Young, local archers and shooters are becoming very competitive with the help of members of the Kelowna and District Fish and Game Club.
However, competing costs money as does the training provided for them at the club’s range by volunteers from the club.
So each year the club holds a fund-raising and awards dinner at their East Kelowna facility with door prizes and draws such as the $799 Excalibur Vortex crossbow kit from Grouse River Outfitters, the major sponsor of this year’s event Feb. 25. There’s also a Stoeger 2000 semi-automatice 12-gauge shotgun and Remington Model 700 rifle.
Only 130 tickets are available for the evening, at $35 each, from A&C Sports, Grouse River Outfitters, Hardcore Archery, L&O Jewellers, Weber & Markin Gunsmiths, Robertson’s Clothing or the club office, 4041 Casorso Rd.
Last year, the club’s junior trap shooter Gaelan Bingham came home with a high junior in singles and high sub-junior in the singles championship and he won the handicap championship.
Fellow shooter Jake Lutz did well at the largest trap tournament in the Pacific Northwest, the Grand in Washington State, taking the championship in sub-junior singles and the Browning championship in handicap for a sub-junior. He also racked up high junior at several tournaments.
World champion skeet shooter Bob LaRue of Kelowna is organizing a junior skeet weekend this summer during which participants will receive one-on-one instruction in using shotguns to break fast-flying clay pigeons.
As well, national-level archery coach Charles Land and his wife Dianne, a provincial-level judge and coach will be instrumental in developing a Junior Olympic Program, targeting world and Olympic status for the club’s young archers.
The club has junior rifle, trap, skeet and archery programs, but all of them require money to continue.
A highlight of the fund-raising and awards dinner will be recognition for first buck taken by gun or bow by a junior. “We welcome all juniors who harvested their first deer in 2011 to enter and receive an award,” said Barry Marciski, co-organizer of the event.
Club volunteers also teach youngsters angling basics weekly at the Hall Road children’s fishing pond in the spring, supplying rods and reels, bait and nets along with helping hands.
Club president Mark Rogers said the club is always looking for ways to support and enhance wildlife management and habitat.
“We’re working with the fish and wildlife branch in Penticton to install management unit signs throughout Region 8. We will buy and place the signs at a cost of several thousands of dollars,” he said.
Anyone interested in entering either the adult or junior sections of this year’s club award competition should take their antlers to L& O Jewellers, 1735 Dolphin Ave. before Feb. 18 for scoring.
For more information about the junior activities, go to the club website at: www.kdfgc.org or call the club office at 764-7558.
jsteeves@kelownacapnews.com
