The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is coming to Oregon with its popular Sporting Clay Shoot on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Mitchell’s Clay Target Sports in Gervais.
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is a non-profit conservation-based hunting and fishing organization exclusively for union members, retirees and their families. Working with its AFL-CIO affiliated trade union partners, the USA’s primary goal is to increase federal funding for protecting wildlife habitat while simultaneously guaranteeing access for hunters and anglers, and helping to recruit the next generation of outdoorsmen and women.
USA has been holding clay shoots throughout the country (in 24 cities) for the past four years. The closest one to Oregon was in Puyallup, Washington.
“We had some union members from Oregon come to the Washington clay shoot,” said Tim Bindle of USA. “They suggested we hold one in Oregon. The support was there, so we decided to do it.”
USA has more than 20,000 members in the United States and Canada — 500 are from Oregon.
Bindl hopes to draw 60 to 80 people to the Gervais clay shoot.
Registration is $125 per person. Registration includes everything — from 100 rounds of sporting clays, 100 rounds of shells (either 12 gauge or 20 gauge), a shotgun if needed, lunch, beverages, a chance at door prizes, and opportunities to win several guns and other great items.
Union and corporate sponsorships also are available, ranging from $500 to $5,000.
All proceeds from the event support the USA and national and local conservation efforts.
Awards will be given for the highest scoring (4-person) teams and top individual shooters. First-time shooters are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Mitchell’s Clay Target Sports is located at 6181 Concomly Rd., Gervais.
Registration is from 8 to 9 a.m. (donuts and coffee provided). Shooting starts at 9:30 a.m. The deadline for submission of shooter names is Oct. 10.
For details on sponsorships, or to register, contact Bindl at [email protected] or Heather Tazelaar at 877- 872-2211.
Members of nearly a dozen unions in Oregon are eligible for free membership in the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. The unions are the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; International Association of Machinists; United Association of Plumbers and Fitters; Sheet Metal Workers; Painters and Allied Trades; Boilermakers; Roofers; Elevator Constructors; Insulators; and Laborers.
USA members get four issues per year of The Union Sportsmen’s Journal; a one-year MyTopo.com online mapping subscription; monthly e-newsletter with tips and special offers; discounts on outdoor gear and services; chances to win prizes and trips all year; personalized USA membership card; access to ‘members-only” section of the USA website; and opportunity to participate in USA’s Boots on the Ground conservation projects.
For those not a member of the aforementioned unions, a three-year membership in USA is only $45. To join, visit www.unionsportsmen.org.
