Fisher River Shootout gives bowhunters chance to refine skills
Brad Fuqua/The Western News Jake Turner, 5, of Kalispell takes his turn at the children's balloon shoot on Saturday as part of the Libby Archery Club's Fisher River Shootout at Fawn Creek Campground. The youngster collected a $5 bill on his first attempt and appeared to be one of the more successful archers during the event. For more images, see the Photo Gallery.
Stalking a brow-tined bull during bowhunting season in the fall, a western Montana sport hunter feels the excitement building with the ominous sound of the elk bugling in the distance. Moments later, satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment fills the air with the completion of a successful shot.
For many bowhunters, staying on top of their skills is paramount to finding that type of success when elk season rolls around. Although some participate in the Libby Archery Club’s Fisher River Shootout simply for fun and camaraderie, the high majority enjoy such events to stay in shape for future hunts.
“As a sport, it enhances your ability to hunt elk in the fall,” club member Larry Hilderman said during last weekend’s 3D shoot at Fawn Creek Campground. “I think that’s why most people do it. It just hones your skills, your shooting.”
Marc McCully said patience is a key component of finding success at the sport and participating in such events helps develop that quality.
“It really sharpens your hunting skills,” McCully said. “Some of it is judging yardage, some of it is getting used to your equipment.”
The 3D shoot for traditional and compound bows involves following a trail through a course that includes targets. The participant stops at a shooting stake, tries to estimate the yardage and shoots.
“You have to shoot your bow, you have to judge the distance,” Hilderman said. “If you’re five or six yards off, you won’t score well.”
Last weekend’s event featured a good mix of young and veteran shooters. Many return to the Libby area for these shoots year after year. But it appeared that some fresh faces showed up this time around.
“About half we’ve seen here are younger, newer people,” Hilderman said. “It’s good people, good camaraderie. There are people I’ve been seeing here for 15, 20 years.”
Of those who make an annual event out of the Libby Archery Club’s shoots in May and June, they make a camping trip out of the experience.
“One of the things I’ve noticed at Fawn Creek is all of the kids and watching them change over the years,” the club’s Teri Kelly said. “We have families that come back year after year and now many are bringing their grandkids.”
Mike Vinion is another longtime club member who takes part to sharpen his skills for bowhunting while enjoying time with his family. In fact, his 5-year-old grandson was among those with a bow taking part in a balloon shoot for kids.
Vinion said the June shoot is new to Fawn Creek Campground, moving to the site from Timberlane where it had been known as the Pipe Creek Shootout. The 3D shoot was originally at Fawn Creek but moved to Timberlane sometime during the 1980s.
Meanwhile, the club’s traditional shoot in early May has been at Fawn Creek for a long time, Vinion said.
“Plum Creek is very good to us,” Vinion said. “We get to use it for free and just have to clean up. We appreciate use of the facility.”