Jeff-Widgnwhacker-Wallis
08-24-2006, 01:34 PM
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On May 6th, the Northwest District 4-H Shooting Sports Match was held at the Tallahatchie County Fairgrounds in Charleston, Mississippi. Youth from all Delta counties and several hill counties were at this event to test their shooting skills against those of their peers. Youth ages 8-18 participated in several categories of archery and firearms competition.
4-H shooting sports chapters present were: Tallahatchie County Sharp Shooters, Quitman County Shooting Sports, Sharkey County Young Guns, DeSoto County Field and Stream, Carroll County Sharp Shooters, Tate County Shooting Sports and Leland Rifle and Pistol Club. 4-H'ers may compete in a maximum of 3 discipline areas at these District events.
To be eligible, youth must have received at least 8 hours of training per discipline from a trainer certified by 4-H Field and Stream, and have participated in at least 2 county or local contests in each discipline. Senior age 4-H'ers who qualify will be invited to the State Invitational.
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Youth like 11 year-old Cade Francis from Leland, participated in the 10 meter air rifle event. This was Cade's second year to attend the Northwest District Match with the Leland Rifle and Pistol Club. Cade shot in the 10 meter, open sights air rifle competition in the Junior II class. Youth may participate in the air rifle and air pistol events when they reach age 8 and the air rifle and air pistol events are the only events in which the 8-9 year olds can compete, however youth as old as the Senior II class, 16-18 years of age, may also compete in the air rifle and pistol match.
Youth Cade's age fire 30 shots sitting at a table, resting elbows on the table and fire 10 shots per target. Junior III and older youth have 3 positions: prone, standing and kneeling in which they fire 10 shots at each target. There is a maximum 2-minute time limit per shot in this event and all shots are fired from 10 meters (33 feet) from the target. Cade won 2 first place awards last year in the 9-10 year old air rifle and shotgun events. He shoots a 20 gauge Franchi shotgun when he participates in the shotgun competition.
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Elliot Royal, 14, from Midnight, Mississippi, has participated in the 4-H District Shoot for the last 3 years. Elliot is a member of the Sharkey County Young Guns. Last year, Elliot participated in the 10 meter air pistol and the shotgun competition, where he placed 1st in air pistol. This year Elliot only participated in the shotgun event. Elliot shoots a 20 gauge, Browning Citori in the Junior III (13-14 year old) class. Youth in the shotgun competition are allowed to shoot 12 gauge or smaller and the shotgun should be capable of holding two shells. Only factory target shells of shot size between 7 1/2 and 9 are allowed. The shotgun event consists of 15 clover clay targets thrown from 3 stations. Targets are presented as singles from separate throwers, doubles from each thrower, singles thrown simultaneously from both throwers and a combination quail and rabbit. Rabbit targets must be broken before passing the white stake in the center of the course. Elliot said that what he likes most about the shotgun competition is seeing the targets explode! And explode they did, as Elliot has been properly trained in the fields and forests of Humphreys and Sharkey counties long before he started shooting in the 4-H competitions.
Cody Earnest, 15 year-old clay target terminator from the Quitman County Shooting Sports team was also present this year on the shotgun range. Cody shoots a 20 gauge, Benelli Nova and scored 10 out of 15. Congratulations, Cody! I can tell from your shooting skills and your dad's reputation,that I will have to watch you closely in the next few years while duck and dove seasons are open in Quitman County.
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Thomas Mullinaux, a 17 year old archery competitor from DeSoto County was participating for the first time this year. Thomas shoots a Bullseye recurve bow in the 18 meter archery event.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6086/archerylineupcopypu1.jpg
Thomas' sister, 15 year-old Anna, also participated in this event and shot a compound bow. Youth competing in the archery competition fall into 4 seperate categories: bare bow, recurve, standard compound and unlimited. Archers shoot 4 ends of 5 arrows each (20 arrows total) from 18 meters at an official National Archery Association target. The lowest end of the arrows is dropped. Thomas scored 67 at this year's event, which is excellent for a first-year competitor. Thomas said that he does not hunt, but would like to get involved in hunting in the near future. Congratulations, Thomas! You will love bowhunting whitetail deer in Mississippi if you decide to become involved in that sport. There is nothing like sitting high among the limbs of an oak tree overlooking a deer trail in the cool October breeze...and missing your first deer because you were nervous!
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/6227/archerycompoundcopycl1.jpg
But fellas, you have your work cut out for you if the rest of the competitors are as skilled and as dedicated as Shelly Sullivan from Straight Bayou, Lanna Durst of Rolling Fork, Ashley Kerr of Mayersville and Crystal Rinker from Oxford. Not only did these young ladies charm the crowd with their southern hospitality, they must have received their training from none other than Annie Oakley! The .22 caliber rimfire rifle event has 3 classes: open sights, peep sights and optical sights. From 50 feet, shooters fire 10 rounds prone, 10 rounds standing and 10 rounds in the kneeling position.
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3851/22kneelingcopyiq4.jpg
The .22 caliber conventional pistol event is fired from 50 feet also, and is shot 2 handed or 1 handed, standing and 1 and 2 hand shooters register and are scored in separate classes. Shooters fire 5 rounds per target with 10 rounds slow fire, 10 rounds timed fire and 10 rounds rapid fire being the course of fire .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle bullets are allowed with a projectile not weighing more than 40 grains. Hollow point and hyper-velocity ammunition is not allowed.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6159/22pronecopytp9.jpg
Shelly, 16, has participated for 4 years and shot the .22 rifle open sight, .22 rifle optical and .22 pistol events. Representing one of the larger groups of youth present, the Sharkey County Young Guns, Shelly says her grandmother got her started in competition shooting. When I asked Shelly what her favorite part about the District Match was, she replied,” Beating the boys!”
Lanna, also 16 and representing the Sharkey County Young Guns, was here for the second year and shot the .22 rifle open and optical and the .22 pistol. Lanna says what she likes most about the event is making new friends and the competetive nature of the shoot.
Ashley, whose mom is a wildlife biologist and dad is an Issaquena County conservation officer, has grown up with a gun in her hands. From her performance at the shoot, Ashley is no stranger to a rifle and represented the Sharkey County Young Guns very nicely in the .22 rifle event.
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3693/22riflepronecopygs7.jpg
Crystal is from Oxford and has competed for 6 years in the Northeast District. She was at the Northwest Match to visit friends and offer her encouragement. Crystal participates in the .22 rifle open sight and .22 rifle optical and says one of her secrets to shooting more efficiently is to listen to soothing music like Enya before and during the competition. Boys, it's not their daddy's you'll have to worry about when you bring these girls in late from a date...these ladies seem to be able to take care of themselves!
There is also a 50 yard muzzleloading rifle event where shooters can use either primitive (percussion cap or flintlock) or modern, in-line muzzleloading rifles. The maximum allowed powder charge is 60 grains and all shots are made from the standing position. There were no shooters in the muzzleloading rifle event at this year's district match.
The 4-H Shooting Sports event is only part of the Mississippi 4-H Field and Stream Program. The Field and Stream Program is a joint venture between the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University Extension Service and 4-H. The 4-H Field and Stream strives to enable young people, aged 8-18 years, their parents and adult volunteers to become responsible, self-directed, and productive members of society via involvement in the shooting sports and wildlife and fisheries related activities. For more information on 4-H Shooting Sports or the Field and Stream program, contact the Mississippi State University Cooperative Extension Service office in your county.
This event is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors and to hunting and fishing activities. It is also a great way for families to spend time together outdoors and to experience fellowship with neighbors. Remember, it doesn't take an adult to make an expert marksman or a skilled woodsman. Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took a stone and a leather sling and set the stage for the defeat of an entire Philistine army!
Story and images provided by APS Rob Heflin
On May 6th, the Northwest District 4-H Shooting Sports Match was held at the Tallahatchie County Fairgrounds in Charleston, Mississippi. Youth from all Delta counties and several hill counties were at this event to test their shooting skills against those of their peers. Youth ages 8-18 participated in several categories of archery and firearms competition.
4-H shooting sports chapters present were: Tallahatchie County Sharp Shooters, Quitman County Shooting Sports, Sharkey County Young Guns, DeSoto County Field and Stream, Carroll County Sharp Shooters, Tate County Shooting Sports and Leland Rifle and Pistol Club. 4-H'ers may compete in a maximum of 3 discipline areas at these District events.
To be eligible, youth must have received at least 8 hours of training per discipline from a trainer certified by 4-H Field and Stream, and have participated in at least 2 county or local contests in each discipline. Senior age 4-H'ers who qualify will be invited to the State Invitational.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5952/10mairriflecopyeu2.jpg
Youth like 11 year-old Cade Francis from Leland, participated in the 10 meter air rifle event. This was Cade's second year to attend the Northwest District Match with the Leland Rifle and Pistol Club. Cade shot in the 10 meter, open sights air rifle competition in the Junior II class. Youth may participate in the air rifle and air pistol events when they reach age 8 and the air rifle and air pistol events are the only events in which the 8-9 year olds can compete, however youth as old as the Senior II class, 16-18 years of age, may also compete in the air rifle and pistol match.
Youth Cade's age fire 30 shots sitting at a table, resting elbows on the table and fire 10 shots per target. Junior III and older youth have 3 positions: prone, standing and kneeling in which they fire 10 shots at each target. There is a maximum 2-minute time limit per shot in this event and all shots are fired from 10 meters (33 feet) from the target. Cade won 2 first place awards last year in the 9-10 year old air rifle and shotgun events. He shoots a 20 gauge Franchi shotgun when he participates in the shotgun competition.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7199/sportingclayscopyiw7.jpg
Elliot Royal, 14, from Midnight, Mississippi, has participated in the 4-H District Shoot for the last 3 years. Elliot is a member of the Sharkey County Young Guns. Last year, Elliot participated in the 10 meter air pistol and the shotgun competition, where he placed 1st in air pistol. This year Elliot only participated in the shotgun event. Elliot shoots a 20 gauge, Browning Citori in the Junior III (13-14 year old) class. Youth in the shotgun competition are allowed to shoot 12 gauge or smaller and the shotgun should be capable of holding two shells. Only factory target shells of shot size between 7 1/2 and 9 are allowed. The shotgun event consists of 15 clover clay targets thrown from 3 stations. Targets are presented as singles from separate throwers, doubles from each thrower, singles thrown simultaneously from both throwers and a combination quail and rabbit. Rabbit targets must be broken before passing the white stake in the center of the course. Elliot said that what he likes most about the shotgun competition is seeing the targets explode! And explode they did, as Elliot has been properly trained in the fields and forests of Humphreys and Sharkey counties long before he started shooting in the 4-H competitions.
Cody Earnest, 15 year-old clay target terminator from the Quitman County Shooting Sports team was also present this year on the shotgun range. Cody shoots a 20 gauge, Benelli Nova and scored 10 out of 15. Congratulations, Cody! I can tell from your shooting skills and your dad's reputation,that I will have to watch you closely in the next few years while duck and dove seasons are open in Quitman County.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6580/archeryrecurvecopyhp5.jpg
Thomas Mullinaux, a 17 year old archery competitor from DeSoto County was participating for the first time this year. Thomas shoots a Bullseye recurve bow in the 18 meter archery event.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6086/archerylineupcopypu1.jpg
Thomas' sister, 15 year-old Anna, also participated in this event and shot a compound bow. Youth competing in the archery competition fall into 4 seperate categories: bare bow, recurve, standard compound and unlimited. Archers shoot 4 ends of 5 arrows each (20 arrows total) from 18 meters at an official National Archery Association target. The lowest end of the arrows is dropped. Thomas scored 67 at this year's event, which is excellent for a first-year competitor. Thomas said that he does not hunt, but would like to get involved in hunting in the near future. Congratulations, Thomas! You will love bowhunting whitetail deer in Mississippi if you decide to become involved in that sport. There is nothing like sitting high among the limbs of an oak tree overlooking a deer trail in the cool October breeze...and missing your first deer because you were nervous!
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/6227/archerycompoundcopycl1.jpg
But fellas, you have your work cut out for you if the rest of the competitors are as skilled and as dedicated as Shelly Sullivan from Straight Bayou, Lanna Durst of Rolling Fork, Ashley Kerr of Mayersville and Crystal Rinker from Oxford. Not only did these young ladies charm the crowd with their southern hospitality, they must have received their training from none other than Annie Oakley! The .22 caliber rimfire rifle event has 3 classes: open sights, peep sights and optical sights. From 50 feet, shooters fire 10 rounds prone, 10 rounds standing and 10 rounds in the kneeling position.
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3851/22kneelingcopyiq4.jpg
The .22 caliber conventional pistol event is fired from 50 feet also, and is shot 2 handed or 1 handed, standing and 1 and 2 hand shooters register and are scored in separate classes. Shooters fire 5 rounds per target with 10 rounds slow fire, 10 rounds timed fire and 10 rounds rapid fire being the course of fire .22 short, .22 long or .22 long rifle bullets are allowed with a projectile not weighing more than 40 grains. Hollow point and hyper-velocity ammunition is not allowed.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6159/22pronecopytp9.jpg
Shelly, 16, has participated for 4 years and shot the .22 rifle open sight, .22 rifle optical and .22 pistol events. Representing one of the larger groups of youth present, the Sharkey County Young Guns, Shelly says her grandmother got her started in competition shooting. When I asked Shelly what her favorite part about the District Match was, she replied,” Beating the boys!”
Lanna, also 16 and representing the Sharkey County Young Guns, was here for the second year and shot the .22 rifle open and optical and the .22 pistol. Lanna says what she likes most about the event is making new friends and the competetive nature of the shoot.
Ashley, whose mom is a wildlife biologist and dad is an Issaquena County conservation officer, has grown up with a gun in her hands. From her performance at the shoot, Ashley is no stranger to a rifle and represented the Sharkey County Young Guns very nicely in the .22 rifle event.
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3693/22riflepronecopygs7.jpg
Crystal is from Oxford and has competed for 6 years in the Northeast District. She was at the Northwest Match to visit friends and offer her encouragement. Crystal participates in the .22 rifle open sight and .22 rifle optical and says one of her secrets to shooting more efficiently is to listen to soothing music like Enya before and during the competition. Boys, it's not their daddy's you'll have to worry about when you bring these girls in late from a date...these ladies seem to be able to take care of themselves!
There is also a 50 yard muzzleloading rifle event where shooters can use either primitive (percussion cap or flintlock) or modern, in-line muzzleloading rifles. The maximum allowed powder charge is 60 grains and all shots are made from the standing position. There were no shooters in the muzzleloading rifle event at this year's district match.
The 4-H Shooting Sports event is only part of the Mississippi 4-H Field and Stream Program. The Field and Stream Program is a joint venture between the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University Extension Service and 4-H. The 4-H Field and Stream strives to enable young people, aged 8-18 years, their parents and adult volunteers to become responsible, self-directed, and productive members of society via involvement in the shooting sports and wildlife and fisheries related activities. For more information on 4-H Shooting Sports or the Field and Stream program, contact the Mississippi State University Cooperative Extension Service office in your county.
This event is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors and to hunting and fishing activities. It is also a great way for families to spend time together outdoors and to experience fellowship with neighbors. Remember, it doesn't take an adult to make an expert marksman or a skilled woodsman. Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took a stone and a leather sling and set the stage for the defeat of an entire Philistine army!
Story and images provided by APS Rob Heflin