Tales of Indiana Trapshooting

 

During the course of investigating the history of the State shoot, we've began to come across various stories & recollections of the good ol' days. If you have any stories to tell, please pass them along.

 

The following story comes from Mark Burgess about the Carmel Gun Club:

"I remember the Carmel Gun Club fairly well. A friend of the family and a friend to the Bargersville Gun Club ran the club for a time in the 60's.

The gun club was closed for a while in the 50's and the property was sold to the Carmel American Legion Post about 1960.  The gun club was located at 852 W Main St. Carmel, IN (also known as 131st St.) That address is about a quarter mile east of what they call now "Old  North Meridian" I went there a few (several) years ago and yes Sharon, just like you feared.....the Trap line is now paved over for a parking lot of a small "Strip Center". I was able to go around in back of the buildings and was able to find a few tiny pieces of broken targets.

Delbert Perry rented the trap grounds and part of the American Legion building and held Registered shoots there until the late 60's.  Delbert Perry never used the old dilapidated clubhouse and it was torn down in the mid 60's. The Carmel Gun Club had 4 trap fields. 

Delbert was known for having marathon style Singles events and many times having them, both on Saturday and Sunday. This was done mostly for Dr. Claud Donahue who was trying to get the ATA record of most Registered Targets shot. During the 60's there was also another gentleman by the name of Adolph Nelson from Michigan who had the record for the most targets at the time and shot there both Saturday and Sunday to keep ahead of "Doc".

Several well known Indianapolis shooters shot at the Carmel Gun Club. Claud Donahue. Frank and Edna Stark, George Tony, George Heaney and Clarence "Shorty" Hinds and many more".