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    ON THE HUNT: Self-isolation has brought out a stroke of comedic creativity in Horsham junior clay-target shooter Bart Turgoose. Bart, 15, cannot pursue his sport due to social-distancing measures, which has driven him to turn his passion into a simulated digital adventure. Picutre: PAUL CARRACHER

Bart’s hunting adventures in isolation

Horsham’s Bart Turgoose is hoping to inspire more youth to get involved in his sport. 

Making the most of his self-isolation, he is using his social media following to help generate more interest in clay target shooting. 

COVID-19 restrictions have meant shooting enthusiasts, like Bart, have had to hang up their rifles. 

Finding an alternative outlet for his sport, the 15-year-old started filming and editing a series of comical videos he has uploaded to his Facebook page, called Bart’s Clay Target Adventures. 



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The three-minute skits he called ‘Rabbit Hunting’ are somewhat of a satire of popular hunting shows. 

The first episode he uploaded after Easter gained more than 5000 views through Facebook and Twitter. 

“It’s like Russell Coight – I’m having a bit of fun with it and hopefully I can give everyone a bit of a laugh to make people’s days just that little bit better while stuck inside,” Bart said. 

He started his Facebook page earlier this year, where he posts a range of educational and entertaining content.  

Bart said he hoped his Facebook page could help get more young people interested in the sport.  

“We need to have more people carry on with the tradition because it is dying – more and more people are not interested in it,” he said. 

“It is the biggest adrenaline rush ever and the people you meet are amazing. I’ve met some of the most beautiful people through the sport. 

“They can teach you so much and they’re willing to give you anything.

“I’ve been given so much stuff by people just because they want juniors in the sport.” 

Bart wasted no time in getting his gun license through Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, SSAA, at age 12. 

He said a visit to Natimuk and District Field and Game’s shooting range a few years ago sparked his interest in the sport. 

“I went out to Natimuk Field and Game and became a member – I just fell in love with it straight way,” he said.  

“I’ve been shooting clays competitively for two-and-a-half years now. I hated football and every game possible known to mankind – I had to find something, and it just happened to be shooting.” 

The junior shooter is mentored by Australia’s leading clay shooter, Melton’s Robert Hall. 

Through his passion for the sport, he has also met and interviewed some of Australia’s top shooters. 

While in self-isolation he has written short biographies about Field and Game Australia board member Glenn Falla and SSAA junior vice-president Marion Barnes. 

“I’ve been interviewing shooters who are higher up than me or in major organisations like SSAA,” Bart said.

“I learned how they became a shooter and hopefully juniors in the sport can benefit from what I post about these shooters.” 

Now 15, Bart is extremely active in the community.

He volunteers with Horsham Agricultural Society while juggling his part-time job, running his own business and studying year-10 at home through Horsham College. 

“I do enjoy doing school from home because you can do it at your own speed and no one’s really pushing you to get it done by a certain time. You can submit it all by the end of the week,” Bart said. 

Bart hopes to upload a part three to his rabbit hunting series.  

– Dylan De Jong

The entire April 29, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire April 29, 2020 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!