FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug.26, 2015) --The Archery Shooters Association Fort Benning Shoot took place Aug. 21 at Uchee Creek Campground and Marina.
A team from Fort Rucker, Alabama, consisting of Josh Belden, 6th Military Police Detachment, and retired Soldiers.Jeff Denzine, Wade Boynton and Wes Murphy were paired with ASA professional Donnie Meadows and took first place at the shoot. The team walked away with the Fort Benning trophy, with a mounted golden arrow.
A total of 36 Soldiers from different units on Fort Benning formed nine teams of four and were paired with an ASA professional shooter for the event, said Mike Tyrell, ASA president.
The competitors shot at different distances at 3D targets with scoring rings on them. The targets resembled anything from feral hogs to deer.
"They have to work as a team," Tyrell said.
The competitors each earned a score, along with their ASA professional for a combined team score, and their team score was used to decide the winning team.
For Staff Sgt. Shane Snell, 75th Ranger Regiment, who was shooting on the Assault 3-16 team, the competition was a good chance to get tips from the professional shooters and surround himself with the atmosphere the shoot provided.
"One of the things is just coming out here and seeing all of the set-ups these guys have," Snell said.
Snell had back surgery seven weeks before the shoot, so he said he was just happy to have a bow back in his hands.
"To be able to get a rough 30- and 40-yard zero after surgery, I was pretty stoked," Snell said. "It was just fun to get out here and shoot."
Aside from the competition aspect, participants also get practice.
"The thing is, a lot of them have just started shooting, and once they learn how to shoot a bow, then they can get involved in hunting," Tyrell said. "There are a lot of great hunting opportunities at Fort Benning, as well as most military bases."
Sponsors of the event provided products that were dispersed among the winning teams.
"We're really happy to be here to do this and work with (the shooters) on it," Tyrell said. "The (Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation) does a great job supporting the troops and it's just something we're really happy to be able to do for them."
Tyrell said the ASA would be back to host another event next August.
"The fact that (Soldiers) can have this additional opportunity to meet with other (shooters) and form bonds and friendships and learn how to shoot I think is a great thing," he said.
Social Sharing