Pheasants and facilities lure visitors to this area including the Ipswich Sportsman's Club. Upgrades to the Club, located eight miles north of town, is a gathering place for those wanting to practice shooting sporting clays and hash over past and future hunts.

Recently, the Ipswich Sportsman's Club hosted Wietgrefe's family and friends from Alaska, Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania joining the four brothers who live in South Dakota. Safety and fun are top priorities.

Since the 1960s Wietgrefe's have hunted pheasants as a group. This year was no different, although the generations have changed. Those with experience may not have hunted for a year or two.

"We always have group safety training and practice. Thanks to the Ipswich Sportsman's Club and their wonderful facilities, we were able to practice safe gun handling and shooting at a facility designed for hunters." says Gary Wietgrefe, the oldest son of the late Bernice and Walter Wietgrefe.

The Wietgrefe family have farmed south of Ipswich for over a hundred years. Like most farmers and ranchers, the Wietgrefe brothers have land set aside strictly for wildlife habitat.

"With crops unharvested, we didn't want to scare the birds away from our habitat areas," said Neal Wietgrefe. "The Ipswich Sportsman's Club was a great place to practice shooting and have group safety training. It was real fun."

Neal and Gary were joined by their brothers Kent (Mitchell) and Wayne (Aberdeen) and their scattered family and friends.

With plenty of hunting remaining this fall, the Wietgrefe's recommend families, hunting groups, or anyone that enjoys shooting sporting clays contact Lonnie Steen or other members of the Ipswich Sportsman's Club to see when it is available for automated shooting clays and socializing.