Wasco Elks Lodge brings unique event

Wasco Elks Lodge #2419 will host its first annual Clay Shoot Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, April 15, at the Kern County Gun Club. It will be a morning of play for all levels, from beginners to experts.

Clay Shooting is an event where you use a shotgun to shoot clay targets tossed in the air or across the ground. To add fun and competitiveness to the event, there are a number of shooting stations to test your skills. It is very similar to a golf tournament, but instead of completing 18 holes, participants are required to experience different shooting stations.

Jeff Tackett is the Wasco Elks Lodge chairman of the board and has been a club member for nine years. He said he enjoys the many charitable efforts the club supports to benefit youth and many other local organizations, like Toys for Tigers.

He said the money raised from the tournament would continue to fund their many philanthropic activities locally here in Wasco and across the country.

Of the tournament, he said, "It will be a lot of fun for everyone, socializing and getting to meet new people. It is something enjoyable to get you out in nature and contribute to a good cause. People like it. I loved it the first time I tried it last year, and this time around, we are bringing it to the community of Wasco."

Tackett said it is a popular and growing sport.

"In the last ten years, it has really taken off. It started in California, and it's catching on real quick where you see it starting to pop up all over the place."

It will be exciting and safe at the same time.

"It is very safe because we will have a National Rifle Association representative there to go over the rules and make sure everyone has safety glasses and earplugs. The representative will also go over how to have good gun control when shooting and good gun care."

"If you've never done it before, let us know, and we will walk you through it. Everybody helps out, and it's just a friendly game. Plus, it is a chance to see a lot of people with nice shotguns."

Participants must bring their own shotgun and lead shot shells, although you can purchase them at the gun club. You can share one shotgun if you play on a team.

"If you have a golf cart, bring it to go from station to station," Tackett said.

The fee to participate is $100 per person, and there are top prizes for the winners in a team of up to five people and male, female and youth categories.

A catered lunch will be provided, and there will also be multiple gun raffles.

For the general raffle, a ticket for $5 or $20 for six could win a 12 gauge shotgun or a 12 gauge pump shotgun.

For the premium raffle, tickets are $20 each or $100 for six for an opportunity to win a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun or a 12 gauge over-and-under shotgun.

Additional gift cards and other prizes will be awarded in both raffle categories.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the shoot start at 8:30 a.m. at 12450 Shotgun Rd., in Bakersfield (north side of Buena Vista Lake). Pre-registration is recommended, and you can do so by contacting Jeff Tackett at 661-979-5615, Chris Shaw at 661-910-0512 or Sergio Garza at 661-747-9044.