Elizabeth Hammond of Stonewall shoots at a 4 H clover clay target with four time National Champion shotgun expert, John Satterwhite looking on.

Four time United States International Skeet Champion, decorated shooter, and instructor John Satterwhite was inMeridian last Saturday conducting a basic shotgun shooting class for adults and children.

    Satterwhite, a Tupelo native, has been teaching in the Mississippi Marksmanship Program at the Turcotte Facility at the Pearl River Wildlife Refuge near Jackson for the last couple of years. That facility primarily serves people from theJackson and the surrounding area so Satterwhite has been branching out to other locations of the state during the past year.

    The program is the brainchild of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP). The MDWFP is interested in getting more people involved in the shooting sports and subsequently hunting. While many hunters were raised in rural settings and hunting comes naturally to them, most youngsters today are not exposed to shooting and hunting sports on a daily basis.

    The MDWFP devised a plan to expose more people of all ages to the shooting sports. They felt that sending a national champion shooter to towns throughout the state to assist our current and future hunters with marksmanship techniques that would enhance their skill levels would produce a renewed interest both in shooting and hunting. This comes at a time when hunting license sales are declining in many states.

    And sure enough Satterwhite’s involvement and clinics have spurred a renewed interest in wing shooting among both adults and children. During the recent event held near Meridian, many young ladies and boys were trying out wing shooting for the first time! And with much success I might add.

Free instruction

    The Mississippi Marksmanship Program provides instructors, information, hands on training, shotguns, ammo and everything needed to participate in their shooting events. All are provided at no cost to participants.

    Who can participate? Any interested person may attend these classes and participate. While youngsters are encouraged to attend along with their parents, the class is for all ages. Satterwhite has held classes around the state in air rifle, .22 rimfire, and shotgun.

    Satterwhite will instruct hunters and shooters with marksmanship techniques that are currently not available to most folks in the state without their incurring high tutorial fees that would be beyond many people’s resources.

    “My goal is to give these folks the very best ideas on marksmanship we can within the time frame we have them,” said Satterwhite. “I like classes to be stress free, no test, and no competition between the students. I want the classes to be fun, safe and interesting.”

Missed opportunities

    According to Satterwhite many of the adults in our state grew up in cities and many not in families of hunters, thus missing out on the development of woods lore and hunting skills that were afforded country folks. As a result they never considered hunting or don’t know how to go about getting involved.

    “I’d like to think that this program is one that addresses everyone,” Satterwhite said. “Many of our administrators have pointed out that if we instruct and inspire adults to shoot well, they will in turn, take their families hunting.”

    Satterwhite also acknowledged men such as local 4-H volunteer and instructor Mike Vance of Meridian who is involved in bringing the shooting sports to local children through the 4-H shooting program.

    With the MDWFP affording opportunities for people to get hands-on instructions from some of the best shooters in our country such as Satterwhite, the future of our shooting sports should become even brighter in the coming years.

    If you’re interested in attending upcoming shooting events and need more details contact Mike Vance at 601-616-6552 or the MDWFP 601-432-2062. Give them a call and try your hand at the shooting sports, or bring a child to participate. You’ll be glad you did, I guarantee!

    Contact  Mike Giles at 601-917-3898

or e-mail him at mikegiles18@comcast.net