above: From shooting clays to fly fishing to duck hunting, Orvis Sandanona is an outdoorsman’s paradise set on nearly 400 acres.
Photographs: Dog, ksuksa – stock.adobe.com; all others courtesy of Orvis Sandanona
December can be tricky. On one hand it’s a festive month filled with holiday parties and celebrations. On the other, it signals the onset of winter when daylight is at a premium and cold—often snowy weather—sets in.
One way to beat the winter doldrums? Take a daytrip to Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook, New York, the oldest licensed public shooting and fly fishing preserve in the U.S. Part of the Orvis family since 1995, its nearly 400 acres of land—a breathtaking mix of forests, fields, streams and ponds—is the perfect spot to spend time immersed in the great outdoors.
The discreet entrance on Route 44 leads down a long dirt road that crosses a pretty trout stream and heads up to the log-cabin-style lodge—part of which was built during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Inside, the retail shop is a treasure trove of cool gear and clothing. There are waxed Barbour jackets and checked flannel shirts, Dubarry leather boots and Le Chameau rubber boots. There are gloves and protective eyewear, hats and vests. There’s even a glass humidor filled with cigars.
A small bistro serves lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a rotating menu of homecooked items. There are leather chairs for lounging by the massive stone hearth in the winter, and Adirondack deck chairs for relaxing on the front porch when the weather is fine. A small casting pond sits off to the right; a bigger pond lies at the far side of the property, where guides teach private and group lessons. Also, toward the back of the property, tucked away out of sight, is a woodland swamp—close to four acres and ringed with a variety of trees—maples, oaks and birch. It’s a peaceful spot with eight duck blinds, several of which are over the water. “It’s more of a gentleman’s shoot,” says Andrew Johnson, the preserve’s general manager. “This is not a place where hunters are expected to sit in the mud.”
It is, however, a place where everyone is welcome to experience the thrill of the Orvis lifestyle. “At the core of our business is wing shooting, fly fishing and conservation,” says Johnson. “Everything else branches off from that.” Throughout the year, there are myriad ways to take advantage of the club’s offerings, including the art of falconry and the annual Game Fair in September.
In winter, when the ponds freeze and the trout burrow deep for warmer water, sporting clays take center stage. Day- trippers have several options, including a one-hour intro class, where the focus is on gun safety, stance and proper gun mount. More experienced shooters may opt for a two-plus-hour-round on one of two courses—the Woodland Course or the Upland Course. For a little extra fun, there is a Wobble stand and a Five-stand and Helice, a competitive sport that combines the unpredictable nature of bird hunting with shooting clays. (Those intereted in shooting live birds can inquire about waterfowl and upland hunting memberships.)
Private lessons are available, as are Orvis’s signature one- or two-day Wingshooting Schools and Upland Schools, for a more immersive experience. And the good news for newbies? It’s one-stop shopping. You can rent (or buy) shotguns, purchase ammunition and all the warm gear you need. Eye and ear protection are provided for free. orvis.com
Fee Schedule
A ROUND OF SPORTING CLAYS
100 targets: $100
Gun rental: $50
Cart: $65
PRIVATE SHOOTING INSTRUCTION
$175 per hour
($25 per additional shooter up to four people)
GUNFITTING SESSIONS: $250
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION ON A CLAY COURSE:
$175 per hour plus sporting clays fee (up to five participants)
WINGSHOOTING SCHOOL
One-day: $575 per person
Two-day: $1,149 per person
UPLAND SCHOOL
One-day: $995 per person
Two days: $1,795 per person
To book school reservations
866-531-6213
To book sporting clays
845-677-9701
orvis.com/sandanona-shooting-grounds
