Outdoor Life films Safari Challenge

The fourth annual Safari Rifle Challenge went off with a bang at the Libby Shooting Sports Complex Sunday morning as competitors fired off their large-caliber game riffles.

Event director Jay Sheffield works with the Libby Rod and Gun club to host the annual event, which has drawn a lot of attention in recent years. Jay’s wife, Kathleen Sheffield, has helped with the event since it began in 2011.

“Right now it is just a grassroots effort,” Kathleen Sheffield said. “We couldn’t do it without all the help we have received over the years. Volunteers have made it possible for us to go from 10 competitors during the first year’s competition to 60 this year.” 

The challenge featured several life-size, moving targets designed to simulate events encountered on an African safari. Competitors were encouraged to use .375 caliber or larger, single-shot, bolt-action or double riffles to take down the moving broadside buffalo, cheetah, alligator and elephant targets. 

Shooting positions varied from standing and shooting offhand to kneeling or sitting. The 10-stage, 25-round course was specifically designed to be unfavorable to any one particular style of rifle or sight system to create a greater challenge. 

Bob Kehn, a first-time competitor from Libby, said the thing he enjoyed most about the competition was the camaraderie. 

“I think Jay and Kathleen are doing such a great job of setting this up,” Kehn said. “I hear this event gets better every year, and I am looking forward to what next year brings.” 

Competitors were turned away from this year’s competition for safety purposes due to a maximum capacity. Expansion of the area for the competition is an idea that will be addressed in the future as the Sheffields welcome more competitors to the challenge. 

Shooters from Texas, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia were among the competitors this year. 

The reputation of the challenge has attracted more than just gunmen this year. Michael Bane, a director for Outdoor Life television, attended the shootout with a film crew that filmed several stages of the event. 

“I like to show people different things that they haven’t seen before, and I have never seen anything like this before,” Bane said. “This event is unique because it is hard to shoot dangerous game rifles and that is what makes it fun.”

Bane participated in four stages of the challenge before interviewing several competitors for the 15th season of the outdoor channel flagship shooting gallery that will air in February. 

“I’m really excited that we got the opportunity to film this event,” Bane said. “It is going to be a good show because it’s both hard and fun. Everyone walks away with bruises on their shoulders.” 

Returning competitor, Mike Moore, has traveled from Hamilton to attend the competition for the duration of its four years. 

“It’s always good to come back and compete here,” Moore said. “Jay does a really good job, it’s a good shoot, and there are a lot of good people.”

The winner of the event, Andy Larsson from St. Ignatius, received a customized plaque for his outstanding performance, and $363 was raised to benefit the Libby Scholastic Shooting Team members who helped with scoring and moving targets. 

“The challenge went exceptionally well,” Sheffield said “This is the largest safari big-bore shooting event in the country to the best of our knowledge, and I am glad to be a part of it.”