COVID Doesn’t Stop Annual Darden Dove Shoot In Taliaferro County

GON Staff | November 1, 2020

The COVID pandemic didn’t stop the annual GONetwork SEEDS Dove Shoot at the Claibourne Darden Farm in Taliaferro County on Saturday, Sept. 5. There may have been masks during social times and a little social distancing during the meal and annual “Introduction of the Hunters” ceremony, but folks still ate well and got to sling lead at those little gray rockets.

“The Darden Dove Shoot is my favorite day of the whole year,” said Mary Helen Canaday, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Mary Helen has been a part of the Darden shoot for a number of years, and this year she brought several of her friends to join in the fun.

Mary Helen Canaday (right side, black tank top) says, “The Darden Dove Shoot is my favorite day of the whole year.” This year, Mary Helen did her part to fill the field by bringing her friends on the annual pilgrimage to Taliaferro County.

Darden’s dove shoot is a high quality event, with a well-prepared field and some of the finest barbecue and fixings that you can eat at an opening-day dove shoot celebration.

Darden acknowledges that his shoot always runs smooth because of the hard work and dedication of several volunteers.

One he mentioned was Darrell Roth, general manager of Palmer Equipment Company in the nearby city of Washington. Darrell led the blessing before lunch, supplied bottled Palmer water for the lunch and the field, and he provided the chairs for lunch.

Matt Harper of Fat Matt’s Rib Shack in Midtown Atlanta donated the BBQ and supplies, and he handled the preparation and serving of the lunch.

Lt. Gen. Buck Bedard, deputy commandant of the United States Marine Corps (retired), continues to support the efforts of Darden’s shoot. Shooters report that it remains humbling and a real honor that Bedard remembers the dove shoot and its participants each year as he supports the efforts to enable and encourage youth in the outdoors.

As the afternoon faded and the last shots were fired, everyone was still smiling and already talking about seeing one another next year as the tradition of the Darden dove shoot continues forward.