Daytripping: Aim for some fun,
What did you do?
I shot a round of sporting clays at the Fairmont Kenauk in Montebello, Que. It was exhilarating; it was embarrassing; it was fun.
What are “sporting clays”?
The name for a form of claypigeon shooting. Using a shotgun, you try to hit flying targets, the “clay pigeons” — though they’re actually orange Frisbee-like discs made from biodegradable limestone and sulphur, not clay. Think of it as hunting where nothing gets killed.
So it’s skeet shooting, right?
Sort of. But there are two differences. First, unlike skeet, where targets appear in repeated patterns and speeds, here the target patterns vary wildly. There’s even one that simulates a rabbit bounding along the ground. And second, the participant moves from station to station over natural terrain. Some wag has said it’s like “golf with a shotgun.”
So one has to be an expert marksman, then?
It helps. But I’d never held a firearm in my life. I felt comfortable when guide Michel Touchette said about one of every five he takes through the course is a novice. That turned out to be false comfort.
Why?
I was a total disaster, hitting absolutely nothing during the 90-minute outing. I blame the fact
there was so much to learn.
Like what?
Place one foot ahead of the other, lean against the railing of the shooting stand, and put my weight on my toes. Press the butt of the Browning 20-gauge gun against my shoulder — between the collar bone and rotator cuff — and brace it with my cheekbone. Look down the top of the barrel with one eye closed, then both eyes open. Follow the target with the gun barrel, line the two up, close that one eye again, then fire while the gun is still arcing upward. Carry the firearm safely from one station to the next. (Loading and unloading the gun safely was the easiest lesson, thank goodness.)
With such bad aim, you must have looked like a shmuck.
Yes, especially after Michel shot two quick rounds with perfect accuracy. Thankfully, my wife Oxana didn’t show me up — even though Michel noted that among inexperienced shooters, women are often better than men. “The men think they know it all,” he said, eyes a-twinkle. “The women pay attention.”
I don’t know much about Kenauk.
You might know the Château Montebello, a rustic but pampering resort that used to be a private club for royalty and titans of business. Think of Kenauk as Montebello’s “Back 40.” Or, more accurately, its back 65,000 acres (that’s more than four times the size of Manhattan). The reserve, established as a seigniory in 1674 by the king of France, remains a vast boreal wilderness studded with 65 lakes and all manner of wildlife — deer, moose, bears — managed by resident biologists. Last month, the property, which has 13 chalets for rent, was put up for sale; meanwhile, it remains open.
You said your experience was exhilarating.
It sure was. Besides the excitement of doing something new, I stood in that unspoiled place, revelling in the tranquillity that only a remote majestic forest can bring. The sole sound, apart from chuckling over my not-so-near misses, was the echo of gunfire. Earplugs helped diminish the sound, but it took getting used to.
Anything surprise you?
The heft of the gun. And discovering I liked the experience, though hunting isn’t for me. And the fact we were briefed in a cabin built to portray Ernest Hemingway’s writing cabin for the 1996 movie Love and War.
I’m in! How do I sign up?
Phone 819-423-5573 or 800-5676845, though you should reserve at least a day or two in advance; it’s a first-come, first-served operation. The cost is $105 per person for a 50-shot course, or $85 per person for 25 shots, with a minimum of two persons per session. Discounts are offered for larger groups and for those bringing their own guns and ammunition.
How do you get there?
For the quickest drive, head east on Autoroute 50 from Gatineau. Take Exit 210 and head south on Route 323, then east on Route 148. Drive through Montebello village. At the eastern edge of town, turn left onto Chemin Côte Angèle (look for a small blue sign for Kenauk on your right and a white barn on your left). You’ll drive about eight kilometres through rolling woodland until a sign directs you down a gravel road to the resort’s main building. The drive isn’t much more than 75 minutes from downtown Ottawa. A more picturesque, but slower route, is to head east on Route 148 all the way.
Any final tips?
If it’s a nice day, pack a picnic lunch. You won’t find a more pristine spot to picnic anywhere. This time of year, though, terrain can be muddy, so wear sturdy boots. Kids as young as 10 have been known to shoot — Kenauk has modified guns for them — but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. And video gaming beforehand may hone your aim. Or not.