Coon Creek Trap & Skeet Club Located
in Lincoln California and is owned and operated by Joan
& George Ahart.
Coon Creek offers many different shooting disciplines,
from Trap, International Trap sometimes called Olympic
Trap, Bunker Trap, Skeet & Sporting
Clays.
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| Tuesday - |
10am to 6:30pm or dusk whichever comes first. |
| Thursday - |
10am to 6:30pm or dusk whichever comes first. |
| Saturday - |
10am to 6:30pm or dusk whichever comes first. |
| Sunday - |
10am to 6:30pm or dusk whichever comes first. |
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Photo By Karina Williams
George Ahart takes aim at
a target at his Coon Creek Trap and Skeet Club
Friday afternoon. |
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Trapshooter inducted to hall of fame
By Brandon Darnell, News Messenger Reporter
George Ahart, who started trapshooting in 1978, has done
quite well at it.
The 73-year-old Lincoln
resident just received confirmation that he is one of
the newest inductees into the Pacific International
Trapshooting Association (PITA) Hall of Fame.
Ahart was inducted to the hall of fame based on his
service to Pacific International Trapshooting
Association and the sport of trapshooting.
“It’s
kind of a national happening,” Ahart said. “I didn’t
realize I was going to be inducted.”
Ahart’s
service to the association includes more than 20 years’
service on the executive board, including holding the
title of president in 1990 and 1991.
“In 1991,
George was the driving force in getting the first woman
on the Executive Committee, and, in 1992, his efforts
elected Pat Zeller, the first woman president of the
PITA,” according to the hall of fame induction notice.
Ahart founded the Youth Education Shooting Program
in 2001, which teaches youths gun safety, shooting
skills and sportsmanship. Pacific International
Trapshooting Association donates scholarships to youth.
One of the recipients later participated in the
Olympics, Ahart said.
The Pacific International
Trapshooting Association’s Hall of Fame was established
in 1995. The association was formed in 1932.
Ahart is the 48th inductee.
“The hall of fame is
like Cooperstown in Baseball,” Ahart said. “Half of them
are dead. It was a neat deal to get in while I’m still
alive.”
Although inducted into the hall of fame
for his service, Ahart is no slouch when it comes to
shooting, having fired at about 435,000 targets in
competition.
“I want to make it to 500,000 before
I croak,” Ahart said.
His favorite firearm is
his Perazzi shotgun, made in Italy.
Ahart said
his favorite aspect of trapshooting is the camaraderie
with his fellow shooters.
Founding the Coon Creek
Trap And Skeet Club at 5393 Waltz Road, Ahart runs it
with his wife, Joan, and interacts daily with shooters.
A lifelong Lincoln resident, Ahart said his family
dates back much further.
“My family came out
here in 1854,” Ahart said, adding that several downtown
buildings were originally houses belonging to the
Aharts.
Ahart attended Sheridan Elementary School
as one of eight students before eventually graduating
from Lincoln High School in 1953. In 1955, he graduated
from Sierra College.
Ahart opened a
sporting-goods store in Citrus Heights before deciding
to have his own trap and skeet club.
The most
rewarding aspect of owning the Coon Creek Trap and Skeet
Club, Ahart said, is having the local youth teams
practice and compete there.
“We have the Del Oro
and Woodcreek and Lincoln High School teams come out
here,” Ahart said.
According to Sue Brewer,
executive secretary of Pacific International
Trapshooting Association, Ahart is always willing to
help.
“He helps other clubs, provides trap
machines, his expertise and knows how to repair
everything,” Brewer said.
During the state
championship shoot in Hawaii three years ago, Ahart
gained no small measure of fame for donning a grass
skirt and coconut bra. Despite the clowning around,
Ahart spent a great deal of his time on the tropical
island helping the local trap club repair its machines
instead of lazing on the beach.
“He’s just known
all over,” Brewer said. “He’s just a great guy. He’ll do
anything for anybody.”
One of Ahart’s recent
contributions to charity was when, in November, he
jumped out of an airplane to raise money for the Toys
For Tots program in Lincoln.
On another occasion
several years ago, according to Brewer, Ahart had been
having a bad year injury-wise. As a joke, some friends
dressed him up in kneepads, a helmet and other
protective gear.
When friends razzed Ahart over
his appearance, Ahart managed to generate $500 for
charity by shooting in the getup Brewer described as
gaudy.
“Kind and generous – he is that,” said
Charles Redding, a friend of Ahart’s since 1984.
Redding’s son participated in the youth program and has
competed all over the world, including for the U.S.
Olympic team.
“George’s youth program is probably
one of the finest in the nation,” Redding said.
Brandon Darnell can be reached by e-mail at
brandond@goldcountrymedia.com.
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