EDGEFIELD, S.C. — After an exciting weekend of shooting during the 2017 National Wild Turkey Federation Still Target Championship in Edgefield, champions were crowned in six divisions, and three competitors came away holding new world records.
"The World Still Target Championship again proved to be about much more than crowning a new champion," said Dave Mahlke, NWTF Senior VP of Volunteer Relations and Fundraising. "It is about friends, family and fellowship, and each year that shows more and more."
Joseph Sloan, who has been shooting since he started hunting with his dad at age five, shattered the previous record of 63 in the 12-gauge Open Class, shooting an 80. Sloan was shooting 12-gauge Winchester Long Beard XR #6 out of a custom bolt-action Savage with an Indian Creek choke.
The 20-Gauge Hunter Class record was the second to fall. Cody Waters broke the previous record of 23 by shooting a 35. Waters, the 2016 champion in the 20-Gauge Hunter Class, was shooting 20-gauge Winchester Long Beard XR #6, out of a Remington 870 with a JEBS Headhunter choke.
Chris Scott broke the record in the 20-Gauge Open class by posting a mark of 39. He was shooting 20-gauge Winchester Long Beard XR #6, from his Ithaca-Gunworks shotgun with an Indian Creek .555 choke tube.
"We are excited about the future of shooting sports when we see our younger generation stepping up to the plate and delivering world records," said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. "Although we had three new records within the six divisions, hunters around the country searching for the best turkey gun combinations can benefit from the results of the shoot."
2017 Still Target World Championship winners:
12 GA Hunter – Cody Waters
Scores: 43, 23 and 19
Gun: Browning BPS
Choke: Jebs's Headhunter .650
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard #6
20 GA Hunter – Brian Sloan
Scores: 23 and 18
Gun: Remington 11-87
Choke: Indian Creek
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR #6
12 GA Open – Eli Sloan
Scores: 43 and 43
Gun: Custom Savage
Choke: Indian Creek
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR #6
20 GA Open – Karie Scott
Scores: 35 and 20
Gun: Custom Savage
Choke: Indian Creek
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR #6
20 GA Ladies – Doris Bush
Score: 29 and 24
Gun: Custom Savage
Choke: Jeb's Headhunter .555
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR #6
20 GA JAKES – Joseph Sloan
Scores: 31 and 25
Gun: Custom Ithica
Choke: Indian Creek
Ammunition: Winchester Long Beard XR #6
The Still Target Championships, sponsored by Winchester Ammunition and Berenz Packaging Corporation, began as a way for hunters and the turkey hunting industry to showcase new technology and define best practices for patterning a shotgun and achieving ethical turkey hunting conditions. Competitors shoot turkey loads at paper turkey targets 40 yards away to try to achieve the highest pellet count possible within a three inch circle.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.
For more information, contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698
Records fall, champions crowned at Still Target Championship
