St. Johnsbury--Sixty-four youths from nine 4-H clubs in seven counties, including seven 4-H shooting sports clubs, competed for top scores in six different disciplines at the annual 4-H Shooting Sports Jamboree, July 29-31 in St. Johnsbury.

The University of Vermont (UVM) Extension-sanctioned event was held at the Caledonia Forest and Stream Club. Local hosts were the Green Mountain 4-H Shooting Sports Club and the Caledonia Sharp Shooters 4-H Club, both from St. Johnsbury.

The 4-H'ers competed in archery, pistol, rifle, Seneca Run (muzzleloader and other timed events) and shotgun, as well as a hunting/wildlife competition that included identification of animal skulls, feathers, furs, tracks and scat; shoot/don't shoot hunting scenarios and a timed map and compass section. They also enjoyed a potluck dinner on Saturday and heard from Eric Nuse, a retired state game warden from Johnson, and Curtis Smiley, a Vermont game warden based in Essex Junction and the Vermont Big Game Trophy Club's director of scoring.

Overall individual high scorers, in order of placement, were as follows:

SENIOR DIVISION (ages 14-18): Patrick Wilson, West Rupert; Taylor Waring, Kirby; Zachary Terhune, Barton; Joshua Sanders, Lyndonville

JUNIOR DIVISION (ages 11-13): Nigel Waring, Kirby; Fletcher Loomis, Shaftsbury; Ryan Decker, Pawlet; Bennett Cochran, Danville

NOVICE DIVISION (ages 8-10): Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Jonna Loomis, Shaftsbury; Olivia Abair, Jeffersonville; Quin Goings, Weathersfield

Top scorers in each discipline, in order of placement, included:

ARCHERY--SENIOR: Joshua Sanders, Lyndonville; Joaquin Cubero, Danville; Patrick Wilson, West Rupert; Jay Wilson, West Rupert. JUNIOR: Nigel Waring, Kirby; Seth Browe, West Pawlet; Hannah Terhune, Barton; Celine Morris, Lyndonville. NOVICE: Jonna Loomis, Shaftsbury; Jacob Terhune, Barton; Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Adam Browe, West Pawlet

HUNTING--SENIOR: Joshua Sanders, Lyndonville; Patrick Wilson, West Rupert; Taylor Waring, Kirby; Ben Decker, St. Johnsbury. JUNIOR: Nigel Waring, Kirby; Clayton Fenton, Wells; Danika Norcross, Lyndonville; Garrett Abair, Jeffersonville. NOVICE: Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Cooper Mason, Bennington; Samuel Sylvain, St. Johnsbury; Olivia Abair, Jeffersonville

PISTOL (.22 pistol or air pistol, depending on competitor's age)--SENIOR: Jonathan Sanders, Lyndonville; Aaron Terhune, Barton; Jay Wilson, West Rupert; Thomas Wilson, West Rupert. JUNIOR: Fletcher Loomis, Shaftsbury; Bennett Cochran, Danville; Jack Barrows, Dorset; Corey Clark, Underhill. NOVICE: Quin Goings, Weathersfield; Samuel Sylvain, St. Johnsbury; Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Sam Barrows, Dorset

RIFLE--SENIOR: Marissa Cubero, Danville; Taylor Waring, Kirby; Aaron Terhune, Barton; Joshua Sanders, Lyndonville. JUNIOR: Wesley Austin, Westminister; Nigel Waring, Kirby; Ryan Decker, Pawlet; Christian Hassett, Bennington. NOVICE: Olivia Abair, Jeffersonville; Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Quin Goings, Weathersfield; Jonna Loomis, Shaftsbury

SENECA RUN--SENIOR: Zachary Terhune, Barton; Patrick Wilson, West Rupert; Jay Wilson, West Rupert; Taylor Waring, Kirby. JUNIOR: Nigel Waring, Kirby; Anthony Vanderhoop, West Burke; Tristin Farrow, Derby Line; Hannah Terhune, Barton. NOVICE: Evan DeMuynck, Underhill; Jacob Terhune, Barton; Jack Cushman, St. Johnsbury; Olivia Abair, Jeffersonville

SHOTGUN--SENIOR: Patrick Wilson, West Rupert; Thomas Wilson, West Rupert; Joaquin Cubero, Danville; Ben Decker, St. Johnsbury. JUNIOR: Bennett Cochran, Danville; Nigel Waring, Kirby; Garrett Abair, Jeffersonville; Fletcher Loomis, Shaftsbury. NOVICE: Quin Goings, Weathersfield; Samuel Sylvain, St. Johnsbury; Cooper Mason, Bennington; Evan DeMuynck, Underhill

For information about joining or starting a new 4-H Shooting Sports Club, contact your local UVM Extension office or Lisa Muzzey, UVM Extension 4-H Shooting Sports coordinator, at (802) 885-8385 or (800) 278-5471 (toll-free in Vermont) or by e-mail at lisa.muzzey@uvm.edu.