Shooting for a Cure at the Ohio State Trapshoot

by Larry S. Moore

The annual Ohio State Trapshoot starts June 20 and runs for a week. The shooting grounds are at the Cardinal Center, Marengo Ohio. The event is the premier state shoot in the mid-west and continues to attract the finest shooters from across the nation and beyond.

I've shot at the facility and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Unfortunately, my scores are typically not the ones to be found in the winner's circle at the end of the day.

This year the Ohio State Trapshooting Association (OSTA) has a new event for the opening on June 20. It's sure to make everyone who shoots a winner regardless of the scores. The event is being billed as the "Shoot for a Cure" for women's breast cancer. It starts with a "Pink Practice" session at 9:30AM and a "Celebrity Shoot" at 1:30PM.

Brad Dysinger, President of OSTA, explains the event, "We try to keep trap shooting as a fun family sport. Many shooters and their families have been touched by breast cancer. OSTA Board Member Roger Edgington works at a hospital and proposed the concept. We think it is a good way to raise funds for breast cancer research and promote trap shooting. The concept has grown from that discussion into the Pink Practice session and the Celebrity Shoot. White Flyer will be supplying pink targets and Federal is providing the pink shells for the event. That will add a different look to the targets and should be a lot of fun for everyone."

Dysinger stressed that you don't have to be an experienced trap shooter to come out and join the fun. Veteran shooters will be on hand to help any novice shooters who want to participate.

Sponsors including Cabelas, Tilden Trophies, Longaberger, Gander Mountain and many others are on board with various prizes. Shooters participating in the Celebrity Shoot will receive a ticket toward the door prizes. Celebrity shooters from across Ohio are planning on attending. It's a great opportunity to come out and see if you can shoot better than an outdoor writer, politician or other noted Ohioan.

Dysinger concludes, "There has been a lot of interest in the event. We are still getting calls from people who want to support the effort and shoot. There may be some additional surprises at the raffle. This event, plus the Scholastic Clay Target Program youth shoot, are a great fun way to kick off the 2011 Ohio State Trapshoot. It all ties with the mission of OSTA to promote trapshooting as a wholesome sport for families of all walks of life. It's all about doing
something good and having a great day!"

I will be attending, as will fellow area outdoor writer and the host of the Buckeye Sportsmen Dan Armitage (http://www.buckeyesportsman.net/).

Firearms supporters will certainly recognize the name of Buckeye Firearms Leader and the author of the Valentino Chronicles Gerard Valentino. Special guests representing Ohio gun owners and the NRA include Buckeye Firearms Central Ohio Chair and NRA Board Member Linda Walker; NRA lobbyist John Hohenwarter and Dick Butz, who is a former Washington Redskin center, and current member of the NRA Board of Directors. It is also a great opportunity to meet Brad Dysinger who is not only the President of the OSTA, but also a Trapshooting Hall of Fame member (http://www.traphof.org/Inductees/Dysinger-Brad.html), former professional shooter for Beretta Arms and the owner of Thorn Bottom Hunt Club (http://www.thornbottom.com/)and Black Swamp Guns.

Several elected officials are invited but have been unable to make plans at this time. Currently U.S. Senator Rob Portman plans to attend, provided there is no vote in the Senate that requires his presence in Washington D.C.

For more information on how you can support the OSTA Shoot for a Cure and be part of the fun on June 20, contact Brad Dysinger at 419-587-3555 or check the OST website at www.ohiotrap.com. I'll be there and hope to see you!

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award, the 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year and the 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation/ Women in the Outdoors Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.