By Michael Howell
Sixteen young people attended a training session in firearm use and got the chance to spend the day shooting .22 caliber rifles and pistols on Saturday, June 17 at the Whittecar Shooting Range west of Hamilton.
The shooting event was scheduled as part of the Youth Conservation Outdoor Expo held at the Teller Wildlife Refuge in May. At that event young people visited various booths sponsored by various organizations.
According to Tom Powers, one hundred and forty kids visited the Montana Mule Deer Association trailer and shot over 2,800 rounds of pellets. Out of those kids, seventy signed up for a drawing to participate in a .22 caliber shooting event to be held at the Whittaker Shooting Range. Twenty names were drawn and 16 of those kids showed up for the shooting event.
Although the Sapphire Range Mule Deer Association headed up the event, a number of other organizations also participated, including the Western Montana Safari Club International, Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Darren Newsom, owner of Armscor International, Inc., donated six bricks of .22 caliber ammunition for use in the event.
Jim McCormick, President of the Whittecar Shooting Range board of directors, and Dan Ashmore, board member, are both certified NRA instructors and gave the kids lessons in gun safety and use. Afterward, the kids were divided into two groups and one group shot rifles while the other shot pistols and then they switched. The instructors rated the results of the target shooting and prizes were given to the best shooter.
Bryce Mayn was the high scoring shooter on the rifle range, shooting at 25, 50 and 75 yards from a bench rest. He won a Ruger Special Edition 10/22 rifle donated by the Western Montana Safari Club International Chapter.
Taylor Wood was the top pistol shooter standing at seven yards from the target. He won a Marlin .17 caliber rifle donated by the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation.
McCormick said that he was impressed by the kids’ interest and their abilities and looks forward to continuing the event in the future.
Powers said that plans for next year are to boost participation in the event and bring in around 30 kids for the sports shoot.