WVFD fired up over turkey shoot

They're talking turkey in Wartrace -- and it's got nothing to do with liquor by the drink.

In fact, joked volunteer firefighter Josh Carlock, BYOB is not a good idea when you're going to a turkey shoot -- unless the "B" stands for biscuit.

Carlock was helping Fire Chief Jeff Phillips set up the targets for this Saturday's Wartrace VFD Annual Turkey Shoot. The field is part of Beechwood Farm, at the intersection of Knob Creek and Cortner Road is, by the old log cabin.

"This is the second year we've done it," said Phillips. "No turkeys get shot, but whoever shoots closest to the center of the target can win."

There's no doubt what the prizes are, either. Each of the 12 target frames set up in the field has a letter on it, spelling out "turkey and ham."

"We got them through donations from the Walmart Distribution Center," said Carlock.

The turkey shoot begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with the regular contestants. Twelve at a time, they line up in their own shooting station and one of the firefighters will hand them a single shell.

"Shotguns only," said Phillips. "And we check them to make sure they aren't modified."

Because different kinds of shells have a different "spray" pattern, the fire department is supplying all the shells, all of the same kind, and each contestant pays $3 for a single one. The money raised goes into the fire department's fund, which is used for everything from equipment upgrades to, Phillips hopes, a new truck. And since these are shotguns, with shot instead of bullets, the winner can come down to the luck of the pellet.

"We've been out here with micrometers measuring to figure out the winner," he said. "We haven't had to have a shoot-off, though, not yet."

This year, the department has added a new class to the competition. Besides the regular shoot at 8 a.m. and the children's shoot at 11:30 a.m., there will be a ladies' shoot at 11 a.m.

"Somebody usually has an extra shotgun here if they don't have one," said Phillips. "We didn't have many women last year, so we're hoping the ladies' shoot will bring more out."

There will be coffee and hot chocolate available, said Phillips, but no food.

"So bring your own biscuit," he said.