Syracuse.com - Hunters flock to Camillus Sportsmen's Club to sight in their guns in preparation for deer hunting season

[HuntingNY-News]

The deer hunting season in the Southern Zone opens next Saturday. Now's the time to see if your gun is shooting accurately. (SEE VIDEO) Watch video

There was steady traffic this morning at the Camillus Sportsmen's Club as hunters arrived to sight in their shotguns and rifles in preparation for next Saturday's opening of the firearms season for deer in the Southern Zone.

The club has been holding the event for years and it's open to the public.

 

"The traffic has been pretty steady. We had about 50 before noon," said Dick Masterpole, adding about a half dozen of those who signed up were women.

Club member Howard Dowlen, who was assisting shooters, said he's seeing more rifles this year than ever.

"At least half (of those guns sighted in today) were rifles," he said.

I brought my two guns, my father's 12-gauge Ithaca Deerslayer and my Remington 20 gauge.

The Remington was shooting a little high and after I figured that out I lowered my aim and put three in a group near the bull's-eye.

The 12-gauge, which has a scope and is usually dead-on accurate, was a different story. I took five shoots and couldn't hit the target. Frustrated, I kept thinking it was operator error. I bought another box of shells and let Masterpole shoot it. He missed the target completely the first time (way off to the upper left like I was shooting), adjusted the sight and then shot about six inches above the target, but lined up with the bull's-eye.

Once again, he adjusted the sight. He shot again and adjusted it again. By the fifth shot, he hit about 2 inches below dead center.

Those running the sight-in session said they're seeing more rifles than ever this year.David Figura | [email protected] 

"Dead deer," he said, handing me my gun back. Being out of shells, I left but plan to return Sunday at make sure I can replicate Masterpole's final shot myself.

It was a real lesson learned. I don't know what happened to it, but I had no idea that the gun's scope was off so much.

The sight-in session lasts today until 4 p.m. at the club and continues Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The club is located at 5801 Devoe Road, Camillus. Cost is $3 for the first gun and $1 for each additional firearm. For more, call 672-8331.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog