If you are looking for something different to do this weekend, you can join the Lava Hot Springs Lion’s Club for their monthly trap shoot. The shoot is open to the public, and will take place Saturday, April 20 at Smith’s Trout Haven, just outside of Lava Hot Springs. Shooting starts at 11 a.m.

    It’s good shooting, good eating and according to Les Bocek of the Lava Lions, great camaraderie at the trap shoot brings people from all over the southeast Idaho area and northern Utah. The monthly trap shoots are held on the third Saturday of every month from November through May.

    “It’s a really a friendly atmosphere,” says Bocek, and he should know. He has been trap shooting with the Lion’s Club in Lava for about 20 years. Bocek says the traps on their course at Smith’s Trout Haven are set a little higher and faster than average, so the shooting is challenging, even for the experienced. But the members of the Club are eager for everyone to have a good time, so they make sure less experienced and younger shooters have ample opportunity to have a chance to shoot successfully.

    “If people want us to teach them, then we teach them,” Bocek said.

    But he says it is better if shooters unfamiliar with trap shooting have already had a gun safety course.

    The Lions trap shooting event is called the “Turkey Shoot” because often a turkey was the grand prize for the day’s best shooter. But the Lion’s Trap Shoot could also be called a “Meat Shoot,” since the prizes may also be things like ham, bacon, ribs or shrimp.     

    The day’s activities consist of several different kinds of shoots. The Annie Oakley Shoot involves all the shooters standing in a line to shoot at the flying targets. When one shooter misses, the next can take over. In the Buddy Shoot, shooters have a partner who hits the birds they miss. Another shoot is the Plain Turkey Shoot in which five different shooters shoot from five different positions. Overall, the person who wins the most, wins the shoot and the offered prize.

    The price to participate is $3 per shoot and shooters need to bring their own shotguns. However, the Lion’s Club does provide a free simple lunch. Hot dogs or chili round out a fun day of trying to hit those speeding clay pigeons as they fly through the air, and having a good time with friends.

    “They enjoy each other, tease each other, and razz each other,” said Bocek about his fellow shooters. “It’s great camaraderie.”    

    Even when the Lion’s Club isn’t having a trap shoot event at Smith’s Trout Haven, the Haven still has much to offer for those looking for outdoor recreational opportunities. Idaho native Earl Smith and his wife Marilyn have been running Smith’s Trout Haven for 35 years.   

    Smith’s is open in the spring, summer and fall, with 50 RV sites and 50 tent campsites. Electrical hookups, drinking water and fire rings are available, and pets are OK. The Haven is a family-friendly facility with lots to do, including horseshoe pits, basketball, volleyball and two playgrounds.

    Smith’s maintains two fish ponds stocked with rainbow trout.

    “It’s a great place to come and bring the kids and learn to fish,” said Smith.

    Anglers need to bring their own fishing equipment, but anyone fishing at Smith’s Trout Haven’s ponds does not need a license. In addition, Smith’s has eight different sized pavilions, enclosed on two sides and equipped with fire pits and tables, available for group rental.

    Of course, anyone camping or RV’ing at Smith’s Trout Haven also has all of the area’s outdoor recreational opportunities at their disposal. The area around Lava Hot Springs is great for ATV riding, biking,

hiking, fishing, fly-fishing, hunting, river-rafting and other activities. Thunder Canyon, the Lava Hot Springs Mineral Pool complex and the Olympic Swimming Pool complex are all available to visitors of Smith’s Trout Haven.