About Danica
I am 17 years old living in the small rural town of Hysham, MT. Born into a target shooting family, I was introduced to the art of target shooting at a young age but couldn't compete until she was 9 when she joined 4H shooting sports. The following years I was shooting outdoors with my Dad, Papa, Uncle, and sometimes sister. Six years later I was shooting at a National Sporter Air rifle competition where I learned I can shoot in college. But first I had to make the transition from sporter rifle to precision rifle. The fall of 2024, instead of buying a car, I got myself a precision rifle. Originally I was borrowing the suit needed from Yellowstone Rifle Club and was eventually able to purchase an off the rack one for myself. Five months into this journey I auto-qualified to shoot at a national competition in Ohio.
In 2013, when I was 5 years old, I put on my Dad’s shooting glasses and started my journey to becoming a passionate shooter. Outdoor competitions have an age limit and rightfully so. We are shooting something that could potentially kill someone. There is a level of maturity and respect needed to shoot competitively. That didn’t stop me from going to them and watching my dad, papa, uncle, and sometimes my older sister from shooting. I was able to shoot in competitions when I was about 8. The first couple years I shot as a junior but they quickly moved me to the ladies. Junior shooters are scarce and competition makes you better. It wasn’t long before I started to place amoung the ladies and even win a few. In 2022, when I was 14 I placed 2nd out of 500+ competitors, men and women, at the internationally attended, Quigley. I missed 1st by 1 off hand (standing with no sticks) to a now friend of mine Dave Gullo.
I started shooting air rifle in 4-H matches when I was 9. Three positions (3P), Standing, kneeling, prone, are shot at competitions. Ten shots for each position. I was in love. Finally getting to shoot with kids my own age making new friends along the way. When you are 14-18 years old, shooters get to compete for a spot on the 4H nationals team and compete in Nebraska. I made the team when I was 14 and with 3 other girls we placed 1st in 3P, 1st for standing, and 2nd in silhouette for an overall placing of 2nd. I placed 3rd for standing individually.
4-H also has the shooting sport Western Heritage. We take on a persona from late 1800s and shoot cowboy action. I particpated in Western Heritage for a couple years. I was great at hitting the targets but not fast. I LOVED the portraying my historic character and shooting at the historic stages in Utah. I soon learned that my shooting is going to take me in a different direction and some activities will need to be cut if I want to become an elite shooter.
In 2022 I was invited to a state wide match in Belgrade to try for an auto qualifying score to shoot at a national match in Ohio. My eyes were opened to a whole new world. I shot the score required to compete in Ohio with 100s of other sporter air rifle shooters. I was on the search for a club that shoots competitively traveling to these larger competitions. In 2023, when I was 15, I joined the Junior Yellowstone Rifle Club. That year I continued to shoot sporter rifle but soon learned I have gone as far as I could and needed to move into precision rifle if I want to shoot in college. A year ago I didn’t even know there were rifle teams in college. My family took the plunge and together purchased my first air rifle. A Feinwerkbau 900. She is beautiful and fully customizable. We also got an off the rack suit and I’m borrowing a pair of boots. My journey to a college team officially started in October 2024. I will graduate May 2026 but start applying to colleges Fall of 2025. I didn’t give myself much time to climb the ranks to be competitive for a college team. As of Feb 2025, I have shot in Colorado Springs, Camp Perry in Ohio, Billings, and recently in Missoula at a state qualifying match to the CMP Nationals in Camp Perry, Ohio that I made earlier as a sporter. I shot the auto qualifying score so I get to go back as a precision shooter.
PO Box 494, Hysham, MT 59038 snowygambleowl@gmail.com
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