PHOENIX – It’s official: The Arizona Game and Fish Department has assumed operational control of the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. Management of the public shotgun-shooting facility in north Phoenix transitioned from a private vendor to Game and Fish this week, and the center reopened under new, expanded hours on Sept. 20.

Several eager shooters were at the gates for the 7 a.m. opening.

Frank Mercurio and Forrest Allen, both of Prescott, were the first to try out the new sporting clays executive course. They were greeted with new shooting stations, benches, gun racks and card readers.

“We’re excited about the changes,” says Allen. “You can see that a lot of work is being done. There’s a lot of enthusiasm out here.”

Over on the north side of the center, the first trio of skeet shooters took turns knocking clay birds out of the sky. One of the group, Sam Duncan of Phoenix, is the director of the Arizona State Skeet Shooting Association.

“This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for area shooters,” says Duncan. “I’ve been speaking with Game and Fish people about this for some time, and they’ve been extremely accommodating and helpful.”

Her fellow shooters, Duane Morrow of Phoenix and Larry Mantle of Peoria, echoed her sentiments. “I live nearby, so I think I’ll be out here five days a week,” says Mantle.

The first trap customers were Jack Thompson of Carefree, Virgil Knox of Sun City, and Bud Parker of Phoenix. They showed their skills vaporizing targets against the scenic desert mountain backdrop of the Ben Avery property.

“I’ve been shooting more than 60 years—high-power, .22s, pistols and shotguns,” says Thompson. “I think the changes that are happening here are going to be great.”

Work continues on various areas of the Clay Target Center. Renovations are being finalized on the six easternmost fields of the trap and skeet line. The skeet houses on these fields have been refurbished and new dividing walls erected. The existing trap houses have been replaced with modern, pre-cast trap houses and new hydraulic PAT traps. A new electrical system has been installed, and new card reader and voice activation systems are being added.

There is now a six-station executive sporting clays course and a 10-station sporting clays course. One of the stations on the latter course includes an 8-foot high shooting platform.

Renovation of the other trap and skeet fields and clubhouse will begin in the near future. At full buildout—anticipated to be completed by early 2007—the Clay Target Center will have 18 fully functional trap and skeet fields (14 overlays with four additional trap fields).

“This is an exciting time,” says Dana Yost, assistant director of information and education for Game and Fish. “The department has already made a lot of improvements shooters will appreciate, but many more are underway.”

Yost says that for the next several months, the center will be a work-in-progress, but shooters can still expect top-notch service. “This is a great time to tune up for the upcoming quail, waterfowl and dove seasons. Come on out and visit us,” he says.

The Ben Avery Clay Target Center is located off Carefree Highway, about 1.5 miles west of I-17. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. The last check-in time for trap and skeet is 8:30 p.m. The center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

For pricing and additional information, visit azgfd.gov/ctc or call (623) 434-8119.