Mother’s Day Skeet Shoot

Mother’s Day – 2014

Mother’s Day brings another of our favorite events.  The Palm Beach County Airboat and Half Track Conservation Club, Inc. puts on an annual skeet shoot which is usually held on Mothers Day.  Mark has been a member of this club for almost fifteen years and this is one of their events we love the most.  I personally love this event and missed the skeet shoot they held last November, so I had this one marked on the calendar well in advance.

A wonderful friend and a founding member of the club, Bob “Coon Dawg” McDonald encouraged us to join.  We spent many a good time with him and his gal Barbara at his camp in the Conservation area, running airboats, seeing the sights, giggin’ frogs and spending good time with great people.  The club was started in 1952 and works to insure the Everglades, wetlands, pinewoods and all other public lands of Florida continue in a wild and natural state, while working to promote conservation, preservation and propagation of all forms of wildlife.  In 1970 this club was the original builder and donator of the Everglades Youth Camp.  The Everglades Youth Camp is still in operation today and continues to provide wonderful summer camp fun and memories to the kids that attend, including Mark.  He went the first year it opened.

Mark, Kyle, Ryan and I have been participating in this skeet shoot for years and each of us has our own trophy wall to prove it.  Last November, Jenn and Tim joined in the fun and this year Ryan’s girlfriend,  Rose, made her first appearance.  The Mother’s Day Skeet Shoot is held at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and is really a great time and tons of fun.  There was a smaller showing than in November.  It’s not every Mom who wants to spend the day at a Skeet Shoot.  With about thirty people showing and a Game Wardon on hand to insure safe shooting, the competition opened with practice rounds.  Kyle dominated the family by shooting a perfect score  in the practice round, while the rest of us aimed to find our groove.   You shoot in groups according to age brackets and have three separate rounds of five shots per round.  A pull from the right, one from the left, a double and a rabbit.  As the shooting got under way, there was some tough competition.  The tougher the competition the more nervous I get.  The more nervous I get, the more I start to shake.  It’s true.   No clue why.  When Kyle struggled in his first round Ryan came out on top.  Kyle what happened? Kyle and Ryan are always dueling it out for first place.  The women, while not as strong as the men, put in  a good show and ended up in a tie for first place with Jenn and I shooting off against each other. Congratulations Jenn!!  Hot Dogs from the grill and a day of watching some fine shooting and exceptional talent.  As always we had a great time and won the following placements.  Men’s Division, Ryan first and Kyle second.  Mark placed second in the Men’s Senior Division.  Jenn, myself and Rose swept first, second and third place in the Women’s Division.  We’re looking forward to the Annual Banquet coming up soon.

This is a great organization with a 501(c)(3) status so your charitable donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.  An annual membership for families is $40.00 and a single member pays just $25.00.  It’s a minimal fee and goes a long way in support of the work they do.  Go to www.pbcairboatclub.com to join today.