craigdailypress.com

When shooting a rifle, safety and preparation are key, and the members of the 4-H rifle club are well aware of that.

Sharpshooters group leader Jody Lee said that before any of the youths in the group can shoot at the range, they must take a safety course.

"We take a safety and orientation class in March that is mandatory," Lee said. "Then we cover it with the parents and shooters so they understand what's required."

Lee said there are plenty of kids in the group that have been handling guns for several years, but everybody still takes the safety class.

"Safety is always the No. 1 priority, no matter what level they are at," Lee said.

The mandatory safety class keeps group members on the same page when it comes to handling their equipment.

"They learn to control their shooting and equipment at all times," Lee said.

Attention to detail and patience on the range have served the Sharpshooters well, this year, 14 group members qualified for state.

Shooting may be considered a man's sport, but the group boasts quite a few girls, as well.

Lee said everybody in the group competes at the same level, but sometimes some group members want it segregated.

"Sometimes the boys wish the girls competed only against the girls," Lee said. "But only because some of the girls are better."

He added that in his 11 years of being a 4-H rifle club group leader, he has seen a lot of girls excel in shooting.

Miranda Blomquist is one such girl.

Miranda, 13, is in her third year with the Sharpshooters.

"My brother was in the club, and it was kind of boring just watching," she said. "This is the only sport that girls and boys are equal."

As well as being in the rifle club, Miranda also raises swine for 4-H.

She said being in a 4-H group that doesn't revolve around animals is good.

"When you come to a meeting, it's easier to just bring your rifle and equipment," Miranda said.

Miranda said shooting comes pretty easy to her now, but when she was first starting out, it was a little harder.

"My first year with the club, it was the first time I had ever shot," she said.

She added that for her, the hardest part about target shooting is keeping a steady hand.

"You have to watch what you eat," Miranda said. "You can't have too much caffeine or sugar, or else you get too shaky."

Curtis Tuck, who is in his second year with the Sharpshooters, said the hardest part of target shooting is keeping a good rhythm.

"I have a hard time getting the right breathes," Curtis said.

He added that if you don't control your breathing, you can just forget to, and lose your rhythm.

Curtis, 11, said he really likes being in the rifle club.

"I just like shooting. It's a fun hobby."