2016 Gator Cup.

Transcription

1 2016 Gator Cup Last week (Wednesday to Sunday), I once again worked the Gator Cup. This is a major sporting clays shoot, I'm guessing in the top 4 of all the shoots in the US. There were 568 shooters in all, including the other events like, FITASC, Subgauge FITASC, 5 Stand, & the Sub-gauge event. Here is a link to all the scores: Quail Creek Plantation is a Orvis approved facility and considered one of the top five sporting clay venues in the whole US. Main entrance into Quail Creek Plantation Since most who will see this, are not shooters, I will not bore you with many photos of shooters, but will show a few pictures of some of the stations (where shooters stand to shoot at the clay targets).

2 About a mile East of the sporting clay fields is another entrance to Quail Creek Plantation, which leads to the hunting part of the 3,000 acre complex. The management has always spoiled me, by providing me with a cabin to stay in while I'm there. These little cabins have 2 beds, and a fold out couch, and a loft. All the amenities like full kitchen, TV,Wi-Fi, central air...what more do you need.. No. 6 was our cabin this year

3 a few of the other cabins Next to the main hunting lodge is a nice fire pit. There is a fire in the pit every night for those who choose to sit around after dinner and socialize.

4 Adjacent to the driveway going past the cabins, is a nice small lake. This lake is full of Bass. Catch and release is the name of the game, but any guest is welcome to fish as much as they want. Early Saturday morning, Morgan and I decided to go out for breakfast. I spotted one of the cooks doing a little fishing before heading over to the sporting clay area to open up the kitchen for the early shooters. Now that I've mentioned breakfast... I'll try to explain the old world Florida place we went to. I'm guessing this place was built back in the 40's or early 50's. Long before I-95 or Florida turnpike brought the crowds down the East coast... An old fashioned grocery store...gas and diesel pumps out front, inside; groceries, hardware area (bulk chain on spools, wire, rope, etc etc., a gun department, and outdoor department with fishing and trapping gear..then of course a large deli and cooking area. Place your order, wait at end of counter, pick it up boxed to go, or in-house. Find a seat at one of the 15 small tables, and enjoy.

5 My breakfast: Scrambled eggs, Biscuit & sausage gravy bacon, and grits...$4.00

6 Morgan enjoys breakfast. Note all the small bottles on the partition. Those are hot sauce bottles customers bring in. Many are home made. They are left for others to enjoy. Immediately behind Morgan is the gun department, complete with John Wayne picture.

7 It would take hours to walk all around Carter's and absorb all the unique items that have accumulated over it's many years of business. Morgan and his Dad used to stop in here after shooting Fridays at Quail Creek, for their weekly fish sandwich. The fish is so popular, long lines are often the norm,as the deep fry operation is outside in a small, separate building. One of the many items of decoration in Carter's

8 Hey...it's called the Gator Cup for a reason Now...back to the shooting------

9 Next to the 5 stand event Morgan and I ran, was the sub-gauge FITASC event. I got a kick out of the referee's colorful shorts and official orange T-shirt.

10 From our working platform for 5 stand, we get a good view of the shooters. Look at this shooters shotgun. Blue and white striped composite stock. You do get to see some unusual and interesting things. I did say we were at Quail Creek Plantation. Wandering around one of the vendor sites, was this lost quail...

11 Over on the Sub Gauge course, station #1. Within last three weeks, brand new covered shooting stands have been added to the entire Blue course, and 4 of the 7 sub gauge stations. (the other three to be completed soon) Several portable towers are utilized to provide a variety of challenging targets

12 Another beautiful, well shaded, shooting position After work each day, the first stop is the cabin to freshen up, and have a quick Happy-Hour. Morgan's beautiful portable beverage box is our go-to source.

13 Always a hard decision on which great place to go to for dinner. This night we ventured to a place named; 12A Buoy, right on the Fort Pierce waterfront. Nothing fancy, a favorite of the locals. Inside and outside seating. What is so unique are the nightly specials. Always fresh caught that day, many times it is fish totally unavailable in a regular restaurant that buys it's fish from a market. The special (& my selection) for the night. Yellow finned Snapper. Yellow finned Snapped is NOT legal for commercial fisherman to keep, but is for non-commercial fisherman. A very fine tasting firm white fish, this would have come in fresh from a small fishing boat this afternoon. Last year at this place I had a delicious Red Fish dinner. Also the special that evening.

14 From the parking lot at 12A, looking out over the marina, a large fishing charter boat, and the South bridge in the background. The waterway here is the Indian River. Which is also the Inner Coastal passageway. The bridge leads to the barrier island which protects this area from the Atlantic Ocean. Bar area in 12A Buoy

15 One of the many beautiful mounts inside the main lodge

16 One can always eat over in the main lodge at Quail Creek... if you can get by the sign at the entrance On Saturday night, there is always a huge banquet for the shooters and their guests. The main entree is a huge piece of smoked prime rib. Cooked to perfection, one often hears this meal is the highlight of the week for many of the shooters. This year they served over 600 dinners in about 45 minutes. To say they have their act together is an understatement. Awards are always part of such an event. One of this highlights was a special recognition and thank you by management of Quail Creek to long-time pro shooter, Gary Bloom. Gary has been at Quail Creek for 11 years, and this was his last tournament as he enters retirement. Cute story: Gary set the Blue course for the main event. He was overheard saying to his right-hand man, there, no-one will shoot a hundred on that. Well never say never... Anthony Matarese went out on Saturday and shot a perfect 100 on the course. Then followed up on Sunday with a 96

17 on the Red course for a total of 196/200 to Win the Gator Cup. The Runner Up shot a 192/ Anthony was just smokin those targets. Manager Fred Fanizzi presents Gary with well deserved plaque Looks like it's time to close up and say good-bye till next years Gator Cup Photo above is Chuck Fraser (Promatic Traps) picking up some of the many extra traps that were brought in and utilized for the shoot.

18 THE END