What's New: Kern County Gun Club

Emily Shuford named to 2009 NSSA Honor Squad

Emily Shuford, one of the hot young junior shooters at the Kern County Gun Club, added another honor to her growing list of accomplishments: she was named to the 2009 NSSA Honor Squad. Emily was named to the Sub/Junior-Junior Honor Squad team for improving her average by 0.1302. Also named to the team were Aaron Johnson of New York, Jeffrey Rimer of Michigan, Cassie Doublas of Nevada and Tanner Bissell of Arizona. Emily is the daughter of Dan and Kellie Shuford (click on headline to read full story) and she is one of the three shooting Shuford sisters, joining her older sister Brooke and younger sister Rachel. Emily is a junior at Bakersfield High School.

Here's to a new year of busting clay targets!

The Kern County Gun Club wishes you a happy new year! Let's all resolve to make 2009 our best year of shooting yet. The club has scheduled a host of tournaments and specials for you this year, whether it be skeet, sporting clays, trap or five stand. For the complete list, check out the "Club Events" tab on the blue toolbar. One of the highlights will be the 2009 California State Skeet Championship held here over the July Fourth weekend. It will be a big show, we promise. We have one of the best shotgun clubs in the West, so remember to reup your membership and come out every weekend to bust some clays.

Check out our 2009 Calendar of trap and skeet shoots

The new events calendar has been posted for 2009. Just go to "club events" on the yellow toolbar to see everything planned for the year. So far we have several skeet and trap shoots. The skeet season kicks off with the Black Gold tournament Feb. 27-March 1, followed in April by the Ken Barnes Open (April 3-5) and then the Desatoff Open (Aug. 14-16). Our club is also hosting the California State Skeet Championships over the July Fourth weekend. There are trap shoots set throughout the year starting with the Winter Chain March 7-8. (click on headline to read more) We will update the Club Calendar throughout the year as new shoots and events are posted. Check back for the latest updates.

Winter Skeet League starts Nov. 29: sign up now!

Winter Skeet League has returned to the Kern County Gun Club beginning later this month. Here's the way it will work: we will shoot 300 targets over six Saturdays: Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, then Jan. 10 and Jan. 17, 2009. You don't have to belong to NSSA or be a member of the club to participate and all shooters are welcome. The cost is $55 and this includes awards and a barbeque. Each shooter will provide his own shells and coins for targets ($5 for 25 targets) (Click on headline to read more) There will be payouts to advanced, intermediate and beginner shooters and we will use a handicap system. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on Nov. 29 and we start shooting at 10 a.m. Call Bruce Binns for questions: 661-333-4980.

Ducks Unlimited holds "fun shoot" at KCGC

Dozens of shooters turned out for the Ducks Unlimited "fun shoot" on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the club. It was a perfect day for the event that featured trap, skeet and five stand, capped by a silent auction and raffle. Congrats to all the winners.

October ATA Trap Shoot draws big turnout

Dan Hoffman, Homer Hanson, Bob Wood and Cyndi Benson were among the winners at the ATA Trap Shoot held Oct. 18-19 at the Kern County Gun Club. For complete results go to "Shoot results" in the yellow toolbar. The trap shoot drew about 55 shooters on a near perfect weekend of blue skies and light winds. Congrats to all the winners.

Brian Foley takes 12 gauge title in World Shoot

Brian Foley, a Bakersfield high school junior who is one of the most promising young shooters in the country, won perhaps his most prestitious title yet by claiming the 12 gauge champion in the World Shoot this week (October 8, 2008) Foley was among 14 shooters who shot a perfect 250 and then he outlasted a talented field to win the shootoff. Others shooting 250s included Todd Bender, Wayne Mayes and John Costillo. Kyle Shumaker was runner-up and Daving Thompson was third in the 12 gauge. A 16-year-old Ridgeview High junior, Brian has had a banner year. This summer he won the the California State Skeet shooting championships in Los Angeles and earlier this year was named to the Junior Second Team All-American squad. Brian hit 399 out of 400 targets over three days to best the field in the state championships, allowing him to walk away with the HOA (High Overall) championship.

Earlier this year Foley won the Black Gold Skeet Tournament, he was Junior Champ at the Desatoff Open and he won the elite AAA division at the Kenny Barnes Open as well as being crowned Junior Champion. All of those tournaments were held at the Kern County Gun Club while the state championships were held at the TripleB Clays shooting facility in El Monte.

Lewis, Claunch & Foley top HOA field in Desatoff Open skeet

Dan Lewis shot a scorching 399 in record heat at the Kern County Gun Club to take HOA champion at the Desatoff Open May 17-19. (go to "shoot results" in the yellow toolbar for a complete list of the winners) With temperatures well over 110, Lewis outlasted Steve Claunch in a shootoff to take top honors. Claunch went home with HOA runnerup while Brian Foley of Bakersfield was third. More than 80 shooters turned out for the event. (click on headline to read full story) Other winners included:

* Ron Hurlbert took AAA1 with a 397

* Robert Ennes took AA1 with a 396

* Richard Riddle took A1 with a 394

* Michael Gartner won B1 with a 383

* Evan Binns won C1 with a 376

* Alan Stevenson won D1 with a 317

* Rachel Shuford of Bakersfield took E1 with a 324

* Brian Foley was Junior Champ with a 394

* Lori Desatoff was Lady Champ with a 396

* Keith and Elizabeth Key won the parent-child competition

* Ted and Caroline Church took the husband-wife competition

KCGC All-Americans: Hal Stewart III, Brian Foley, Emily Shuford

Congratulations to Hal Stewart III, Brian Foley and Emily Shuford who were named to the National Skeet Shooting Association All-American squads. Stewart made the Senior First Team, Foley (a Ridgeview High junior) made the Junior Second Team and Shuford (a Bakersfield High freshman) was named to the Sub-Junior Second Team. Other regulars at our club who were honored included Ron Hurlbert, who was named to the Open Second Team, and former Bakersfield resident Cole Rommel who also made the Junior Second Team. (click on headline to read more) The shooters were honored in the April edition of Skeet Shooting Review. Make sure to check out the stories in the latest edition. When you see Hal, Brian or Emily at the club, give them their props. Hats off to all our All-American shooters!

Mayes takes HOA in Ken Barnes Open

The legendary Waynes Mayes took HOA (high overall) honors at the Kenny Barnes Open, shooting a 399 to best all shooters. It was a weekend of plenty of hundred straights, but no one managed to get the elusive "four by four" that made Barnes famous. Top shooters from around the country were there - Billy Dee Williams, Larry Sifers, Ron Hurlbert , Bill Burke, Lori Desatoff, Larry Sifers, Brett McLaughlin, George Desatoff, Kurt Grates and Brian Foley to name a few - and the weather cooperated. Local Kern County shooters (click on headline to read more) who did well included 15-year-old Emily Shuford, 16-year-old Brian Foley, Hal Stewart III, Bruce Binns, Pam Binns and many more.

Some of the winners included:

* Wayne Mayes HOA Champ, Shawn Rommel RU, Matt Wagoner 3rd

* Brian Foley AAA1

* Cole Rommel AA1

* Larry Liu A1

* Lou Riddle B1

* Emily Shuford C1

* Elizabeth Key D1

* Alan Stevenson E1

* Brian Foley, Junior Champ

Full results are posted under the "Shoot Results" on the yellow tab.

Brian Foley wins HOA in Black Gold Skeet

Kern County's Brian Foley bested the field in the Black Gold Skeet tournament held March 21-23 at the Kern County Gun Club. Brian took HOA honors, shooting a 396, under splendid conditions on an Easter weekend. Other HOA winners included Paul Mooney in A Class, Steen Thomsen in B Class, Richard Beene in C Class, Brooke Shuford in D Class and Dwayne Thomas in E Class. Special kudos go to a couple of junior shooters: to Brooke Shuford who shot a 94 in 12 gauge, 84 in 28 guage and a 76 in 410; and to Elizabeth Key who shot an 88 in 28 gauge and a 87 in 410 bore. Go to "Shoot Results" to see the complete scores.

Kirkley, Asbill & Wood win at Santa Maria trap

Kern County Gun Club was well represented at the recent Winter Chain trap shoot at Santa Maria. Nelson Asbill posted a clean 96 to win the Event 2 Handicap in a field of 94 entries. Our own Bob Wood also claimed a championship by winning the Event 5 Handicap with a 96. Bob bested a field of 105 shooters to take home the top prize. Other local winners were Jimmy Kirkley with a perfect 100 in Class A (Event 1 Singles) and Linda Hoffman with a near perfect 99 in Class B in the same event. The High Junior title went to our own David Goss (click on headline to read more) (189 X 200). For the complete list of winners, click on "Shoot Results." Congratulations to all our local winners!

Hoffman, Perry, Benson lead Winter Chain Trap at KCGC

Local shooters Dan Hoffman, Harold Perry and Cyndi Benson were among the local Kern County shooters to do well in the Winter Chain Trap meet held March 8-9 at the Kern County Gun Club. Cyndi shot a personal record high 97 to win Class D and Harold Perry posted a 94 to win Class C. Dan Hoffman led in several categories, scoring a 96 to win the long yard both Saturday and Sunday. Jeff Cook took the 100 Doubles with an impressive 99, and congrats to young shooter Jason David who shot a 96! Go to "Shoot Results" to see the complete results.

2008 President's Message

As you all know the Sporting Clays course is now up and running, featuring ten stations at a cost of just $35. By the end of January all the card counters should be installed and working. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen. (click on headline to read more)
The club now has a SCTP Youth Program and it seems to draw new kids each month. The purpose is to get kids involved to keep our sport going, and to teach them proper safety. The kids have the opportunity to learn all three disciplines (click headline to read more) and they get to shoot competitively if they want. We're always looking for volunteers for the youth program.
We also have hired a new club manager and he will be relocating from back East as early as June. His name is Robert, he is married with two children and he has been running a gun club on the East Coast. When he visited us last year, it was clear he has the ability to run a gun club. He seems like a nice young man and we should all welcome him and his family.
The club is building a house with the help of Frye Construction where the manager will live. It will be located between the sporting clay fields and the skeet houses. We should have the building permits by mid February.
Richard Beene, a skeet shooter, has taken over our web site. The goal is to keep it updated with current information and news about our club, shoot results and a calendar of events. If you have any thoughts or ideas about the website, contact the club and we will put you in touch with the right person.
We will have our annual members meeting at the club on May 1. We'd like to see all of you there. We'll be voting for three officers for the board. If you are interested in running, or if you know of someone you would like to nominate, contact anyone on the nominating committee: Brad O'Rear, Jimmy Kirkley and Jack McGee. We'd like to hear your thoughts about the club so make plans to attend the meeting.
As your President, I'd like to say thank you to everyone for your hard work and dedication to making our club happen. Whether it is volunteering or helping us financially, it is all important. And of course, we are always looking for volunteers for our shoots, whether it's keeping score or cleaning up at the end of the day.
I look forward to seeing you all out there.

Randy Asbill

Heller, Mitchell, Clodt lead field in ATA trap shoot

The first trap shoot of the year was held this month (Jan. 12-13) and featured a turnout of about 50 shooters. Jimmy Heller was the overall Champion on Sunday with a 187X200. Randy Mitchell shot a pair of 99s in the 16-yard singles to win Class AA. Lori Clodt posted a perfect 100 in the Event 2 singles (16-yard) in Class A. Another notable achievement: Nelson Asbill (son of our president Randy Asbill) shot a 99 in Class C on Saturday (16-yard line). For a complete list of the winners, go to the "shoot results" tab on this page. Congratulations to all the winners.