Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy an entertaining day in a beautiful setting when they visit Tampa Bay Sporting Clays. It’s all-natural terrain on 260 acres of woodlands in Land O’ Lakes; and is perfect for anyone seeking some tranquility away from city life. Even if you’re not interested in guns and skeet shooting, they offer archery as another way to enjoy some downtime.
Sporting clay shooting is a form of clay pigeon shooting and has been described as “golf with a shotgun.” It’s different than trap or skeet shooting because it involves shooting clay targets at multiple locations, which the industry refers to as stations. Unlike trap or skeet shooting, clay targets are thrown from machines at different angles, speeds, elevations, distances, and trajectories. While sporting clay shooting can be used to create an experience that reflected actual hunting conditions, it has become a popular sport for both novice shooters and experienced hunters.
Avid shooter Mike Roberts who is a repeat customer at TBSC says, “We love the outdoors, the staff and the families we see when we go out and shoot. The animals are great and we love Lilly the pig!”
The skeet range at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays has eight shooting stations and two trap houses. Each skeet round contains 25 targets and ranges from 3 ½ feet from the ground to 15 feet when it reaches the center of the field. The Crazy Clays station at TBSC has eight traps and is operated as a “flurry” station. Clays are thrown at random from various traps but guests can also select one target at a time.
Mike Mezrah, owner of Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, has been an avid outdoorsman all of his life. He loves hunting, fishing, diving, and flying and is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie. He says, “I love coming to work and seeing families, ladies and outdoorsmen enjoy themselves. It’s a fun environment being involved in over 80 charity events a year; it makes me feel so proud inside. My staff is great and we love watching people have fun. It’s what it’s all about!”
Mezrah been involved in a variety of industries with TBSC over the years, including investment, construction, developing, and real estate brokerage. He’s also been chairman the Ducks Unlimited Tampa Bay, which is the number one chapter in the state.
Pricing at TBSC is varied in that you only pay for what you use. There is not a per-person or per-course fee. Reservations are not required but you are encouraged to call during inclement weather. TBSC operates on a first come, first-serve basis. Only shotguns are allowed (no handguns or rifles) and they must meet TBSC standards. You can also rent .410, 20- and 12-gauge guns if you are a legal US citizen and have a valid driver’s license.
Tampa Bay Sporting Clays has seasonal hours. They’re open from 8:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday during the summer, now through September. Their Land O’ Lakes location is at 10514 Ehren Cutoff. For more information, call 813.929.6200. Come enjoy the outdoors and meet Lilly the pig!
