Sunday is Mother's Day! So happy Mother's Day to all the moms. This weekend also marks the 26th annual Ron Hoppe Memorial Trapshooting Tournament at 8700 Highway 10 W., west of Missoula.Does that necessarily mean you should take your mom to a trapshoot this weekend? Well, no, not necessarily. But it is going to be a really good shoot.
The tourney draws hundreds of shooters from all over the Northwest and Canada. It has built itself into one of the three largest trapshooting tournaments in the Pacific Northwest.
The event gives out more than $8,000 in trophies including shotguns, reloading equipment and silver belt buckles. Optional prize monies that entrants compete for might total well over $70,000.
So in the world of trapshooting, this is a big deal. If you would like to observe some of the finest shooters in the country, you are welcome anytime during the event which goes through Sunday. And you can bring your mom!
The Missoula Trap and Skeet Club is also now taking entrants in its inaugural Scholastic Clay Target Program. This trap program is open to girls and boys in grades six through 12.
The SCTP is a national youth development program administered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc.
"This program is designed to instill in young people a set of personal values and character traits that teach fair play, compassionate understanding, individual responsibility, sportsmanship, self-discipline and personal commitment," said Steve Sautter, head coach for the local program.
Registration and orientation will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Missoula Trap and Skeet Club. Contact Sautter at 543-7432 for more information.
The spring salmon run is expected to be good on the Clearwater and Salmon rivers, according to Kellie Kluksdal of the Idaho Division of Tourism.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is predicting that approximately 100,000 spring chinook will enter Idaho waters from the Columbia and Snake rivers, compared to 29,240 last year.
Idaho is expecting the salmon fishing to pick up this weekend, when more fish have made it upstream.
Any fish caught with clipped adipose fins, a key indicator that they are hatchery fish, can be kept but the wild fish must be returned to the river. This could be the second highest salmon run this decade and among the top five in the last 30 years.
Many local anglers enjoy the steelhead runs on the Clearwater River. They'll be keeping a close eye on the salmon run because of its projected potential. Chinook salmon put up a great fight and make a great meal.
Mark Ward's statewide Montana Outdoor Radio Show airs Saturdays from 6 to 8 a.m. in Missoula on KGVO 1290 AM. E-mail Ward at captain@montanaoutdoor.com.
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