Arkansas Youth Selected for Olympic Evaluation in Trap and Skeet
September 25, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Olympic torch in Beijing has barely cooled but preparation is already underway for the 2012 games in London. Eighteen shooting-sports hopefuls from 11 states have been selected for intensive training and evaluation Oct. 8-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Hindsville’s Cord Riley has been selected for the 2008 Junior Olympic Development camp in trap shooting. Riley also competes in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program.
“All of these top young talents were selected from the Scholastic Clay Target Program, the eight-year-old national shooting league that produced two medalists for the U.S. in Beijing,” said Zach Snow of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which selected camp attendees in partnership with USA Shooting.
SCTP alumni Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) and Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) won gold in men’s skeet and bronze in women’s trap, respectively, in Beijing. Their medals were two of the six won by the U.S. in shooting sports.
At the camp, athletes will work with U.S. Olympic coaches to hone skills in the international style of skeet and trap shooting. Daily training starts early and goes late. Daytime drills help shooters fine-tune skills and help coaches identify athletes with special aptitude as well as attitude. Evening classroom work teaches goal setting, team structure and preparing physically and mentally for high-level competition.
Attendees will be housed in the Olympic athlete dormitories and fed in the athlete cafeteria alongside scores of other Olympic hopefuls from many different sports.
Volunteer coach Steven Johnson, 37, Mountainburg also has been invited to attend the camp to learn advanced skills in coaching shooting sports. Chuck Woodson, the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program Coordinator, also will attend the training camp. The AGFC will be hosting a qualifying tournament for the Junior Olympics next summer
The National Shooting Sports Foundation directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and a better understanding of shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For more information, visit www.nssf.organd
www.nssf.org/sctp.
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National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day: Get Outside and Get Involved In Nature
September 24, 2008
This month nature is calling for families and people of all ages to help clean up public lands and connect with the outdoors through two of America’s traditional pastimes.
September 27 is both National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day. Both events highlight the Nation’s bountiful natural resources and encourage families and people of all ages to get outside?and get involved.
“America’s public lands and fish and wildlife resources are for everyone to enjoy, but also to conserve and help sustain for future generations,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director H. Dale Hall. “These two events not only give us a reason to get outdoors, they also remind us that nature needs us as much as we need her.”
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands. In 2007, 110,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and native vegetation, and removed trash and invasive plants.
And it’s a day when people can visit all Federal lands–including national wildlife refuges–without paying an entry fee. This year, September 27 and 28 will be “fee free” days on national wildlife refuges and many other Federal lands.
Volunteers will get a coupon they can use on any other day to enter a national wildlife refuge or other Federal land without paying an entry fee. About 38 national wildlife refuges charge entry fees, while entrance to the remainder of the approximately 380 national wildlife refuges open to the public is free of charge.
National Hunting and Fishing Day is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. About 270 national wildlife refuges have fishing programs, and more than 300 hunting programs are offered on national wildlife refuges across the country.
“The more time families and children spend outdoors, the more likely they will learn to nurture nature and embrace conservation values,” Hall said. “Hunting and fishing are two great ways to do that.”
In addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System has compiled the first comprehensive online guide to refuge hunting opportunities nationwide. Written to help hunters plan their next adventure, Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges is organized by state. It not only gives a brief description of each hunting program, but also indicates which species can be hunted, provides directions to refuges, and includes special stories on subjects such as hunting safety and archery hunting. Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges is available online at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/
For a list of National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day events at refuges, hatcheries and other Service lands and facilities near you, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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Free Workshops for Beginning Upland Game and Waterfowl Hunters Offered in Nevada
September 22, 2008
Waterfowl and upland game species like chukar and quail provide many opportunities for a hunt close to home in Nevada. Beginners can learn practical skills and tips at workshops to be held this Thursday, September 25 beginning at 5:45 the new Sportsman’s Warehouse in Henderson. The Nevada Department of Wildlife has gathered together hunting experts and will provide practical tools to help beginners have the most successful experience possible.
Upland game is the focus of the 5:45 workshop, where hunters can learn where to go and valuable “how to” information on hunting the challenging and elusive chukar as well as other species.
At 7:30 Brock Perry, representing Ducks Unlimited and a duck calling pro, will share his extensive knowledge on how and where to hunt ducks in Nevada.
Nevada Department of Wildlife educators and game wardens will also be on hand to answer questions and share a wealth of educational materials.
The workshops are sponsored by a National Shooting Sports Foundation Hunting Heritage Partnership Grant aimed at getting hunters afield.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.
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National Hunting and Fishing Day to be Celebrated Sept. 27
September 4, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas and across the nation is slated for Sept. 27 and every outdoors person is encouraged to extend a natural invitation to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to step outside and share the values and the fun of the outdoors.
That invitation is being extended to Texans on Oct. 4-5 during Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s headquarters complex.
A wide range of activities will mark Hunting and Fishing Day nationwide sponsored by sportsman’s clubs, conservation groups and civic agencies. Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo, while scheduled for Oct. 4-5, is working toward the same end, introducing the young and old to the outdoors.
Dozens of outdoor-related events will be ongoing throughout Expo, including demonstrations, adult and youth shooting, casting clinics and demonstrations, youth fishing derby, seminars and others.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo is designed to create public awareness to the importance of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation; focus public attention on the contributions hunters, fishermen and other outdoor users have made to preserve the abundant wildlife and natural resources of Texas; inform new generations of Texans about the history of hunting, fishing and the outdoors; and underscore the critical role of hunting, fishing and the outdoors in wildlife management and conservation.
At the urging of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Congress designated National Hunting and Fishing Day on the fourth Saturday of every September as a public reminder that good conservation depends on hunters, anglers and shooters. In fact, through licenses and excise taxes, these outdoor enthusiasts generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs.
In Texas, hunting and fishing contribute more than $14 billion annually to the state’s economy, according to data in the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
Findings from the report indicate the economic effect from Texas hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers was estimated to be $14.4 billion
Hunting and fishing play an important ecological role by managing wildlife populations and creating a healthy environment.
It has been more than a century since America’s first environmentalists — hunters and anglers — established the conservation tradition in our nation. These early environmentalists warned that the population growth and industrial development that offered prosperity for our nation also created serious threats to the future of our wildlife resources. Hunters and anglers fought for the laws and regulations that created a new system of wildlife management that would rescue many species of wildlife from near extinction and would set aside millions of acres of important habitat to help ensure future wildlife abundance.
In Texas, efforts by anglers helped create protection of red drum and other aquatic resources from commercial over-harvest, as well as conservation of aquatic habitat such as seagrasses and the control of invasive exotic aquatic vegetation.
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Banner Shooting Range in Iowa to Host Three Days of Competition
August 28, 2008
The Banner Shooting Range at Summerset State Park is hosting two events on Sept. 5, 6 and 7 that are open to shooters of all skill levels.
The range will host a pistol shooting competition on Sept. 5, from 3 to 7 p.m., and Sept. 7, from 2 to 5 p.m. The competition consists of :45 second rounds and each round costs $2. Shooters may enter as many times as they wish. Shooters under age 21 must be accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older. The pistol competition is for centerfire, open iron sites only, and no .44 Mag., or 50 caliber pistols will be allowed.
The range will host a 5-stand sporting clay shootout from on Sept. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m. There will be no limit to the number of entries or targets shot per day provided time and space are available. Individuals must shoot their targets in 50 target increments; youths shoot in 25 target increments. The cost is $12 for adult or juniors for rounds of 50 and $6 for youths for rounds of $25.
Prizes will be awarded for both competitions. For more information, go to www.bannershootingrange.com or call 515-961-6408.
Preceding each competition, the Banner Shooting Range will offer a free introduction to shooting, sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation through their program called “FIRSTSHOTS.”
This free, 3-hour class is geared for first time shooters interested in learning about shooting handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Participants will learn about firearm safety and will take their first shots with .22 handguns, .22 rifles, and shotguns.
Classes are offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 5, 6 & 7, at 10 a.m. Registration is required. Just choose which day works best and call the range 515-961-6408 to register.
For more information, go to:
http://www.bannershootingrange.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/firstshots.pdf
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Arkansas Youth Shooting Teams Win Gold and Silver
August 14, 2008
SPARTA, IL - Like a prelude to Olympic shooting events, more than 1,600 young shotgunners competed this week for medals and national honors at the Scholastic Clay Target Program Trap National Championships.
In the end, Arkansas earned one gold and one silver medal in the competition. The contest was held in five divisions Aug. 4-5 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill.
Arkansas’s Harrisburg Hornet Shooting Team posted a score of 970 out of 1,000 targets to win the Intermediate Advanced Division (grades 6-8) title. Team members include Jordan Harper of Harrisburg, Corey Shannon of Harrisburg, Haden Zirbel of Weiner, Bret Long of Harrisburg and Garrett Grubbs of Weiner. Zirbel had a perfect score with 200 straight targets.
“Their focus (was the difference). They were focused, they had a goal set,” said coach Pat Turnage of Harrisburg. “We came here last year and finished in 11th place and they had to come back and win it. They worked real hard, I am real proud of them. A great attitude and a willingness to work and some natural talent and they really turned it on this week.”
Arkansas placed second in the Intermediate Entry Division (grades 6-8). The Rivers Trap Club from Pocahontas scored a 923 out of 1,000 targets. The team members included Alex Lewis, Derek Brown, Zac Nead, William Hulen and Will Lewis.
Medals by state:
Tennessee—4 medals: 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
Pennsylvania—3 medals: 1 gold, 2 bronze
Arkansas—2 medals: 1 gold, 1 silver
Alabama—1 medal: silver
Missouri—1 medal: gold
Nebraska—1 medal: silver
Nevada—1 medal: gold
Ohio—1 medal: silver
Utah—1 medal: bronze
SCTP is managed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in partnership with USA Shooting and other governing bodies for shooting sports. Across more than 40 states in 2008, 9,135 youths competed and 1,562 adults volunteered as coaches and directors—both new records for the program.
SCTP was launched by NSSF in 2000 to offer students in grades 12 and under an opportunity to compete as a team in trap, skeet, sporting clays and the international versions of trap and skeet. Program partners include the national governing bodies for each shotgun discipline: Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association, National Sporting Clays Association and USA Shooting. The ultimate goal is instilling in young participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership.
Many SCTP shooters go on to compete at the collegiate level. Olympians are more rare, but former SCTP stars Corey Cogdell and Vincent Hancock are representing the U.S. in Beijing in women’s trap and men’s skeet, respectively. For more information, visit www.nssf.org/sctp/sctp.
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Texas Sporting Clays Association offers youth shoots
July 31, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — The crack of gunfire at the range and the competitive spirit among shooting enthusiasts might be a bit intimidating to young rookie shooters, but the Texas Sporting Clays Association wants to ensure it ushers in this new generation of competitors.
The association is offering its Bob Brister Youth Shoots, a series of six clay shoots that are aimed at introducing youngsters to the sport.
The shoots will be held at various target ranges throughout the state.
The shooters will compete in the “Hunter Class” in two categories — Sub-Juniors for participants ages 8-16 years and Juniors, for shooters ages 17-21 years. They will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals.
Winners of the two classes at each shoot will be eligible to attend the next Scholastic Clay Target Program State Shoot, an event supported by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The events are open to young shooters who are not presently members of the Texas or National Sporting Clays Shooting Association. They will be scored separately from the youth shooters who are already registered with either association.
Each shooter will receive a free membership into the Texas Sporting Clays Association as well as an official membership card into the National Sporting Clays Association. Participants will also receive the quarterly “Sporting Clays Magazine.”
TPWD also has partnered with National Shooting Sports Foundation to the foundation’s Scholastic Clay Target Program, a program that gives school-aged children opportunities to showcase their shooting skills and earn state and national recognition in addition to learning safe firearms handling.
The Texas Sporting Clays Association held its pilot shoot at the American Shooting Centers in Houston in July. The remaining five shoots will take place in Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Kerrville and Midland.
Calendar of shoots
- August 24 — Windwalker Farms in Midland
- September 14 — Elm Fork Shooting Complex in Dallas
- October 12 — Hill Country Shotgun Sports in Kerrville
- November 23 — Capitol City Trap and Skeet in Austin
- December 20 — One in One Hundred Gun Club in Beaumont
For more information on the Bob Brister Youth Shoots, contact Jeff Foster at jfoster1 [at] tmisales [dot] com or (512) 413-8707.
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Fishing & Boating, An Economic Get-away That Benefits All Virginians
June 3, 2008
For less than the cost of a full tank of gas, a family of four can fish for a year.
Richmond, VA — With the weather warming up, people are thinking about getting outdoors and spending time with family and friends. However, with rising fuel costs, many people are looking to stay closer to home. Fortunately for Virginians, there’s a lake, river or stream within an hour’s drive from any location in the state, making it easy and economical to get away from it all for a day on the water boating, fishing and relaxing.
While many Virginian’s benefit from the recreational aspect, all Virginians benefit from the conservation and economic activity generated by boaters and anglers. Recent studies show that recreational boaters and anglers are major powers when it comes to the strength of the economy. Virginia is home to or a destination for more than 800,000 anglers each year. Fishing alone is responsible for more than $1.3 billion in economic impact in the state.
“With the Chesapeake Bay, our coastal waters, our rivers and lakes, and our trout streams of the Blue Ridge, Virginia is a destination for boaters and anglers. These recreational sports are tremendously important to the strength of our state’s economy,” said Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Executive Director Bob Duncan. “The funds generated by boating and fishing are crucial to keeping Virginia’s waterways and lands in good condition and managing the state’s fresh and saltwater fisheries.”
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, fishing outranks football, baseball and tennis as one of America’s favorite outdoor pastimes. Nationally, in one year, anglers spent nearly $19 billion on bait, boat rentals, and other equipment, $18 billion on food and lodging during fishing trips and $5.5 billion on licenses, memberships and other resources according to the U S Fish and Wildlife Service.
Together, the boating and fishing industries support more than a million jobs and add millions of dollars to state tax revenues, providing significant support to the nation’s overall economy through recessions as well as booms, according to recent reports from several sources including the American Sportfishing Association and Southwick Associates.
“It’s a well-known fact that boaters and anglers are passionate about the outdoors,” said Recreational Boating &; Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President and CEO Frank Peterson. “In fact, their continuing participation in these sports and the financial contributions they produce are essential to preserving this country’s natural beauty.”
Across the United States, anglers invest hundreds of millions of dollars every year in fisheries conservation and management, much of this through the purchase of fishing licenses which are a primary funding source for most fish and wildlife agencies.
When you purchase a fishing license, you not only buy quality time, but you also are investing in conservation. For less than the cost of a full tank of gas, a family of four can fish for a year.
Virginia fishing licenses can be purchased directly online through the Department’s Web site www.dgif.virginia.gov/licenses; by telephone through a toll-free number, 1-866-721-6911; or at sporting goods stores.
To learn more about fishing and boating in Virginia, including where to fish, how to identify fish species, guides to lakes and rivers, fishing and boating regulations and much more, visit www.HuntFishVA.com.
Like to “test the waters” before purchasing a new fishing license? Take advantage of Free Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing Days, June 6-8, 2008. Try it. You’ll be hooked for life.
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Texas Youth Target Shooting Gala Event Set June 21
May 19, 2008
DALLAS — Young target shooters from across Texas and their families are invited to spend a day of fun and competitive target shooting during the first annual Texas Youth Invitational June 21 at the Elm Fork Shooting Sports complex.
The day-long festivities will include competitive shotgun clay target shooting for youth ages 9-18, regardless of experience, and a host of fun target related activities and other outdoors related events and exhibits. The non-profit Youth Target Foundation is producing the event, in cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Scholastic Clay Target Program, Texas 4-H Shooting Sports and a host of sponsors.
Similar events will be planned at ranges throughout Texas in the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009.
The Texas Youth Invitational will feature a 100 target, five-stand sporting clays competition, where shooters test their shooting skills at clay targets resembling bird or small game hunting scenarios, such as a flushing quail or a passing dove. This competition will serve as an official event for the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports and the Scholastic Clay Target Program and features a Lewis-based scoring system providing additional trophy award opportunities.
“This event partially represents the efforts of a new statewide coalition of shooting sports programs, ranges, agencies and organizations coming together to provide even more opportunities for getting youth involved in the outdoors,” said Steve Hall, education director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Top Texas ranges like Elm Fork in Dallas, and youth shooting sports programs such as 4-H, the largest of its kind in the country, and the Scholastic Clay Target program, a program aimed at getting more schools and youth groups involved in the shotgun sports, are combining their efforts to introduce thousands more to fun, healthy, lifelong outdoor pursuits.”
As one way to accomplish the goal of the coalition, a new kid’s clinic will be held for first-timer shooters, who can then compete on an abbreviated rookie course.
“Our motto for this event is ‘No Kid Left Indoors,’” said Jeanie Almond, event coordinator and founder of the Youth Target Foundation. “We’re making this a fun, family-oriented event with everything from clay target shooting to fly fishing instruction and dog handling exhibitions. Any kid that shows up and wants to shoot will not be turned away.”
There will also be an opportunity for young shooters to pair up with an adult shooter of their choosing for a Pro Kid/Pro Am adult team competition to help raise funds for future youth target shooting events and programs.
“In this event, the kid gets to select the adult they want to shoot with and earn tickets they can use toward merchandise raffles,” said Almond. “We’re also inviting disadvantaged youth from Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Exodus Foundation to participate.”
In addition to the shooting events, attendees can try their hand at pellet gun shooting, archery and a variety of free fun games.
Competitors will be treated to a free wild game harvest and barbecue dinner prepared by the Dallas Woods and Waters Club.
Registration sign-in will be held Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 a.m. followed by a mandatory safety orientation at 8:15 a.m. The shoot starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration fee is $75 and includes Sporting Clays Five Stand, BBQ Dinner and awards, including drawings for merchandise and shotguns to be given away. Practice rounds and games cost $10 per round. Concessions (breakfast and lunch) will be available at the range. Additional dinner tickets for non-competitors cost $10.
Registration and more information about the event is available online at www.elmfork.com/nscaevents or by calling (972) 556-0103.
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Grant Supports Fish and Game Access Program
May 4, 2008
The future of hunting today depends on hunter access, hunting opportunities for current hunters and the recruitment of new hunters.
The Hunting Heritage Partnership says the “gateway” to securing America’s hunting heritage is through today’s state wildlife agencies. Idaho Fish and Game has been awarded $153,000 from the 2008 Hunting Heritage Partnerships Program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearm industry’s trade association.
“These grants were awarded on the strengths of the concepts presented to preserve our hunting traditions, by adding to the ranks of hunters and encouraging current hunters to continue their participation,” foundation president Doug Painter said.
The grant to Idaho Fish and Game recognizes the agency for developing one of the nation’s most promising ideas for recruiting and retaining hunters. The grant will help fund long term contracts with private landowners for Fish and Game’s Access Yes! program, and it will help develop a Hunter Management System for Access Yes!
The Access Yes! program helps provide hunter and angler access to and across