GAMO® Outdoor USA has announced completion of the 6th annual Squirrel Master Classic, one the most exciting outdoor shooting sports events in the country. What started as friendly end-of-hunting-season industry event by Jackie Bushman of Buckmasters has grown into much-anticipated annual “happening” with a serious mission—to raise awareness of the need for hunter recruitment and to promote the next generation of young hunters and shooting sports ambassadors.
With hunting participation numbers continuing to decline along with the revenue hunting and shooting sports contribute to state habitat management and wildlife conservation, the need for reversing this historical trend has never been greater. Key to moving these outdoor sports toward positive-growth is by getting kids into the woods so they can experience first-hand the fun and personal rewards of hunting.
“For many young hunters and first-time shooters, air rifles provide the gateway to lifelong participation in hunting and shooting activities,” said Andy Carroll, GAMO Vice President of Marketing. “This is why GAMO is excited to sponsor events such as the Squirrel Master Classic.”
Held at the renowned Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge located just outside of Montgomery, Alabama, each Squirrel Master Classic consists of several teams. These teams pair noted outdoor television personalities with kids who participate in the 4H Shooting Sports Program along with a national media writer, a squirrel dog, and the dog’s handler. The two-day event includes squirrel hunting and timed shooting competitions using GAMO air rifles. A point system charts each team’s performance, with the top-scoring team winning the event.
This year, participants shot the new GAMO Swarm Magnum .22 air rifle for both the hunting and shooting event segments. The Swarm Magnum .22 is ideally suited for small game hunting thanks to its impressive 1100 FPS velocity when propelling lead pellets and its Swarm 10X multi shot technology. The Swarm 10X multi shot system holds ten pellets in an auto-advancing magazine so there is no need to reload between shots. Utilizing a single-cocking break-barrel charging system, two-stage Custom Action Trigger, and an ergonomically designed stock with a thumbhole-style vertical grip, prominent cheek riser, and padded butt stock, the Swarm Magnum .22 offers balanced handling and a comfortable fit for precision target shooting and hunting applications.
Participating in the 2019 Squirrel Master Classic were teams comprised of several leading outdoor television programs, including Realtree Outdoors, Buckmasters, Buck Commander, Bone Collector,Realtree Road Trips, and Raised Hunting. For the third time, Michael Waddell led the Bone Collector team to capture the coveted Squirrel Master Classic trophy.
“The Squirrel Master Classic is an event everyone greatly enjoys,” said Carroll, “from the seasoned hunters to the 4H participants—most of whom have never before hunted. The reward is to see the excitement and the smiles of these youngsters and to know that their experience here will be a spark they’ll carry forward to ensure our hunting and shooting heritage will be around for future generations.”
To learn more about revolutionary air guns and other innovative technology from GAMO, visit, http://www.gamousa.com.
About GAMO…
GAMO Adult Precision Airguns is Europe’s largest airgun manufacturer. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the company began manufacturing high quality airguns in the 1960s, and shooters in more than 50 countries all over the world rely on GAMO air rifles and pistols for their durability, accuracy and power. A world leader in the production of top quality, accurate airgun ammunition, GAMO produces more than 20 different pellet styles. For more information, visit www.gamousa.com and follow us on social media.
