By Rodney Beguin, GRHS Journalism Student Have you ever wondered what the gunshots were from coming in or out of Gordon? Well don’t worry it is just the Junior Niobrara Trapshooting Club (JNSC) practicing for their season.
The JNSC team provides the participants a way to get out and have fun with friends, family, and even meet new people. The shooters are very lucky and have three great coaches: Buster Kearns, Stuart Hardin, and Dave Johnson. The shooters practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and occasionally Saturdays. At most practices they shoot 100-150 shells, 25 at a time.
Before the season began, the JNSC along with valued members Taylor and Nicole Hathorn organized a coyote calling contest. Proceeds from that contest were used to purchase all the shells required for the season for the shooters. This relieved the biggest expense facing shooters, the purchase of shells.
JNSC provides guns for participants who do not have one, and as long as the shooter is under the coach’s supervision and follows the rules they have no need to buy their own guns. If the shooter does have their own gun they can bring it as long as it meets the sport regulations.
The JNSC travels all over the state including but not limited to: Sutherland, North Platte, Ogalala, Sidney, Oshkosh, with the State Meet in Doniphan.
State for High School shooters is a 2 day event made up of 2 rounds of 75 shotgun shells.
“The Jr Niobrara Sportsman’s Club is a youth program designed to promote responsibility, sportsmanship, firearm safety along with shotgun handling techniques. We participate in trapshooting with the season from February first and ending in the first week of May. Students in grades 6-12 can participate. Hunter Safety is required,” said Stuart Hardin.
If you have any further questions contact Stuart Hardin at (308)-360-0175 or Buster Kearns at (308)-360-1791.