VERBANK, N.Y. — At the end of a narrow, winding forest lane off of Route 82 south of Millbrook is the secluded 110 Rod & Gun Club, where Bob Jenks and his crew of volunteers were running their weekly meeting of the Dutchess County Long Rifles youth shooting sports club last Wednesday.
“There’s about 75 kids that come and shoot,” Jenks said, participating in air-rifle, air-pistol, target shooting with handguns and rifles and shotgun sports like trap and skeet shooting. The goal, Jenks said, is always safety first. He hauls a trailer to every weekly practice stocked with safety equipment, firearms, ammunition and targets — all owned by American Legion Post 178 in Millerton.
The mobile gun range, as Jenks calls it, allows the Long Rifle club to travel anywhere and set up a temporary gun range wherever shooting sports might be permitted.
The group meets at a different range every week, and the trailer allows them to participate in competitions and exhibitions, like last Saturday’s Game Fair at Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook.
Jenks sets up as many different activities as the space allows, and carries equipment for sports ranging from air pistol to archery to long rifles.
Jennifer LaPorte and her daughter Margot help Jenks run the archery range. Margot has been shooting since she was 9 years old when she got started at the Dutchess County Fair. She and her mother affirmed the club’s commitment to safety and education.
“If you know a little bit more, you have no fear,” Jennifer said. She and Margot trained to be archery instructors after being involved with shooting sports for years. Now they’re the qualified archery leaders, though it’s not Margot’s main sport.
Jenks and the volunteers instruct the kids in gun-handling and range procedures. Nobody moves up or down the range alone, and only when the chaperone instructs. Guns get put away when someone needs to go down the range. Safeties on. Things move slow, but the day goes on for three hours and everyone gets plenty of time, Jenks said.
The young sharpshooters displayed talents in air-rifle target shooting and trap shooting on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Jennifer explained the shape of 110 Rod & Gun Club restricted the variety of activities that could be offered that day.
Otherwise, the group would have set up as many different events as possible.
Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik was at 110 Rod & Gun Club with his son Collin. He said Collin had been shooting for years and loved the club.
“He wants to go to West Point,” Olenik said of his son.
Interested young shooting sports enthusiasts are welcome to join the club. Jenks can be contacted by email at dclongrifles@gmail.com or by phone at 518-672-1071. Membership costs $50 per year and $3 per meeting to help maintain a budget for food and snacks, Jenks said.
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