The Minot Gun Club is the home for shotgun shooters in the area. The facility boasts enough traphouses to keep shooters busy. Both trapshooting and skeet leagues are conducted at the club. The club also has a very active Junior Shooter's program and several hours of open shooting each week.
This past Monday, the club hosted members of the Stanley Gun Club who were participating in the annual Stanley vs. Minot shoot. The first round of the two-day competition was held in Stanley on June 11. On that evening shooters had to contend with very strong winds that caused clay pigeons to fly erratically. Conditions were much calmer last Monday in Minot.
"It's for bragging rights. We'll find out for who at the end of the night," said Layne Rolfe, Stanley, after completing a round of 25 birds in Minot. "I love to shoot. It is fun and gives me something to do."
Article Photos
Kim Fundingsland/MDN
Shooters were at the line at the Minot Gun Club this past week. Note the voice-actuated stands located near each shooting position, allowing clay pigeons to be released from the traphouse on voice command by the shooter.
Rolfe's round was interrupted by a troublesome shotgun. A broken extractor caused the problem but didn't stop him from completing his round. Fellow Stanley shooter Chad Rismon said he was having fun too, and hoped that his team would do well.
"There's days, maybe, when we can outshoot them," said Rismon. "It's fun and a good pastime, good practice."
"It does give you something to do that is fun. I have fun doing it," added Tim Volochenko, Stanley.
Fact Box
Upcoming events at Minot Gun Club
Today - First half of league ends
July 18-22 - State Trap Shoot
Aug. 3 - Night shoot
Aug. 12 - League shooting ends
Aug. 13 - Ladies night
Sept. 8 - Harvest Trap Shoot
Sept. 30 - Club closes for season
Bradden Farhart rose through the ranks of some very successful junior shooters at Stanley, earning placements at two state shoots. He was part of the Stanley contingent hoping to break more birds than the Minoters.
"I've been shooting trap for quite a few years now. It's fun to get out in the summer and I like to shoot," said Farhart. "We're trying."
When the final shooter returned to the clubhouse and the results were tallied, they revealed that the Stanley shooters claimed top honors in the 22-year-old rivalry.
"They beat us by six birds," said Sharon Reistad, Minot Gun Club. "We were down 24 going into the night. We came back 18 but it wasn't quite enough."
Stanley's top shooter was veteran gunner Louis Kuster who posted a perfect 50 of 50. Two Minot competitors, Greg Vaage and Pat Miller, broke 49 of 50 clays.
"It was perfect weather in Minot," noted Reistad. "In all, we had 33 shooters take part."
The Minot Gun Club is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Shotgunners interested in shooting are encouraged to do so during those hours.
"Anyone can come out, sign up and shoot trap or skeet each night that we are open," said Reistad.
Further information on the Minot Gun Club can be obtained at mgc58701@yahoo.com.