Bighorns Club brings in celebrity hunter Cody Robbins

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

One of the oldest outdoors hunting clubs in Alberta, the Standard Bighorns Club, hopes to draw in a large crowd of 250 avid outdoor enthusiasts next weekend at their annual fundraising dinner – this year with headliner Cody Robbins from the popular Wild TV hunting show Live 2 Hunt giving a presentation.
The club, which was started in 1964 and is now in its 54th year, has a long-standing history of promoting hunting, proper and safe handling of firearms, conservation efforts, and promoting youth learning about firearms and the responsibilities of being a hunter.
“The reason why we are doing this supper and inviting Cody Robbins down is to raise money in our club because our club believes in promoting youth hunters,” said Perry Ellis, member of the Standard Bighorns Club. “We believe in supporting the families and to help youth get proper hunter training and safe firearms training so that’s what we designated all the profits from this supper to go towards.”
Originally, the club was started when several local hunters got together after the hunting season to create a social event where they could see how everyone’s season went and to hand out some hunting awards. Today, with approximately 35 members and growing, club members still get together annually to hand out awards, but their focus has shifted towards teaching youth members and promoting the outdoor sport of hunting.
Every year the club pays a portion of the costs to send any interested youth members to a hunter training camp where they learn the responsibility of gun ownership and of hunting. This year seven youth are scheduled to attend the educational hunting camp.
Due to high interest of youth in the area wishing to learn about firearms safety and to attend the hunter training, the Standard Bighorns Club will be hosting a two-day course in Standard in April for kids who are unable to attend the summer hunter education camp. The course, which is not yet scheduled but will accommodate up to 20 youth, will be taught by a local certified firearms and hunters education teacher with 19 years experience. The club will cover the $30 registration fee for youth interested in attending.
“They don’t have to be hunters in the end run, it’s just to teach them the safe use and handling of firearms. You need to know how to use a firearm safely for any situation, whether it be target shooting, hunting or just the handling of it for shows. The proper way (to learn) is by taking these hunter education courses,” said Ellis.
The fundraiser will take place on March 17 at the Standard Community Hall with cocktails at 5 p.m. and a roast beef dinner starting at 6 p.m. Cody Robbins will be making a presentation after dinner about his hunting adventures.
Tickets for the fundraising dinner are $40 and can be purchased by contacting Jason Gauthier at 403-901-3754 or at the door if the 250 available tickets are not sold out.
For those interested in joining the Standard Bighorns Club, memberships are $40 for a family or $30 for a single membership. Interested people do not need a firearm or a hunter’s licence to join, anyone who wants to join and learn more is welcome.
“This club is something that has been in the community for years, and this will be a night for everyone to come together to talk about their hunting experiences and conservation efforts,” said Ellis. “It’s important to recognize the two, especially in a small community like this; it helps keep our way of life going and keep people together.”