can someone describe what this game is?
Sure basically it's a gambling game. There were a lot places who have them around here when I was younger. Not so much anymore. I think basically it's usually put on my non profit organizations to raise money like churches, VFW, American legion, or sometime charity for individuals in need. It has several names card shoot, still board shoot, turkey shoot, beef shoot, meat shoot, block shoot, etc.
OK so how do you play. Basically the house, will put up targets usually at an known or sometimes unknown distance. Some are different the range is usually between 20 yds-50yds. I would say 30 yds is the most common but a big shoot around here always sets up at 50yds. The targets are usually something like 8x8 bulls eye cards, or some places use wood boards and you put your own x on or something similar to that. They will have a firing line of lets just say 25 lanes. That would make 25 shooters per round. They can do single rounds winners or for something like a big beef shoot, judge all the cards from all rounds at one time for one big winner. One shoot around here that shoots at 50yds lets you buy in and shoot up to ten shells at one board for the beef shoot.
So how to win. Basically whoever has a shot pellet closest to the center of the x wins. That may sound simple but if you can imagine, how much shot is going into every card for every round. A lot of the time the judges have to use calipers to measure and determine the winner. While it's still a game of chance (nobody can control each individual shot pellet) there are things you can do to increase your chances of winning.
The most obvious thing is if you can get more shot into a target your chances of getting one in the center is greater. They give out the shells so you can't alter them. So that means you will need to set your shotgun up for tighter patterns. First you want a tighter choke to make a tighter pattern. Some places have different classes of guns or maximum choke rules.
Some people go as far to have a gunsmith build them a barrel or choke. Some guns shoot better than others. Some guns shoot some shells better than other shells. My dad has an old 1940's Belgium Browning A5 that has won tons of shoots. No special choke or barrel modifications just plain old factory full that shoots a really dense pattern. I have a plain jane Mossberg 500 28in vent rib with a tight turkey choke and a scope that shoots pretty good. It's all about what you want to spend. But really it's a game of chance, even if you have the best gun out there you could be beat by anyone at anytime.
Here is a good website to check out that has some good info.
http://www.turkeyshoot.com/
