The Juneau Gun Club and Alaska Department of Fish and Game Hunter Education Facility welcomed back its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot on Saturday.
Range manager Dan Palicka said the club was excited to bring back the event after a two-year hiatus.
“We haven’t had it for the past two years because of COVID,” Palicka said. “I’m not exactly sure how long it’s been going on, but I know I’ve volunteered for at least 10 years in the past that they’ve done it. It involves, Fish and Game, Juneau Archery Club, the Juneau Gun Club and Juneau Shooting Sports Foundation sponsors it.”
Shooting at turkey targets with a revolver was just one of many activities at this year’s Thanksgiving turkey shoot, which was hosted by Juneau Gun Club, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game building, Juneau Shooting Sports Foundation, and the Juneau Archery Club. Nearly 60 turkeys and 40 different gift cards were handed out to winning participants at the annual event on Saturday, Nov. 19. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Palicka, who also works as a Fish and Game employee and is in charge of running the Juneau education shooting complex, said participants could choose from a several of different events ranging from archery, rifles, pistols and shotguns with various targets, all designed around winning prizes. This year the event had roughly 60 turkeys and 40 different gift cards to give away to winning participants.
“Its part skill, part chance, so in this spot specifically we’re doing revolvers and the ammo and guns are provided,” Palicka said. “On the half hour, we pull tickets and the person with the best score within that half hour gets a turkey and then everyone that shoots get a chance at one of the gift cards. The archery side is doing a similar thing and up the hill from here at the shotgun club they have four different events running, as well. Here the fee is $4, the archery side is free, and the shotgun club is anywhere between $2 and $10 depending on which event.”
Palicka said the money received goes toward the prize turkeys and gift cards, as well as the supplies required for each of the events. Palicka added that since opening the doors at 10 a.m. the club had seen a steady crowd of enthusiastic people.
“In the past when we’ve done this, we’ve had over 300 people come through and seeing how it’s the first year back in person, we’re anticipating being somewhere in the neighborhood of that number,” Palicka said. “It usually gets a little busier from noon to three, so it’s starting to ramp up.”
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
