Nebraska youth are being invited to compete in the 49th Annual Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational shooting event. The .22 rifle metal target competition will take place Saturday, September 27 at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area north of Oconto.
According to volunteer organizer Matt Haumont, the event is the longest running youth sporting event of its type in Nebraska, having started in 1977. The target shoot is sanctioned by Nebraska Game and Parks. Prizes are sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation.
The event draws youth from all corners of the state of Nebraska, with shooters registered from Omaha to Harrison, as well as locally.
To compete, participants are must be 11 years old or older, but not yet graduated high school, and will be required to show proof of Hunter Education completion. Youth 10 and up who have not completed Hunters Ed may shoot in exhibition matches with an apprenticeship permit obtained at the time of the event.
Both individual shooters and teams of up to 4 are welcome to compete. Youth who are not currently a part of a school or 4-H team are eligible to form a new team or join an open team, up to the time of competition start.
While pre-registration closed at noon on Thursday, September 23, shooters may still sign-up in-person up to the beginning of the competition. The organizers remind participants that they should bring their own lunch to the shoot, and that eye and ear protection will be required of all persons on the line.
For more information on the Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational shooting competition contact Matthew Haumont at (308) 527-3403, [email protected]. The range at Pressey Wildlife Management Area opens for practice and registration on September 27 at 8:00 AM. Safety meetings will take place at 10:00, with the first shooting relays expected to begin at 10:30.
