Trap and Field's Around the ATA article from the Atlantic Provinces ATA Delegate
October 2025
Hello from the Atlantic Provinces.
The month of August has been a stark difference from June and July. The Atlantic Provinces have experienced record high temperatures, little rain, and a very active and destructive forest fire season.
In Newfoundland, there have been evacuation orders and alerts, daily poor air quality warnings, and road closures that added hours to daily commutes. The largest fire has burned 11 000 hectares and destroyed over 200 structures throughout the small towns along Conception Bay North and the Bay de Verde Peninsula. An elementary school and a heritage building are among the destroyed structures. Water bombers, helicopters, and firefighting crews from neighbouring provinces are helping local resources. Even the military has been called in for additional help. Fortunately, there has been no loss of life.
Near my home club, the St. John’s Rod and Gun Club in Holyrood, Newfoundland, a fire raged out of control only 10 kms (6 miles) away. That prompted the club executive, in the interest of public safety, to suspend all use of the club facilities for a period of 2 weeks. That fire was contained to 200 hectares and no longer poses a threat to residents of Conception Bay South. The club has resumed operations.
In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the provincial governments had put restrictions on travel and activities in wooded areas to help prevent wildfires. Gun clubs were ordered closed, and it looked like our Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot would be impacted. Fortunately, the Highland Gun Club in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia was given approval to operate by the provincial Department of Natural Resources. A forest fire in West Dalhousie, Nova Scotia was reported as out of control and New Brunswick had reported 24 active fires.
Some good news though. In Newfoundland rain and cooler temperatures have been a huge help for the firefighting efforts. Many of the fires are no longer classified as out of control, the fire index for much of the province is no longer rated high, and the evacuation orders have been lifted for some areas. Hopefully, the situation will start to improve in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia also.
Officials in Prince Edward Island have also issued fire prevention measures and despite the hot and dry conditions in that province, they have not experienced any forest fires like the other Atlantic Provinces.
A thank you goes out to all the individuals involved in the firefighting and emergency response activities.
I’ll have good news to report next month. My shooting buddies and I are off to the Highland Gun Club in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for the Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot.
For more information on the Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association, feel free to contact me or visit shootatlantic.com.
Regards,
Andrea
Andrea Bassan
shootatlantic.com