Written By Mike Blagg

Published in the Central Texas Outdoors Guide magazine by Brownwoodnews.com for the 24-25 Season.  Pick up a free copy of the magazine at one of our partner locations HERE.

One of the hidden gems in Brown County is the Brownwood Claybird Club.  It is adjacent to the Brownwood Country Club and was opened in 2020.

The Claybird Club features two full shooting courses with thirteen stations each, plus a smaller six station course, for a total of 32 shooting stations.  Every station has a different target presentation, with two to four machines, and every type of bird flight paths.  Here shotgun shooters can get ready for hunting season, sharpen their skills for competitive shooting, or just shoot for fun.

The Claybird Club is open to the public.  Anyone can shoot there during the standard open hours, Thursday through Sunday.  Reservations are not required.  There is no “green fee,” so to speak, but the shooters are charged according to the number of targets thrown.  Joining as a Member, however, has advantages.  Amanda DeVusser, Manager of the Claybird Club, explained: “Membership allows privileges to the property during our closed hours to shoot.  Also, Members get a discount on targets, ammunition, and many merchandise items in the club house.”

Monthly registered shoots are held.  “Those shoots are registered with the National Sporting Clays Association.  Under that organization is where you would make the All-American Shooting Team,” said DeVusser.  “We average 40 – 60 shooters.  But we held a bigger shoot this past August, the Super Sporting Clays State Championship, and we had 240 shooters here.”  There are also three local shooting leagues that meet at the Claybird Club weekly or monthly.

And the Club is growing.  They will be breaking ground soon on a new Trap and Skeet field.

Lessons are available also.  Amanda’s husband Ryan DeVusser, who is General Manager of the Claybird Club, is the instructor.  “Ryan is certified under the National Sporting Clays, the National Rifle Association, and 4-H, along with the Scholastic Clay Target Program, as an instructor.  He offers lessons ranging from first time holding a shotgun, to wanting to develop your skills.”  Lessons are available for youth and adults.

Also, the Claybird Club hosts an annual “Future Champions Camp.”  The Claybird Club website describes it as “a rigorous small group training for youth athletes.”  Amanda DeVusser further describes it as “a small group of intense training for youth shooters that are experienced in the game, winning here and there, but they need the technical skill and mental game advice to get to the next level.”  Professional instructors are brought in for the three-day camp.

In addition to all of the above, the Claybird Club has a very nice Club House and Event Center that is available to the general public.  “We do rent the Event Center for weddings, receptions, private parties, dances, class reunions, etc.”  The events can be catered by the Brownwood Country Club next door, or outside caterers are allowed also.

Plus, if you are in an organization looking for a way to raise some money, the Claybird Club can help.  “We pride ourselves on having the easiest fundraising event that an organization can do,” said Amanda.  “It is just as simple as picking a date, and then getting that out to the folks that will support that group.  We charge a portion for the targets; anything above and beyond that in their entry fee goes to them.  So it does not cost the organization any up-front money to host the event.”

The Brownwood Claybird Club is open Thursday-Friday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  The address is 5895 C.R. 225, Brownwood, TX. 76801.  For more information call 325-641-0102, or check out the Club’s excellent website:  www.brownwoodclaybirdclub.com.

Written by Mike Blagg for the Central Texas Outdoors Guide magazine by Brownwoodnews.com for the 24-25 Season.  Pick up a free copy of the magazine at one of our partner locations HERE.