By Chuck Nottingham
Think January a bit early to begin 2000 shooting and hunting activities? 'Tain't so. Most just move 'em indoors while winter snow blows.
January 1 and every day of 2000. Outdoors as usual, 2000 Hill County Shooting Sports and Range permits are now necessary in windshields of each carload of shooters. Range users may pick up permits for $10 at Sinclair E-Fish-Hunt Sports, Bing 'n' Bob's, The Gun Corral, Allan Dees Gunsmith, and Griggs' Printing.
Havre Rifle and Pistol Club meets 7:00 pm indoors in the basement of Norwest Bank at 135 Third Avenue first Mondays of every month. Everyone's welcome, and 2000 memberships are available.
January 6. Register for Havre JayCee BB gun shooting and safety 6:30-8:30 pm inside the Montana National Guard Armory. The nominal fee is $10 for this very popular and worthwhile program. Havre kids went to the '99 BB gun nationals in Georgia and placed in the top 20! Classes are Mondays and Thursdays beginning January 10. Contact Levi Doll at 265-1506 or 265-6982 for details.
Thursday evening handgun practice moves indoors for Havre Rifle and Pistol Club members 7:00-9:00 pm. For location details, contact HR&PC president Bing Coe at 265-4087 or chief instructor Chuck Nottingham at 265-8173.
January 9. Still outdoors like the hardy pioneers they replicate, Bullhook Bottoms Black Powder Club blasts off its 2000 shooting schedule 1:00 pm at Hill County Shooting Sports Recreation Area. HCSSRA's bench rest range is reserved for black powder matches second Sundays of each month through May 7. May 7 is a first Sunday, but second Sunday is Mother's Day (hardy as they are, smoke-polers aren't so foolhardy as to risk mom's wrath). Then black powder shooting switches to Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Contact range officer Jim Griggs at 265-7431 for club meeting dates and times and more information. Other HCSSRA ranges are open during black powder shooting by permission of the range officer.
January 10. VFW's NRA Junior Marksmanships .22 program resumes Mondays and Tuesdays after holiday break. However, shooting lanes are full both evenings. Volunteers are very much needed for coaching, scoring, and maintenance in one-hour segments or both evenings, 6:00-10:00 pm. Please contact chief instructor Cal Burr at 265-4903.
January 14-15-16. Weapons Collector Society of Montana conducts its 19th annual Gun, Knife and Antique Show at Holiday Village Mall Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon.
January 31. Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunter Education begins at 5:45 pm Hagener Science Complex, Room 112, and continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for two weeks. The first class culminates Saturday, February 12, outdoors at Hill County Shooting Sports Recreation Area. The bench range is in use February 12, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, but check with range officer Erv Hamblock for other available ranges. Classes are free, but limited to 25. Only four classes are scheduled for 2000. New hunters wanting to send for special permits June 1 must pass the January or April sessions. To register and pick up materials due first evening, contact Michelle at Havre Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 265-6177 only between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Did I overlook your favorite hunting or shooting activity? Let me know at mtcnx4@mcn.net.
