4-H shooting sports begins

4-H Shooting Sports is ready to load up for its 2013 season. Those interested can sign up Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Saratoga Library. A safety film will be presented, followed by a short informational meeting.

Air rifle and pistol shooting will start Jan. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Platte Valley Community Center multipurpose room on Spring St.

“We’ll be going every Wednesday night from 6 to 8 until the weather warms up and then we’ll move out to the gun club,” instructor Louis Braun said. “We can get started a lot earlier in the year if we start inside.”

The shooting indoors is limited to archery, air rifles and air pistols, but Braun said it gives the kids a chance to get familiar with handling firearms and with safety rules.

Braun said kids should bring their own guns, but the organization has acquired a lot of equipment over the years and kids can use some of its guns to start with.

The program has maintained its popularity over the years.

“We don’t have a lot of rural kids anymore,” Braun said. “Shooting sports is the leading thing in 4-H right now.”