Youth shotgun team gears up for second season

The Bigfork Competitors, Scholastic Clay Targets Program team will have their first practice on Sunday.

The team competes in trap, skeet and sporting clay events throughout the summer months.

Last year was the first year of the team, which was quite successful.

Head coach Jim Browne said the boys competed in four tournaments last year, won three team events and several individual medals.

The Scholastic Clay Targets program is a national organization through which teams are eligible to win cash endowments for travel and other team expenses.

To date, the Bigfork Competitors endowment is nearly $30,000. The team is able to use interest from the endowment for expenses. This year their distribution was $1,400.

Last year four members of the Bigfork competitors team also won all four positions to represent Montana at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitation in Nebraska in June. 

Though the team has been shooting well, Browne said the primary goal of the team is to promote good citizenship, character and gun safety.

“Scores are good, but they are not the most important thing,” he said.

Anyone interested in joining the team is invited to the second practice, on Sunday, April 19 at the Bigfork Gun Club. Participation is open to any boys or girls between the ages of 12 and 18 who would like to be on the team. New shooters will have an orientation, safety and fundamentals class and then will be able to shoot clay targets. Parent participation is required, Browne said. Practice is from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bigfork Gun Club. 

The public is always invited to come watch practice, Browne said.