President's Newsletter

March 2026

Spring is on its way! We have had a scary, dry and mild winter in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho and it looks like we might be in for a long, dry summer as well. Let’s hope we get some much-needed rain as spring progresses.

We have made several updates to our website, including a new tab at the top of the homepage and a list of some local and club events for the year. If you have an event or match you would like to post, let us know, and we will get the flyer up if it qualifies. Also, don’t forget to check the club calendar before heading to the range to see if anything is happening during your planned visit.

With four ranges at Vale, there’s always a place to shoot, depending on the caliber and weapon you’re using. These events help support the daily operation of the club, which keeps membership costs low. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of a few dedicated members and board members, we’ve been able to keep our dues some of the lowest in the greater Treasure Valley. If you can spare a little time and lend a hand, I would encourage you to help us out. There is something to be said about the pride of putting in the hard work for the benefit of others.

Vale Range

This spring or summer, we’ll be replacing the roof on our 10’x20’ gamble roof scoring shed. The board has approved funds for materials, but we’re looking for someone with roofing experience and tools to help out. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please let me know, and we’ll work out a schedule that works for you. We’re replacing the current asphalt shingles with new asphalt shingles to keep costs down.

Kerry held his Short Range Benchrest Match in February on a very pleasant sunny day. He managed a full firing line with 13 shooters. This match was a 100-200 yard double score match with 3 winners- one for each distance and one for the aggregate score. It was a close match across the firing line with some impressive scores. Thanks to all that came out to help make it run smooth and safely. Kerry’s next match will be the first Saturday in March weather permitting.

Last month, I mentioned my .22 Benchrest Match, which saw six hardy shooters braving a cold, windy day. My next match is scheduled for the 4th Saturday of February, weather permitting. These .22 matches will take place on the 4th Saturday of each month.

Judy is planning to kick off the Practical Pistol matches for 2026 in March, so keep an eye on the calendar for dates and details.

As of now, I haven’t received any updates from George regarding the start date for his 600-yard Benchrest Match. Again, check the calendar for start dates and times.

Ontario Shotgun Range

Curtis is firing up full throttle in March with his first NSCA match March 14th. He has 10 matches lined up for the year, so he and his crew are going to be very busy. If you can, please stick around after matches to help these guys with machine refills and cleanup – this is a big task, and your help would go a long way. Hopefully, you have noticed the cleanup efforts and improvements that have been made at Ontario over the past winter, thanks to countless hours of hard work. Curtis has many more plans going forward as funds allow.

Pat has done an incredible job revitalizing the almost non-existent skeet program. He now has nearly 20 regular shooters and has launched weekly leagues. With the help of volunteers, there have been several updates, cleanups, repairs, and replacements at the skeet ranges. Big thanks to everyone who helped with replacing concrete. We had to swap out a couple of the skeet machines on field 2 due to increased wear and outdated equipment. While we’re working on securing funds for new machines, we’ve implemented a temporary fix to keep things running smoothly. Reach out to Pat or me if you have any questions.

If you have any questions or are interested in helping out in any capacity, contact any board member or discipline director. Even a couple hours of your time can really make a difference for our club.

Shoot often, be safe and never miss.

Bob Smith

President, Snake River Sportsmen