Montana State Target Shoot hits bull's eye

Randy Pirker did not invent competitive archery shooting, but he did help make it a big deal in Sanders County in particular, and in all of western Montana in general.

Decades after starting up an archery shop business and helping put the sport of competitive archery on the map in Thompson Falls, and only days after attending a national shoot with his lifelong archery pal Tony Bierwagen in California, Pirker (or "Pirk" as his friends often called him) was not in town for the prestigious Montana State Target Shoot Championships held at Previs Field last weekend on the grounds of TFHS in body, but his spirit obviously lives on.

"We had a moment of silence for Randy before the shoot began," Bierwagen said of the tournament honoring of his dear friend, "and it was only fitting that we did. He meant an awful lot to a lot of people around here."

Indeed, although Bierwagen has picked up the baton and helped the sport of archery continue to grow in this area (as evidenced by the fact that he has been able to attract the State Target Championships to Thompson Falls for several years now), the seed for competitive archery shooting in this area was planted by Pirker a few decades ago when he first opened Pirker's 3-D Archery shop.

And the rest is now archery history.

The long-time president of the Thompson Falls Archery Club (TFAC), Bierwagen said several current and former members of the club shot in the target championships at Previs Field Saturday and Sunday.

Madison Toyias won first place in the Chick Bowhunter Freestyle division, Abby Croft finished third in the Adult Female Freestyle class, Don Jensen took first place in the Men's Silver Senior Freestyle, Lynette Zander was first in the Women's Silver Senior Freestyle and Jo Jensen second in that division, Ben Croft placed third in the Youth Male Bowhunter Freestyle, and Bierwagen took fourth place in the Men's Bowhunter Freestyle, in addition to making sure the tournament proceeded smoothly at all times.

Beautiful June weather on both days of the shoot helped things go even more smoothly. Bierwagen said over 70 archers from across Montana and neighboring states competed last weekend, representing the best turnout yet for the state shoot in Thompson Falls.

Bierwagen said that Abby Croft, who has reduced her competitive shooting lately as she gets serious about doing well in college, deserves credit for a current fashion trend in archery.

"A lot of women compete in shoots wearing golfing skirts now," he said. "Abby started that a few years ago and now you seen them everywhere."

Bierwagen also shared information on the poignant final shoot he attended with Pirker May 4-6. Fulfilling a long-held desire by both to attend a national shoot together, the lifelong friends traveled in caravan style to Redding. Hoping to find a new cure, Pirk made a detour to a cancer specialist in Reno on the way back home to Montana.

"We had a great time down there, Pirk said it was the best archery thing he had ever done," Bierwagen said. "And it was what turned out to be Randy's last five days of living. After we got back he went straight to the hospital." Pirker passed away May 18.

The tournament the friends for life attended was the National Field Archery Association's National Marked 3-D Target Championships. Bierwagen and Pirk were very moved when many of the 1,680 archers gathered there joined in a moment of silent prayer for Randy during the shoot.

"I am sure glad we had the chance to do that together," Bierwagen said. "It meant a lot to both of us."

Bierwagen said the next big shoot in his life is the Bear Shoot at Clearwater Junction June 17. The State Field Target Championships will be held in Butte June 23-24.