<b>Story and Photos by Bob Sofaly</b>

The Parris Island Rod and Gun Club came alive with shotgun fire during club’s 51st annual turkey shoot on Saturday on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Jim Van Dam, club president, said participants were allowed to bring their own shotguns or borrow one from club members. Smaller  .410 shotguns were also available for children to shoot under strict adult supervision.

There was reunion-like atmosphere as old friends came together near a 55-gallon drum with a lively fire burring in it; questions of family health and how many grandchildren had come into the world since they had seen each other last. Whole families, some with three generations at once, participated and shot in multiple relays hoping to win one of the big birds.

Van Dam said the nonprofit club had 46 relays with 20 shooters per relay, each paying $2 per shell for a chance to win turkeys, hams and full meal prizes as well as three door prizes.

[caption id="attachment_20128" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4334.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-20128" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4334-300x228.jpg" alt="Kevin Averill, center, of Beaufort, checks his daughter Blythe, 7, for hearing protection before her brother Caden, 9, fires his .410 shotgun" width="300" height="228" /></a> Kevin Averill, center, of Beaufort, checks his daughter Blythe, 7, for hearing protection before her brother Caden, 9, fires his .410 shotgun[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_20129" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4342_2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-20129" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4342_2-300x202.jpg" alt="Shooting with the men, 9-year-old Caden Averill takes aim at a paper target 25 yards away. The shooter in the relay with a pellet hole nearest the cross hairs wins a turkey or ham." width="300" height="202" /></a> Shooting with the men, 9-year-old Caden Averill takes aim at a paper target 25 yards away. The shooter in the relay with a pellet hole nearest the cross hairs wins a turkey or ham.[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_20130" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4352.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-20130" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC4352-300x185.jpg" alt="A turkey was given to each winner of four relays, with a ham given to the winner of the fifth. Three full meals were also given away to winners as well as cash door prizes. " width="300" height="185" /></a> A turkey was given to each winner of four relays, with a ham given to the winner of the fifth. Three full meals were also given away to winners as well as cash door prizes.[/caption]