearms retailers are invited to be part of the first National Shooting Sports Month this August by listing their shooting events, programs, and promotions at Shootingsportsmonth.org.

The excitement of having your shot break a flying clay target or knock over a steel plate (clang!) and then sharing the fun of that experience awaits all who participate in National Shooting Sports Month this August.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation declared this 31-day celebration to encourage you to spend trigger time at a local shooting range.

Here are 10 ways to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month. If you think of others, please share them on social media and use the hashtag #LETSGOSHOOTING.

Bring Someone New
There’s nothing quite like seeing the excitement on a friend’s face after they take their first shots. Bring a friend or family member to the range for the first time.
Try Something New
Are you a hardcore handgun shooter? Then pick up a shotgun and give sporting clays a try. Are you primarily a shotgun shooter? Then hone your handgun skills or sign up for a local International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) match.
Rediscover Shooting
Haven’t shot in a while? Dust off your shooting gear and head to the range, preferably with a friend. Learn a new game, like action pistol or skeet shooting.
Find an Event Near You
At Shootingsportsmonth.org you’ll find National Shooting Sports Month events at ranges and retailers across the country. If there’s not an event listed in your area, use the website to locate a range near you to enjoy a fun, safe day of target shooting.
Make it a Date
Ask your spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend to go shooting. You’ll have a great time together. By the way, women are the fastest growing segment in target shooting (and hunting), and more gear than ever is being designed for their fit and comfort.
Cash in on Deals
Retailers and ranges will be offering specials during National Shooting Sports Month. You can find a participating business near you and take advantage of these offers.
Practice Firearm Safety
The shooting sports are safe. As a responsible gun owner, you can demonstrate how to safely handle your firearms on the firing line and securely store them when they’re not in use.
Celebrate Freedom and Tradition
In addition to passing on the great tradition of target shooting, you can educate others about the unique American freedoms that make participating possible.
Share it!
#LetsGoShooting is the theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Share the hashtag and your experiences on your social media networks, and remind others to give target shooting a try.
Win a Great Prize!
Finally, enter the sweepstakes at Shootingsportsmonth.org and have a chance to win great prizes from National Shooting Sports Month sponsors.