The Annual Family Fun Day & Open House hosted by the Lone Butte Fish & Wildlife Association on Saturday was well attended with a lot of big bangs and even bigger smiles. The weather was perfect and many families came to try one of the many guns that were set up at different stations such as, trap shooting, cowboy shoot, close quarter battle, riffle, 22 riffle and pistol bays ranging from 50 to 200 yards.
The Lone Butte Fish & Wildlife Association started out in the early 1980’s shooting at a facility on Taylor Lake Rd moving to the 30-acre property at 5513 Hwy. 24 in Lone Butte in 1985. The club has grown to approximately 550 members but just over 100 are regularly at the range and others stop in when they’re in the area.
The family fun day started out once every two years but the club plans to keep it an annual event because of its popularity.
“We had 128 shooters, a few more than last year but seeing so many first-time shooters come through, we plan to keep it an annual event. Grayson Klassen (Public Relations Director for the club) said. Plus, we have great sponsors that plan to support the event every year.”
Safety was top priority at the gun range and at every station the club members and volunteers were one on one with everyone shooting the guns, whether they were experienced or a first-time shooter. Approximately 20 different firearms were available to shoot during the open house from 22-caliber up to the 308 caliber AR-10 semi-automatic on the 200-yard range.
Klassen said, “The most important thing to the cub is not about getting new members it’s about introducing new shooters to the sport. It was great to see first time shooters of all ages come out today and give target shooting a try.”
There’s a youth program that starts in September that the club supplies the firearms and ammunition which is mostly at the indoor range. Grayson Klassen “The youth program is all about safety first before the kids get to fire a gun. It’s a very controlled environment that runs on Sunday’s design to introduces youth to the sport.”
Pioneer Chrysler Jeep, Exeter Sporting Goods and Lone Butte Sporting Goods supplied the ammunition for the fun day plus, many businesses generously donated door prizes.
Learn more about the Lone Butte Fish & Wildlife Association visit their website at: http://www.lonebuttefishandwildlife.com
