Trapshooters Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Visiting Napa Valley. Now what?

4K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  wireguy 
#1 ·
My wife and I will be visiting Napa Valley sometime next summer for wedding. We'd like to engage in a little clay shooting - trap for both, skeet for just me - and we are not interested in traveling with our shotguns. Where, then, might shooters from the Midwest rent guns, buy ammo, and shot some clay?

I don't know specifics, yet. All that's on the table is that the wedding will be in Napa Valley. We will have a car. I have the claytargetsonline website open.

Thanks for any/all suggestions.

Larry Frieders |

Grandpa's Arms, Inc. |

340 Marshall Ave #100 | Aurora, IL 60506 |
Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm |
Office: 630.859.0333 Cell: 630.992.7513 FAX: 630.859.0114
 
#2 ·
You do realize that this is just north of commie land (San Francisco)? Speaking the word "gun" or the word "shooting" will get one of the anti-gun activists to raise their head and wake up the anti-gun people in the California legislature to start a new bill in congress. Lord help us if they place any more on the table for a vote. Please don't stop at any gas stations or convenience stores and ask "where's the nearest trap range"? That will get the place shut down.

Seriously though, there's a map in the above link where you can rest your mouse over that will show you where the shooting ranges in California are located.

Kevin
 
#3 ·
There are several Great Gun Clubs that shoot Registered Trap and Skeet in the area but I am not sure about Gun Rental. Martinez Gun Club is south of Napa and throws Trap And Skeet, Livermore Rod and Gun is further South and is Trap Only. If you don't care about Registered Targets then I would Recommend going to Birds Landing
 
#7 ·
Well, lots of good advice already, except all that commie crap. There's a lot of good ole boys in the valley, lots of italians who like to shoot, mostly deer, and italian mallards, and honkers, and doves, and qail, well just about anything that flies. There's a Tule Elk mount in the DF&G HQ building going up Silverado Trail that would have been a world record, but it drowned crossing a slough. Stop in there and check it out.

VOMTC is just trap I believe, they also have an awesome 5-stand I hear.

I believe Travis AFB Skeet club is the only northbay club with both. You'll have to cross the bridge to the east bay to get to MGC, which is mostly a trap club also. MGC is the oldest continuously operating gun club in the US, since 1880 or something like that. How's that for commie land! Napa to Travis is about 25 minutes, depending on how far up-valley you're staying. You can PM me here next summer, and I'll help you get on base. We only shoot Tues, Sat, Sun 10 - 2pm. We'll find you a gun or two to shoot. Why don't you want to bring yours, really no problem flying with them.

If you like Sporting, Birds is not to be missed, very good sporting clays targets and a great cheeseburger also.

Don't forget to do some tasting, some of my favorites; Etude, Stags Leap, BV Reserve room (just ask for the George's), the castle, shady lane merlot (very rare & almost impossible to find). Have fun.
 
#8 ·
Well, lots of good advice already, except all that commie crap. There's a lot of good ole boys in the valley, lots of italians who like to shoot, mostly deer, and italian mallards, and honkers, and doves, and qail, well just about anything that flies. There's a Tule Elk mount in the DF&G HQ building going up Silverado Trail that would have been a world record, but it drowned crossing a slough. Stop in there and check it out.

VOMTC is just trap I believe, they also have an awesome 5-stand I hear.

I believe Travis AFB Skeet club is the only northbay club with both. You'll have to cross the bridge to the east bay to get to MGC, which is mostly a trap club also. MGC is the oldest continuously operating gun club in the US, since 1880 or something like that. How's that for commie land! Napa to Travis is about 25 minutes, depending on how far up-valley you're staying. You can PM me here next summer, and I'll help you get on base. We only shoot Tues, Sat, Sun 10 - 2pm. We'll find you a gun or two to shoot. Why don't you want to bring yours, really no problem flying with them.

If you like Sporting, Birds is not to be missed, very good sporting clays targets and a great cheeseburger also.

Don't forget to do some tasting, some of my favorites; Etude, Stags Leap, BV Reserve room (just ask for the George's), the castle, shady lane merlot (very rare & almost impossible to find). Have fun.
 
#13 ·
Wireguy, you live in Alaska or something? I live in central CA, where the temperatures can hit 100 around a dozen days a year. Most often in the low to mid 90's...but in the famous words of those in Arizona "it's a dry heat". When it is a 115, it is just hot.

Anyway, Napa is not coastal as such, but average in June is 81, Jul-Sept average is 83. Mornings in the low 50's, but early spring and late fall the morning temperatures can drop...thus the wine country since I guess grapes like that.

Anyway, I am not from Napa, live about an hour away, but unless low 80's make you sweat a lot, not going to happen. I often wish for their weather in July when we are 102, and Napa is having a heat wave at 87.
 
#14 ·
I have to laugh at the "Commie" reference. A friend of mine, a "good old boy" and avid hot rodder, right winger, etc...has a cabin that he and his wife rent out in the area. Very reasonable and private. Near the property of his "spread", which includes his newer grand home and hot rod shop, is a kind of a commune with counterculture/"real" self avowded Communists. That commune is his next door neighbor about 1/8 of a mile away. He never sees or hears from them. It is a quiet area.

The joke is, (to me, anyway) it is a true commune...and they never do much or change much, since all votes on a project must be by a total majority! So they are conservative in the long run, by default, they never change much since they require a total majority to do so! Kinda ironic and comical, is it not?

But seriously, and the above is true, he lives on St. Helena Road between Napa and Sonoma Valleys. If you would like, send me a private message and I'll send the link to his very fairly priced private cabin which is a place that is way cool to stay in and relax...private, beautiful setting etc. I've heard that the Valley of the Moon is a beautiful place. Be sure to visit the Kenwood Winery, I have a friend that is a vintner there...great wine, etc.
 
#15 ·
Valley of the Moon Trap Club (of which I am a member) is a very pleasant place to shoot and is near the town of Sonoma - about 15 minutes from the south end of the Napa Valley. The club has six traps (no skeet) and one 5 stand. It is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays. Nonmembers pay $6 per round (except 5 stand). The web site (http://vomtc.org/) shows pictures and gives a good description of the club.

As to gun rental, why not ship your gun to yourself at your hotel? There is no need to go through a FFL when you are the sender and the recipient.

The advice about being prepared to sweat is nonsense. Sure, Napa (and Sonoma) can get hot, but not always and not very. Maybe he is thinking about Kingsburg. If you are really concerned about the heat, shoot early. VOM opens around 9 AM.

Ted K.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top