With a gunpowder sky and the wisps of smoke emanating from shotgun barrels, gun smoke seemed to take over the Quesnel Rod and Gun Club at Saturday’s turkey shoot.
The moody weather kept the competition interesting, according to Adam Veley, one of the organizers of the event, with the wind taking the clay pigeon and making it fly in interesting ways.
Shooters from Quesnel, William’s Lake, Prince George and Mackenzie came despite the windy conditions.
A total of 45 competitors showed up at the event, with nine competing in the youth division.
Shooters competed for 65 prizes, including hams, steak packs, turkeys and Sweet Tree Ventures gift baskets that were distributed through 36 events.
Junior shooter Hailey Nipshank won a ham by breaking four clay birds in a youth event at her first ever turkey shoot.
Junior shooter Blair MacDougall won a two round shoot-off against fellow junior Kelsey Lefebvre to win a ham.
Junior Andres Street broke six targets in a youth event to claim a steak pack.
Junior shooter Gracie Combs took no prisoners and went five shots in a shoot-off to eventually defeat Blair MacDougall for a ham. She then broke six more clays to claim a turkey in a second youth event.
Dennis Holowchak won a turkey with partner Adam Veley in a Buddy shoot and then won a ham by breaking eight targets in a 16 yard shoot. Holowchak also lucked out and won a paper turkey contest.
Gord Johnston won a ham with Adam Veley in a Buddy shoot and a turkey after a three way shoot-off in an expert level event. Johnston finished the day on a high point. Together with partner Barry Jenkins in a Buddy shoot, they both won hams.
Jeff Piwek won two events after two shoot-offs to decide a winner. Piwek out shot George Boyd to win a steak pack and out-manoeuvred Judy Jenkins to win a Sweet Tree Ventures birch syrup gift basket.
Bev Bradshaw won a ham by breaking nine clay targets in a 16 yard event.
Brett Bradshaw started out by winning a steak pack after a five shot shoot-off against Jim Pickard. He won even more steaks beating out three others in a shoot-off for his second win.
Sara Gregory broke eight targets in 16 yard event to win a steak pack.
Jim Pickard ran a perfect 10 to win a ham, following up with a four to win a steak pack on tricky trap one.
Ted Traer won a steak pack after defeating three opponents in a four shot shoot-off.
George Boyd broke nine targets against stiff competition to win a ham.
Michelle Pelletier hit seven birds to win a ham, breezing by the competition.
Kevin Fraser broke six birds to win a turkey in his first ever shooting competition.
Adam Veley won prizes in both Annie Oakley elimination games. Adam teamed up with Dennis Holowchak to win a turkey, teamed up with Gord Johnston to win a ham and won a Sweet Tree Ventures birch syrup gift basket in an expert level slider event on tricky trap one.
Tyler Suel won a turkey after picking the right spot in a paper turkey contest.
