Youth sporting clays event on tap

If you’ve been looking for a fun, safe way to fuel your kids’ interest in shooting sports, Denise Murchison might have just the idea for you.

Murchison, who owns Silverton Sporting Ranch in Canaan, will host the facility’s sixth annual youth hunter class sporting clays event at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15.

Shooters age 10 through 18 are invited to participate. They should be accompanied by an adult with shooting experience, and the adults are welcome to shoot along with the kids.

The event is sponsored, in part, by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Youth participants are asked to bring one box of shells, with the rest provided at no cost. Adults can participate for $25.

Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. Reserve a spot by calling Murchison at 399-3647 or by sending email to info@silvertonsportingranch.com

Participants will start the day on the 5-stand, where they’ll shoot a round of 25 targets. From there, it’s on to the sporting clays course, where they’ll shoot a round of 50.

Sporting clays courses are designed to offer the opportunity to shoot clay targets in situations that simulate real-life hunting situations.

“Clay target shooting is an event that can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and provides a lifetime of enjoyment regardless of athletic ability,” Murchison said in a press release.

If you’re not able to get out to Silverton on Sept. 15, you still may want to book a visit. The facility is open seven days a week, and offers clay target shooting and instruction on both the 5-stand and sporting clays courses. In addition, Silverton Sporting Ranch offers hunting dog training and pheasant hunting on its upland hunting preserve.

John Holyoke

About John Holyoke

John Holyoke has been enjoying himself in Maine's great outdoors since he was a kid. Today, he's the Outdoors editor for the BDN, a job that allows him to meet up with Maine outdoors enthusiasts in their natural habitat. The stories he gathers provide fodder for his columns, and this blog.