EPHRAIM– Arapeen District of the Boy Scouts of America sponsored a competitive clay pigeon shooting event Oct. 31. This annual tradition, known as the Turkey Shoot, is hosted each year by the Scouting program of the Manti, Utah LDS Stake.

First, second and third place shooters for Venture Crews were respectively, Braden Peterson, Venture Crew 636, Manti;, Jay Cox, Venture Crew 539, Manti); and Dyson Allen, Venture Crew 541, Sterling.

The top Varsity Team shooter was Jayden Cox, followed by Ben Cluff, Varsity Team 542, Manti; and Jacob Nielson, Varsity Team 525, Ephraim, who tied for second place.

Each of these top shooters had scores ranging from 31-to-33 out of a possible 40 hits. They received awards such as gun cases, Norbest turkeys and hunting vests provided by the Arapeen District.

First through fourth place shooting groups also received recognition respectively as follows: Varsity Team 542 and Varsity/Venture Team 636, Manti; Varsity/Venture Team 541, Sterling, and Venture Crew 542, Manti.

This year the event was attended by nearly twice as many participants as it has been in the recent past, with approximately 100 people present and 70 boys participating in the shooting competition.

The competition was held southwest of Ephraim at the Trigger Therapy Sporting Clays shooting range, owned by Richard Nielson. Certified NRA specialists and volunteers oversaw the program in which safety instruction was offered and each participant shot 40 competitive rounds, 10 rounds at each of four stations.

Varsity Scouts and Venturers learned about gun safety, teamwork and shooting sports. Nielson, who generously offers the use of the range each year, expressed his hope that young people can see the healthy recreational value of shooting sports and see an opposing view to much of what is portrayed about guns in popular media.

“Guns aren’t bad. People making poor decisions with guns are bad, but guns are not.” remarked Nielson.

In addition to Nielson, event organizers acknowledged the support and assistance of friends at the event such as Lamar Barton and Gary Peterson, both of Ephraim, as well as other scouters who helped organize and oversee the event including, District Executive Mark Baldwin, Fairview; District Chairman Neal Bosshardt, Redmond; and Unit Commissioner volunteers Alan Christensen and Doug Christiansen, both of Manti.

As one of the nation’s largest youth development organizations, Boy Scouts of America offers many growth and learning opportunities to boys throughout central Utah. Arapeen District is part of the Utah National Parks Council.

Additional events and information may be found at www.UtahScouts.org.