The Growth of Prescott GC
“One of the most enterprising gun clubs in the far west is the Prescott Gun Club of Prescott, Arizona. While small in point of membership when numerous and similar organizations are taken to consideration, yet the progressive spirit of its members and their determined efforts to have themselves known in the trap shooting world have excited admiration and much favorable comment. The club was organized Oct. 27,1890 with a membership of ten. Since then the number has largely increased until it’s probably the largest shooting club, numerically speaking,in Arizona . The club has five expert traps fitted with one of Paul North's electric pulls. The club’s shoot on July 3rd and 5th this year had an average of eighteen entries and with the $100 added money presented $266 in prizes. It made no charge for targets.
“There is a territorial organization of gun clubs composed of Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson and, Tempe, and a territorial diamond badge valued at $250, which is shot for by four members from each club. It is now held by the Phoenix club, the team winning by a score of 139 out of a possible 160 ….The gold badge for 1894 for best average [in the Prescott GC] for five hundred targets was won by J.M. Aitken with an average of .793.”
September 1895 (1890 photo of Prescott GC site #1 with Thumb Butte in background)
Photo Prescott GC April 24, 1960 at site #2 near current airport.