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Mad Trapper celebrates 10 years

Mad Trapper Archery Shoot takes aim at another great cause June 28 & 29 at Secret Creek Ranch in support of KBRH's Critical Care Campaign.
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From left: Emily

The Mad Trapper Archery Shoot is notching an arrow and taking aim at another great cause June 28-29 at the Secret Creek Ranch in Waneta with proceeds going to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Critical Care Campaign.

The shoot is now in it’s 10th year and has donated over $21,000 to various charities over the years, including the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Unit, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Trail Hospice, the Defibrillator Fund at Trail Parks and Rec, and Sanctuary House in Trail.

This year the monies collected through its annual raffle and Mad Trapper Shoot go to the KBRH campaign that is raising funds to expand and upgrade equipment in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, and for the High Acuity Response Team.

“We sell 2,000 tickets around the community and we have some great prizes. This year we have over $10,000 worth of prizes including a trip to Vegas,” said Mad Trapper organizer and Secret Creek owner Jay Mykietyn.

The Mad Trapper Shoot has recruited a number of local sponsors and volunteers to help aid in the fun family event that begins shooting Saturday morning and winds up on Sunday.

Archers will shoot at 20 stations with up to 50 3-D targets over the wilderness course that utilizes all of the ranch’s 18 acres including a small pond with a flat-bottomed boat that must be paddled to an area where the archer takes dead aim at a 3-D alligator.

“We try to promote it as a fun shoot, but we get some of the top shooters in the province in past years that have come and attended and shot our course, and they’ve made comments that it is one of the toughest courses they’ve ever shot,” said Mykietyn.

While the course is challenging, a healthy crew of volunteers met on Tuesday to clear brush and set up the course. This year the course design is intended to be more friendly for families, says Mykietyn, while maintaining it’s integrity with various levels of difficulty.

“It’s a very family orientated sport and becoming more and more popular every year. In the last four years there is all kinds of people who have never shot before that are right into it.”

Kevin Koyanagi was drawn into the sport last year after his son Eric started shooting with a friend. His nine-year-old daughter Emily soon joined them, and earlier this month they competed in a shoot in Cranbrook.

“It’s a great way to spend time together and do something you all enjoy that is challenging but most of all fun,” said Koyanagi.

The event is highlighted by its Saturday night barbecue and entertainment with even more raffle prizes drawn throughout the sociable evening.

The Mad Trappers invite residents to share in the event by coming out and supporting the KBRH campaign through the various prize draws, and to enjoy a hearty and healthy meal.

“It’s open to the public,” says Mykietyn. “Anybody can come support us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.”

The shoot starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with a staggered start beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday. Various classes include Men’s and Ladies Bowhunter, Traditional, and Crossbow, Ladies Unlimited, and Men’s Freestyle and Unlimited as well as Cubs and Mini-Cub classes. Sturdy footwear, gloves, and long pants are recommended.

For adults, the cost for the weekend shoot is $35, youth 13-17 is $20, for cubs ages 9-12 and mini-cubs up to eight years is $10 and $5 respectively. There is also a family rate, and archers can also sign up for a one-day shoot.

To participate in the Mad Trapper Shoot, or reserve a steak at the barbecue dinner, or for more info call Jay at 368-5619.

Tickets for the Mad Trappers annual draw can be purchased at Canadian Tire, Jim’s Joint, Integra Tire or the Trail Fire Department. The  draw will be made on Sunday after the awards presentation.

Secret Creek Ranch is located behind the Wanteta Mall. Turn onto Devito Drive, past Rosewood Village and follow the signs to the ranch.



Jim Bailey

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