President's Newsletter
I hope all is well with everyone this fall. We have had a beautiful Idaho fall though the leaves are piling up fast in the yard. It has been a bumper crop of acorns this year and some say that means it’s going to be a long cold winter. The ranges have been busier, but shooter turnout has been down for most matches—probably because of hunting season and some unexpected rain.
Vale Range
The 600-yard Benchrest match had a small turnout, which worked out for me. It was my first time running the electronic target system, and I ran into a few hiccups. Luckily, Chris was there to help me sort things out.
At our last Short Range Benchrest match, we all noticed a major improvement to the main covered firing line. Someone put in a serious amount of work replacing all 15 setting stools with sturdy poplar-topped benches. That’s a lot of effort, craftsmanship, and materials, and it’s all there for the members to use every day. Whoever did this also moved the best of the old benches to the rimfire and 200-yard ranges, which was a solid move.
I also saw that someone took the time to rake up the weeds and level the ground at the muzzleloader range.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, a huge thanks to whoever made all of this happen. Your effort and generosity don’t go unnoticed, and we really appreciate it!
Short Range Benchrest
Kerry ran another double-match format in October with 8 shooters at both the 100-yard group match and the 200-yard score match.
Practical Pistol
Jim held a two-gun match with pistol and shotgun. There is a lot of time and setup to run these matches. Scores are uploaded to Score Keeper for the shooters to keep track of their progress. We are planning to purchase a Starlink Mini to improve the process in 2026. Judy has volunteered to be co-director of Practical Pistol to help Jim during the matches. Big thanks to Judy for stepping up as co-director of Practical Pistol and helping Jim during the matches. There’s only one more match left for 2025, so a big thanks to everyone who came out and supported Jim’s matches this year.
.22 Benchrest
I ran my .22 Rimfire match on a wet and windy October day. The rain cleared up by the time I got to Vale, and we had a solid match with three dedicated shooters. Just so you know, the Vale Range is in a banana belt for weather except for wind… Welcome to Dennis, who joined in the unlimited class for the first time. Hope to see you again next month! I try to run these year-round, but mother nature sometimes has other plans which sometimes forces cancellations.
Ontario Shotgun Range
Curtis and Josh ran a 3-bird shoot in October, that was well attended. The gale force winds made the targets a real challenge, but that’s all part of the fun. Curtis and Chuck also ran an NSCA match, with over 30 shooters for both the Main Event and Super Sport. We had several first-time shooters from out of town. It nearly went off without a hitch except our catered lunch group never showed up and we had no lead time to cover. Our future events will have more help and better communication with vendors. The board will address this error so it won’t happen in the future. Thank you, Curtis and Chuck for all of your hard work for the club and the shooters.
Skeet League
Here is some information from Pat regarding Skeet League...
The Skeet league has started, but there is still plenty of time to get in. Let’s talk about what you get out of the league if you join up. The more you shoot, the better your shotgun skills will improve. There are instructors that will help and you will make friends along the way. Your entry of $20.00 will get you at least 2 boxes of 12- or 20-gauge shells. Membership is $20.00 for the league and $8.00 a round. Two rounds a week for 8 to 10 weeks. The money taken after paying for the targets goes into the league fund for prizes and a luncheon. The league will be handicapped, so everyone has a good chance at winning. Free Skeet lessons are included if you participate. This is a fun league and not serious competition. Please contact me if you want to learn how to shoot Skeet and if you are interested in any of these games.
Pat Savage, 208-989-8426 or
Have a great, safe and filling Thanksgiving,
Bob Smith
President, Snake River Sportsmen
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