Claybusters gives local youths opportunity to shoot, compete

Publication:Idaho State;

Date:Apr 6, 2007;

Section:OUTDOORS;

Page Number:C4

Pocatello team will learn safety, skills to properly shoot trap

SUBMITTED BY POCATELLO CLAYBUSTERS

    POCATELLO — This year marks the beginning of what hopefully will be a permanent youth program in Southeast Idaho.

    The Pocatello Claybusters, a youth trap shooting team and member of the Scholastic Clay Target Program, were born at the Pocatello Trap Club through the financial support of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Pocatello chapter. The SCTP is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

    The team is made up of 38 youths from grades four through 12. They learn gun safety skills and how to shoot trap, hoping to compete at the national level in Sparta, Ill. The team has several top junior female and male shooters from the area, including Trap and Field Magazine agegroup Rookie of the Year 2006, Shawn Cahoon.

    The SCTP classifies shooters according to their school grade level, which is then divided into three categories, rookie, intermediate and varsity, or junior varsity for new shooters in grades nine through 12. The youth compete as a team in their division against teams from other states or within Idaho, when possible.

    The Pocatello Claybusters are the first such team in the state and plan to compete against teams from Utah and Montana during the summer.

    Since the team start-up with the financial support of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Pocatello chapter, several other local businesses have provided financial support, including J&J Auto Body, H.J. Heinz Company, Bright Construction and Industrial Metal Enterprises, LLC.

    Team coaches are volunteers committed to the sport and shooting sports for youth. Parents of the youth are encouraged to attend practices.

    Pocatello Claybusters is open to new members all year.

    For more information about the SCTP program, visit the National Shooting Sports Federation Web site at www.nssf.com/sctp or the Pocatello Trap Club Web site at

www.pocatellotrapclub.com.

SUBMITTED PHOTO