Bigfork's competitve shotgun team

When long time shooter Jim Browne learned about the Scholastic Clay Target Program, he decided Bigfork needed a team.

“It’s been my passion,” Browne said, “and I thought I’d see if I could get something going for the youngsters.”

He placed an ad in the Daily Inter Lake, five boys responded, and the Bigfork Competitors were born.

The Bigfork Competitors are competitive shotgun shooters, coached by Browne. They compete in American Trap, American Skeet and Sporting Clays events through the Scholastic Clay Target Program. The program is administered by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, which is housed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. It’s the largest youth shooting program in the country, with a presence in almost every state.

The five boys, ages 15 to 17, who make up the team, are passionate about shooting. Most of them have been shooting guns their whole lives, and have been participating in shooting competitions for several years, largely through 4-H. For all of them though, shotgun competitions are new.

“The shooting itself is completely different,” said team member Luke Comstock, who has been shooting competitively for six years.

The team has attended three competitions so far, placing second overall in their last competition in Spokane.

“This team has only been practicing about nine months, and they’re already beginning to achieve great scores,” Browne said.

Browne has been impressed with the team’s progress in the time he’s been working with them, he said they have grown beyond beginner stage.

While Browne says good scores are important, what’s more important is good citizenship and high standards. The goal of the program is to teach youth safe firearm handling, and building good teamwork and leadership.

Marleen Probert, whose son competes on the team, notes the focus and determination that comes from shooting sports, “It’s fun to see them develop and grow into that,” she said. “Jim is a good coach, and they eat up good coaching.”

Browne hopes to grow the team and add new members.

“These five boys are the beginning of it,” he said. “I want to get it going and see it grow.”

Any child enrolled in school or a home school program can join the team. It’s not limited to boys or high school aged kids.

It takes five shooters to make a team, and ideally the Competitors would like to field a high school team and a middle school team. They practice at the Bigfork Gun Club, and Browne said the public is welcome to come to practices and see what it’s all about.

The Bigfork Gun Club requires a certified safety officer be present at all of the practices. Browne also had to go through training to become a certified NRA shotgun instructor, in order to coach the team. He takes safety very seriously, and encourages families to be involved.

As for the shooters, they’re enjoying themselves.

“Fun is an underrated word to describe this,” said Henry Bjorge.

Competitive shooting is also an expensive sport.

Ammunition costs $6 a box and each team member shoots about 6 boxes a week. Boxes of clays cost $9, and the team goes through a couple boxes a practice.

Assistant coach Dale Probert said it costs $2,000 per athlete to cover practice costs, competition entry fees, and facility fees. On top of that is the expense of travelling to events.