DEVILS LAKE – Four Ward County 4-H members attended the Northeast District Air Rifle Match held in Devils Lake at the World War Memorial Building on Feb. 16.

Categories are split up by age to include Beginner, ages 8 to 10; Junior, ages 11 to 13; and Senior, ages 14 to 18. The equipment used are Sporter air rifles, shooting .177-caliber pellets at a velocity of 600fps or less. Targets are AR 5/10 International 10 meter air rile targets. Beginners shoot from a sitting position off a bench rest and Juniors and Seniors compete shooting from three positions of standing, kneeling, and prone. At the Northeast District Match the senior shooters shot from the standing position only. Seniors have an opportunity to compete in the state match in April 6, for a chance to represent North Dakota at the National 4-H Air Rifle Championships in Grand Island, Neb.

Competing in the Senior Air Rifle division representing Ward County was Austin Wingenbach, Surrey. Wingenbach earned 10th place with a score of 266. Competing in the Beginner Air Rifle division were Kiley Whillock, Kenmare, and Zachary Korgel, Minot. Whillock was in 12th place with a score of 508. Korgel scored a 437. Landen Jansen, Minot, also shot at the match.

Ward County 4-H members participating in the 4-H Air Rifle Shooting Sport do so in conjunction with the Minot Rifle & Pistol Club’s Youth Marksmanship Program. Currently the group meets on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon. The group will continue to meet until April at the Minot Rifle & Pistol Club indoor range. If anyone is interested in joining, contact the Ward County 4-H office.