INSTRUCTORS — Helping with the New Richland Area Sportsman’s Club’s Range Day were, front from left, Cody Mosher, Lee Mendenhall, Monica Olson, Al Kraay, Dan McBroom and Ryan Christensen. Back: Jarrod Skalicky, Kipp Routh, Dennis Bolduan, Melissa Bolduan, Jessica Schaffer, Chris Hower, Brian Hoffman, Jane Wagner and John Kaupa. (Photo by Denny Prescher)
The New Richland Area Sportsman’s Club held their Range Day for students that completed the online computer class on firearm safety.
This is a new program approved by the DNR. The students are instructed on all aspects of firearm safety as they go through the computer program. After successfully completing their online class, they are then issued a voucher indicating they can now attend a range and field day to get their hands-on training in the proper handling of various firearms.
The students viewed two videos on gun safety and survival skills. They then rotated the four groups receiving instruction on handling and loading firearms, shell skill types and gun cleaning, rifle and pistol types, and finally, they received the proper methods of determining “site picture” using larger guns.
After lunch, students went through six stations on live fire .22 rifles, a simulated hung, transporting guns and crossing obstacles in the field, till stands and shoot/don’t shoot, compass and survival, and finally a station of getting permission to hunt.
Upon completion, the students received their certificates.
Parents should note that they can have the kids age 11 and older go to the DNR and take the course “Youth Firearm Training,” print off the voucher and attend a Range Day. The NR Sportsman’s Club will hold another Field Day in the fall.
Instructors at the club that have been certified to teach the classes are: Dennis Bolduan, Melissa Bolduan, Monica Olson, Jessie Schaffer and Lee Mendenhall. The certified instructors also had many volunteer instructors helping them at the Field Day as well as representatives from the DNR.
