PAWLET – Pawlet was the place to be the weekend of July 19-21 as 72 4-H’ers competed for gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2024 Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports Jamboree, sponsored by University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H.
Members of the Oxbow Mountain Shooting Sports Club, Pawlet, and Pownal Valley 4-H Sharpshooters, hosted the event held at the Ross Gravel Pit. Other participating clubs were the Caledonia Sharp Shooters, St. Johnsbury; Cedar Lake 4-H Shooting Sports, Bristol; Green Mountain 4-H, Springfield; Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club, St. Johnsbury; Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Williston; and Upper Valley Bullseyes 4-H Club, Bradford.
Contests were held for archery, pistol, rifle, Seneca Run (timed events including fire starting, hawk and knife throw, longbow and black powder rifle), shotgun and hunting/wildlife skills. The latter involved hunter safety, a timed compass course and identification of animal furs, feathers, skulls, scat and tracks.
The 4-Hers competed by age group: Seniors (14-18), Juniors (11-13) and Novices (8-10). Medals and certificates were awarded to the three highest overall scorers in each age group and the three highest scorers in each discipline. The results are as follows:
Local overall high scorers included: Senior, Julian Mercy, Hardwick (third); Hunting-Wildlife, Senior, Julian Mercy, Hardwick (fourth); Pistol, Senior, Julian Mercy, Hardwick (first); and Rifle, Senior, Julian Mercy, Hardwick and Mason Carter, Granville, New York (tie for fourth).
