Gun club lands Sykes Grant funding

The Bighorn Basin Gun Club, Inc. has landed a $20,000 grant from the Gordon and Edna Sykes Endowment Fund to replace the two trapshooting machines at its range between Basin and Greybull.

A spokesperson for the Wyoming Community Foundation, which oversees the Sykes Fund, confirmed that the gun club was one of three organizations in south Big Horn County to receive funding in the last cycle. 

The others were Big Horn County Fire Protection District #2 and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc.

The gun range, which is located at 451 U.S. Highway 20 South, has seen a surge in use in recent years, according to Brad Campbell, who serves as vice president of its board.  The primary reason is because of the establishment of trapshooting teams at Riverside and Burlington high schools.

For years, the range has hosted Big Horn County 4H Shooting Sports practices and competitions.

Campbell said the gun club has about 70 members. The annual membership fee is $35.  The club hosts open shooting Thursday nights at 6 p.m. Anyone can attend, but youth should be accompanied by parent or guardian.  

 Campbell said the gun club pursued the Sykes Grant because of the range’s increased usage and the condition of its two existing trap machines, which he estimated to be between 35 and 40 years of age.

“I was blown away by their generosity,” Campbell said after learning that the club’s grant request had been approved.  “We asked for 10,000, thinking we’d be lucky to get $5,000, if anything at all.”

With $10,000, they could have replaced one of the trap machines.

“But when I looked at the notification we got from them, it said $20,000, so we’ll be able to replace both,” said Campbell.

Club leaders “are amazed at the generosity of the grant and wish to thank the committee on behalf of the kids, their respective club leaders and all else who use the facilities.” 

The club has initiated RFQs for the purchase of Pat Trap machines and hopes to have them in service by the end of the first quarter 2025.

Founded in 1946, the Bighorn Basin Gun Club, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

To learn more, visit www.bighornbasingunclub.org.

Leaving a legacy

According to the Wyoming Community Foundation website, the the Gordon and Edna Sykes Endowment Fund was established nearly 20 years ago. 

The Sykes lived in Basin and wanted their community to thrive long after they were gone. 

The fund was created to help community programs and educational opportunities in the southern region of Big Horn County.