Big Sky State Games muzzleloading event held In Havre and Billings

Press release

The 39th annual Big Sky State Games Muzzleloading event held in Havre on July 13 at the Havre Police Department Shooting Range south of Havre saw 16 shooters participate.

A second venue was held in Billing where twelve shooters participated on July 20 at the Billings Rod and Gun Club near the airport. In Havre there were here were shooters from Havre, Marysville, Nashua and Glasgow participating. Billing drew shooters from Billings, Harlowton and Lavina.

The Big Sky State Games is an Olympic-style amateur sports festival for people of all ages and abilities who reside in the great State of Montana. Residents in bordering states are invited to participate. The Games are a member of the National Congress of State Games and recognized by the United States Olympic Committee.

The 39 assorted events of The 2024 Big Sky State Games has grown since the inaugural year in 1986 when 3,376 athletes participated in 12 sports, to 10,000 athletes competing in 47 sports last year. During the past 38 years more than 300,000 athletes from over 250 Montana communities have participated in the Games. The Big Sky State Games rank number one in the nation in per capita participation.

Jim Griggs is the Muzzleloading Commissioner/Coordinator for the shooting event. Bob Doney was the range officer. Kathy Doney and Christina Schweigert were the scoring and recording officials in Havre. Stretch Bohnet was the shoot coordinator/range officer and Jackie Kuhlman was in charge of scoring and recording in Billings

The shooting conditions in Havre were excellent with temperatures in the low 90s with a constant 15 mph east wind while shooting conditions in Billings were fair with temperatures in the high 90’s and gusting strong cross winds. Aggregate events include three targets shot at 25, 50 and 100 yards in various positions offhand, cross sticks and bench. Pistol aggregate is a two target event with 10 shots per target at 25 and 50 yards. Event medalists going along with the Olympic style placing are Gold, Silver and Bronze for the aggregates were:

Women’s Aggregate: Gold — Christy Owens, Havre, 114xx; Silver — Kathy Lynch, Havre, 107x; Bronze — Cara Pender, Nashua, 106.

Junior Aggregate: Gold — Luke Griggs, Havre, 117; Silver — Sidney Griggs, Havre, 115; Bronze — Everett Pender, Nashua, 88

Senior Aggregate (62 yrs. and over): Gold — Steve Martin, Harlowton, 144xx; Silver — Tom Griggs, Marysville, 124; Bronze — Kathy Lynch, Havre, 118.

Percussion Aggregate: Gold — Steve Martin, Harlowton, 136xx; Silver — Brad Bender, Havre, 132x; Bronze — Tom Brown, Havre,129x.

Flintlock Aggregate: Gold (Tie) — Tom Brown, Havre, 118 and John Moorhouse, Billings, 118; Silver — Douglas LaMont, Billings, 105; Bronze — Kent Morehouse, Glasgow, 103xx.

Benchrest Aggregate: Gold — Bob Doney, Havre, 136x; Silver — Brad Bender, Havre, 124xx; Bronze — Tom Griggs, Marysville, 113x.

One Gun Aggregate: Gold — Tom Brown, Havre, 132x; Silver — Kent Morehouse, Glasgow,121; Bronze — Brad Bender, Havre, 120.

Pistol Aggregate: Gold — Tom Brown, Havre, 151x; Silver — Steve Martin, Harlowton, 144; Bronze — Brad Bender, Havre, 127.

Curley Wolf (1 target 6 — bull, 50 — yard offhand): Gold — Steve Martin, Harlowton, 39; Silver — Tom Brown, Havre, 28; Bronze — Brad Bender, Havre, 25.

First Time Shooters: Douglas LaMont, Billings, Gold — Senior Aggregate, 111; Tyrel Pack, Lavina, Gold — Bench Aggregate, 104; Benjamin DeLeon, Lavina, Gold — Precussion Aggregate, 87; Jackie Kuhlman, Billings, Gold — Women’s Aggregate, 54; Tom Davis, Billings, Gold — Flintlock Aggregate, 85 and Dan Blaney, Billings, Gold — Precussion Aggregate, 76.

A special thanks goes to the City of Havre and Havre City Police for allowing this event to take place in Havre again this year.