Have gun, will travel

By BROOKE WOLFORD

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — The sun beat down on the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, a slight breeze whistled through the air. A sharp “CRACK” cut through the silence, followed by a loud “POP.” Dust and smoke rode the wind to the north side of the arena as a cowboy followed closely behind after firing his last shot.

Riders from four states traveled to Coeur d’Alene to compete in the Idaho state mounted shoot out Thursday through Monday at the fairgrounds. The local mounted shooters club, the Northwest Mounted Shooters, organized and hosted the event.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting is a sport on horseback where riders use pistols with blank ammunition to shoot balloons in a pattern with the objective of shooting all of the balloons in the least amount of time. Competitors dress in old western wear and carry their guns in holsters, usually around their waists. Riders may choose to wear earplugs, and horses often wear protection for their ears as well.

“Some people wear earplugs, some people don’t. I try to, because I have shot for so long that my ears are probably already destroyed anyway. The horse I rode today doesn’t like earplugs, they drive her crazy, so it kind of depends on the horse too,” said NWMS Vice President Shanda Nagle.

About 100 people from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Montana competed in the shootout on Thursday and Friday, with Friday being a “single-shoot” event with three different stages and patterns. Patterns may involve weaving through poles, racing around barrels and shooting balloons along the way.

Since this competition is considered the Idaho state shoot, there are more points and money for the winners. NWMS holds this competition at the fairgrounds once each year around the same time and travels to competitions more frequently. Regional shootouts are split into eastern and western divisions; the western division’s competition is held in Las Vegas, and the world championship is held in Texas.

Riders are split into six different levels, or classes, beginning at one and advancing through six. A percentage of the prize money is divided between the six classes and sponsors provide the funding. Depending on the intricacy of a pattern, the average ride time is usually around 15 seconds, which varies between classes.

The single-shoot on Friday involved one “match,” or three stages, with contestants riding once each stage. Usually there are six stages for a two-day competition. The “range master” drew 90 different patterns for the events this weekend.

A great thing about mounted shooting, Nagle said, is that it’s a life sport for anyone to try.

“It’s something my whole family can do. My husband shoots, my little girl is going to be in the wranglers and when we were younger we would shoot, so my mom and dad shoot too, and I think it’s one of those things everybody can do. My daughter is 4, so it doesn’t matter if you’re 4 or 90,” Nagle said.

To get involved, visit the NWMS Facebook page, or go to cmsaevents.com. If learning to shoot interests you, Nagle and her family offer lessons in Athol, and can be reached through the club’s Facebook page.