Day of archery to raise money for St. Jude

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's third annual Shootin' for St. Jude archery event is this week, and promoters are expecting it to be the biggest yet.

"I'm so excited," said Miranda Fickert, captain of the Poplar Bluff St. Jude Heroes team. "It's grown every year, and we have so many supporters this year."

The event, held in conjunction with the Indian Creek Bowhunters club, will be begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Missouri Department of Conservation's archery range off County Road 546, northeast of Poplar Bluff.

Shooters can register and begin shooting any time between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the cost to shoot will be $12 per person.

"This year, we're doing 20 3-D targets," Fickert said.

Six novelty shoots will be set up along the course, Fickert said, including a long shot and a falling target shot.

Other specialty shoots will include a milk jug tournament in which pairs of archers try to be the first to hit and empty the suspended jugs, shooting an apple off a mannequin's head and a steel bear target.

Trophies will be handed out in each division of the archery shoot, Fickert said.

Children are encouraged to come try their hands at archery.

"We'll have some bows for them to shoot and try out," Fickert said. "Plus, there will be a gift for every child, while supplies last."

Non-archery events include a washer-pitching tournament and a casting contest for all ages.

"We may also have a golf shot," Fickert said, where participants hit a golf ball at a target.

A silent auction and several raffles are planned, and, Fickert said, more than 75 items have been donated. The auction will continue until 5 p.m.

Auction items and prizes include things such as a Mission Ballistic bow, a Barnett crossbow, a Stevens .243 rifle, an Illinois archery deer hunt, several Block targets, taxidermy mounts, trail cameras, home décor, St. Louis Cardinals tickets and hunting gear.

"We'll have things like Scentsy packages, massages and silver jewelry for them [women]," she said.

Several caps, shirts, DVDs and more items, autographed by Lee and Tiffany Lakosky of "The Crush," Pat and Nicole Reeve of "Driven TV" and Michael Waddell, Nick Mundt and Travis Turner from the "Bone Collector" TV show will be available as well.

Local native Randy Birdsong, who hosts "Headhunters TV" on the Outdoor Channel, will be in attendance, Fickert said, and will bring along T-shirts and other show gear.

Last year, more than 200 shooters participated in the event, Fickert said, and raised nearly $14,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This year, Fickert hopes the event is even more successful.

"Our goal is $20,000," she said.

Before the fundraiser shoot, a limited number of T-shirts to commemorate the event will be available, Fickert said, and they may be purchased by calling her at 573-718-2875.

For more information on the Indian Creek Bowhunters, contact Brad Massey at 573-785-0647 or 573-776-8104, or Tony Harwell at 573-718-7135.