SUN CITY – Sun City’s Sportsmen’s Club is one group that hits its target, over and over again. You might say they’re a bunch of straight shooters.
Whether it’s shotguns, handguns, or clay pigeons, the group enjoys target-shooting year-round, and its members probably know more about firearm safety than most other organizations. Be assured, however, they don’t do any of this at Sun City, or anywhere near it.
The mostly-male group of about 45 target-shooting enthusiasts is one of Sun City’s charter clubs. Their members can usually be found at Silver Spring State Park, south of Huntley on Route 47, Coon Creek Gun Club, north of Huntley, at Gatt Guns in East Dundee for indoor activities, or at an outdoor range near DeKalb.
“Our goal is to have fun and socialize while enjoying a hobby that we share,” said James Van Fleet, current president. “The shotgun guys enjoy skeet shooting using clay pigeons launched from a throwing apparatus. There are several locations close by where that can be done safely and legally. We are not political radicals; we are just a group of gun owners who enjoy target-shooting.”
“We typically go out in the morning on a weekly or twice-monthly basis, do some shooting, and wind up having lunch together,” Van Fleet continued. “Many of us got interested in firearms when we served in the armed forces … We spend some time informing each other about firearm safety and legislation related to firearm safety … We recently invited State Rep. Mike Tryon to speak to us about firearm regulations, legislation, and safety.”
Like most other charter clubs, they also love to just get together and enjoy each other’s company. “We have an annual picnic at the pavilion in the summer, and we get together for a Christmas party during the holidays,” he said. “We also have the love of the outdoors in common … Many of us are members of the Angler’s Club, and we spend as much time fishing as shooting. Fishing is nice because we can do that close to home.”
Target-shooting is as competitive as you want to make it, Van Fleet explained. “Some of our handgun shooters compete occasionally, and we provide a gift certificate to the first- and second-place winners. But that isn’t the primary name of the game … We are a social group that gets a kick out of target shooting. Some of us hunt separately, but hunting isn’t part of our group’s activities.”
The group meets in Meadow View Lodge on the third Monday morning of each month for discussions or to plan future activities. Some members meet on Tuesdays. Without their weapons, of course.
