4-H program hits the mark

Archers take their positions, waiting for the word to loose their arrows. As they fire, various animals become home to the colorful projectiles. Fortunately for the targets, they're only mock-ups of real animals.

Extension Office Administrative Assistant Vicki Nichols said the 4-H Shooting Sports has been a project as long as there has been a 4-H in the county, but in the last three years it has flourished. The growth is, in part, due to grants from the National Rifle Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Nichols said, but also because there are leaders who are truly interested in the program and seeing it move forward.

Among the sports are archery, air rifle, air pistol, 22. pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun and muzzleloaders. The pistol live firearm categories are reserved for older kids. Nichols has seen the number of kinds in Shooting Sports increase over the years, especially in archery and shotgun. This year, there are a total 117 4-H members. Of those 51 are in archery, a jump from 37 in 2014. As for shotgun, there are 18 members this year, compared to nine in 2014.

Additionally, there is the Cloverbud archery program for kids ages 5-7. While the majority of the Shooting Sports have weekly scheduled practices, the Cloverbuds get together when they can.

Coming up, shooters will compete at the Hot Springs County Shooting Sports Camp June 10-12 at the H Diamond W Youth Camp. This also serves as the county shoot. Nichols is hopeful several who attend the youth camp attend the State Shoot in Douglas July 7-10. To qualify for state, shooters must attend a county shoot.

Participants in Shooting Sports must also be 4-H members. Those interested in joining the program can do so by calling 864-3421, or online at 4Honline.com.