Youth Fun Day set for Saturday by Milk River Gobblers

The Third Annual Youth Fun Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Havre Trap Club 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for area youths and their families.

The event, which is hosted by Milk River Gobblers, is free and gives youth 8 to 16 years old, and their family members, an opportunity to participate in activities that will teach them more about the outdoors, hunting, hunting safety and more.

Representatives from different organizations will be on hand to give presentations, talk with the kids and help them with activities, said Jeff Dibblee from the Milk River Gobblers, a group that promotes turkey and game bird hunting, habitats and outdoors use in general.

“Milk River Gobblers like to promote a good healthy hunting heritage and pass that on to younger generations,” Dibblee said.

Some of what youth can see includes Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks representatives with the department’s TIP-MONT trailer talking about regulations and legal aspects of hunting and outdoors use and displaying big game mounts and furs from confiscated animals. Bearpaw Bowmen members will have an archery display, and Milk River Gobblers members will talk about hunting turkeys and game birds, including game call displays. Havre Police officers will be giving a police dog demonstration at 3 p.m.

Havre High School cheerleaders also will be there to do face painting on younger family members in attendance.

But the day will also give youth a chance for hands-on experience, said Dibblee, with instructors teaching proper use and handling of firearms, and safety, then putting that instruction to the test with a chance for some fun competition in a helium balloon shoot and a clay pigeon shoot with a shotgun.

Dibblee added that they recommend anyone who will be shooting or helping a child with shooting bring ear and eye protection.

They will be serving lunch with a choice of hotdogs, brats or hamburgers for everyone who comes up, and all youth 8 to 16 who attend will be entered in a drawing for a youth model .22 caliber bolt-action rifle — one for a girl and one for a boy. They don’t have to be present for the drawing, but each winner’s parent or guardian has to be present for the youth to receive the firearm, Dibblee said.

“We hope to see all kids up there,” Dibblee said. “It’s just a day for fun.”