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Guns, beer, fun mix at turkey shoots
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Guns, beer, fun mix at turkey shoots Some in Lexington County are exploring controls after Nov. 24 death By JOEY HOLLEMAN Staff Writer The Friday night turkey shoot at Gertie's Private Lounge in Edmund is one of those events your mama warned you to avoid.It's long-necked beer bottles and long-barrel rifles. It's plenty of profanity and no prohibitions. In a roundabout way, it's gambling and grocery shopping simultaneously.It's also a blast, which explains why dozens of people gather outside the honky-tonk on S.C. 302 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in November and December. Hundreds more gather at similar establishments throughout the state, combining their passions for firearms and fellowship in a South Carolina tradition. But no one knows exactly how many turkey shoots there are.The death of Riley Jeffcoat Jr. at a Gilbert turkey shoot Nov. 24 has some officials calling for restrictions on the events. According to police reports, Jeffcoat, 20, was shot by Mark Damon Anderson, 33, during a dispute about bringing a handgun into Wessinger's turkey shoot. No charges have been filed.Lexington County Council members have asked county zoning officials to work with the Sheriff's Department to find ways to improve turkey shoot safety. The county has no rules aimed specifically at turkey shoots.Charlie Compton, the longtime county planning director, said turkey shoots had never posed a problem for planning officials before Jeffcoat's death.Possible regulations could set closing times or seek to limit alcohol consumption."Firearms and alcohol do not go well together," said County Councilman Jacob Wilkerson at a recent council meeting. "I teach a (high school) hunter safety class, and that's one of the No. 1 things you teach them is don't hunt and drink."Law enforcement could put a crimp in turkey shoots. By state law, firearms taken from a vehicle to a place of business should be unloaded and in a lockable case. Most people arrived at Gertie's with rifles in hand, not in a case.State law also forbids shooting a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. Many at Gertie's appeared to be violating that regulation.Greg Branton of Gaston said he doesn't drink at turkey shoots, but worries that tighter regulations could make it more difficult to run a turkey shoot."With what happened in Gilbert, they're going to try to shut them down," Branton said.Jimmy Boone of Lexington said his dad first brought him to turkey shoots many years ago. He said authorities have cracked down before. It didn't work."If you make it illegal, it'll go underground, and it's been underground before," Boone said.These days, turkey shoots couldn't be any more above-board. Signs advertise them in front of bars and social clubs on rural roads throughout the state.Some offer high-class facilities, indoors with clothesline-type pulleys to send and retrieve paper targets. Most, such as Gertie's, are low-tech. The turkey shoot at Gertie's is run out of an unfinished-looking plywood and two-by-four structure about 10 feet from the concrete-block building. Two naked light bulbs hang from what could have been the ceiling. Participants and onlookers keep warm around a fire in an old oil drum. Michael Ray runs the turkey shoot for bar owner Al Kimble. Shooters pay him $2 for a chance to win a frozen turkey, ham or pork roast. For their money, they get a wooden block with a number that corresponds to one written on the back of a paper target.The bull's-eye is tacked on a wooden pole about 60 feet away. Ray gives the shooter a 12-gauge shotgun shell packed with high-velocity game load. Then, it's aim and shoot. Some take their time. Some shoot quickly. Some bend over and use the two-by-four frame for support. Others just spread their feet for a firm stance. Some use a shotgun provided by the bar. Most use their own rifles. Handguns aren't allowed.The pellets in the shell scatter, making it nearly impossible to miss the target. But that also makes it a game of chance. The winning target is the one with a pellet hole closest to the target cross hairs. After a round of shooting, Ray spreads the targets on a table and everyone helps determine a winner. One target with 10 holes in its smallest circle could lose to another that has only one hole right on the cross hairs."It's about 50-50 - 50 percent skill and 50 percent luck," Branton said.Branton, one of the few not drinking at the shoot, makes himself look like a liar. He and Lee Spires wear camouflage hunting gear and carry shiny rifles. They seem to be professional shooters. Most of the rest look like they came for the beer and the laughs.Branton wins the first round in which he competes."He comes down here with camo and a choke about two feet long on his gun; he ought to win," said Dan Essel of South Congaree. The comment, like most at the shoot, prompts loud laughter.Winning isn't a priority here. Everyone loves to tell about a turkey-shoot novice who came out the previous night and beat the veterans."He never shot a gun before," said Ron Gay of Gaston. "He wanted to know where the turkey was. He thought we had a real turkey to shoot."And then he won!"Essel said he and his teen-age son "won five pieces of meat last weekend. I'm unemployed right now, so I'm filling my freezer up."Drinking-age males make up most of the crowd, but women and boys get in a few shots. State law allows children younger than 18 to use rifles under their parents' supervision. The youngest, 3-year-old Alex Kimble, pulls the trigger after his father, Kevin, aims the rifle."Did you win Mommy a turkey?" asks Alex's mother, Shellie Kimble. He didn't, but his disappointment lasts only a few seconds before he is running circles in the parking lot.Throughout the night, the effects of alcohol begin to show on some of the shooters. They slur their words and wobble on their feet. But every time they take a shot, they hit the target.Ray said the only precaution he takes is to stand behind the shooters, ready to steady them if they need help. He said he's never had any problems at the Gertie's turkey shoot."They've had some problems inside," he said, pointing toward the bar. "Out here, they're just having a good time."
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