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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Mississippi Dove Hunters Have More Opportunity in 2008
June 30, 2008
Jackson- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a more liberal season length and bag limit for dove hunting than what has been allowed in the past, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Past federal frameworks have only allowed a 60 day season and 15 dove bag limit or a 70 day season and a 12 dove bag limit. A state had to choose one of the two options. Hunters will now be able to enjoy the longer 70 day season with the larger 15 dove bag limit.
Through the work of the states that comprise the Eastern Management Unit (EMU) dove technical committee, in which Mississippi is a member, it was determined there was no significant difference in harvest numbers among those states that chose the 60 day 15 dove limit or the 70 day 12 dove limit season packages. It was determined that the majority of the dove harvest occurs on the opening weekend with very little harvest occurring after opening weekend.
“Mississippi dove hunters will finally be able to have their cake and eat it too,” said Scott Baker, MDWFP Wildlife Biologist. “This coupled with our private dove field program will make a lot of hunters happy.”
Dove hunters looking for a place to dove hunt in a safe, family like atmosphere need to look no further than the MDWFP’s Private Land Dove Field Program. The MDWFP has partnered with National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) to offer dove hunting opportunities on private property prepared just for dove hunting. Interested hunters need to log on to the MDWFP web site, MDWFP.com, for regular updates on field location and permit availability. Permits will available beginning on August 4. For more information the MDWFP’s Private Lands Dove Field Program, please contact Scott Baker at (601) 432-2229.
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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Awarded Grants
April 28, 2008
Jackson – Three grants totaling $172,755 have been awarded to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries, and Parks. The main thrust of the monies is to reverse declining hunting and fishing license sales, the primary funding mechanism of the agency. The grants are proceeds from two sources: the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) which made a $25,000 matching grant in the first of a three-year program; and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which provided funding for two projects.
The RBFF grant target lapsed fishing license holders and encourages them to buy a license and again join the fishing community. Mississippi anglers contribute millions of dollars to local economies through the purchase of fishing tackle, bait, boats, motors, fuel and other items. Excise taxes paid by the manufacturer, and ultimately passed on to the consumer, enable the department to complete a wide variety of sport fishing projects. These funds are distributed to states based on a number of criteria including the number of license holders.
The NSSF grants will be used to recruit hunters across Mississippi. A direct mail campaign coupled with public service announcements and advertising will highlight the excellent hunting opportunities available on public lands. Hunters have long paid for wildlife management and as with the aforementioned fishing excise taxes, the sale of firearms, ammunition and other items creates a funding source for wildlife conservation efforts.
The second NSSF Grant will expand and promote the public dove field program. The program provides incentives to land owners who establish fields and allow public participation on date-specific hunts. Hunters pay a fee to have a reserved stand in an established field, preventing overcrowding.
“License sales are a major factor in the distribution of federal funds to each state,” said Al Tuck, MDWFP Deputy Director. “We encourage everyone who hunts or fishes to obtain a license. That way we get our fair share of federal tax revenues.”
To buy a hunting and/or fishing license, visit one of more than 400 license agents, or buy your license online.
Related posts
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Awarded Grants
April 27, 2008
Jackson – Three grants totaling $172,755 have been awarded to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries, and Parks. The main thrust of the monies is to reverse declining hunting and fishing license sales, the primary funding mechanism of the agency. The grants are proceeds from two sources: the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) which made a $25,000 matching grant in the first of a three-year program; and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which provided funding for two projects.
The RBFF grant target lapsed fishing license holders and encourages them to buy a license and again join the fishing community. Mississippi anglers contribute millions of dollars to local economies through the purchase of fishing tackle, bait, boats, motors, fuel and other items. Excise taxes paid by the manufacturer, and ultimately passed on to the consumer, enable the department to complete a wide variety of sport fishing projects. These funds are distributed to states based on a number of criteria including the number of license holders.
The NSSF grants will be used to recruit hunters across Mississippi. A direct mail campaign coupled with public service announcements and advertising will highlight the excellent hunting opportunities available on public lands. Hunters have long paid for wildlife management and as with the aforementioned fishing excise taxes, the sale of firearms, ammunition and other items creates a funding source for wildlife conservation efforts.
The second NSSF Grant will expand and promote the public dove field program. The program provides incentives to land owners who establish fields and allow public participation on date-specific hunts. Hunters pay a fee to have a reserved stand in an established field, preventing overcrowding.
“License sales are a major factor in the distribution of federal funds to each state,” said Al Tuck, MDWFP Deputy Director. “We encourage everyone who hunts or fishes to obtain a license. That way we get our fair share of federal tax revenues.”
To buy a hunting and/or fishing license, visit one of more than 400 license agents, or buy your license online.
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