Last week, the good folks from Orvis had a group of magazine editors up to their Sandanona hunting preserve in Milbrook. Among the group were my colleague Chip Rowe and myself, and–brace yourself, pun ahead–we had a blast. Sandanona is a terrific facility, now entering its second century as a preserve, set on 400 beautifully maintained acres, and like Orvis’s sporting goods, clothing, and other products, it’s first class. We went up to shoot clays, and after receiving a lesson on how to handle a shotgun, we moved among the 20-odd shooting stations, each of which provided a different presentation of the targets. Some of them were flung away from us, some diverge in the distance, some go directly over your head, some skitter across the ground. Hitting them is hard work and righteously tiring–and fun. Thanks to our host Perk Perkins, our maestro James Hathaway, our guru Mike Quartararo, our wrangler Margaret Jackson, and everyone else who provided us with such a wonderful day.
Above, two shots of Team Playboy: Mike Q., Chip, me. Boy, did Chip and I get tired of carrying Mike through the competition.
Above left, some suspiciously accurate editors from Field & Stream.
Avove right, Margaret Jackson and her friend Alex Rodriquez.