About Danica
Danica is a 17 year old young lady who homeschools in the small rural town of Hysham, MT. Born into a target shooting family, Danica 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 year she was shooting outdoors with her Dad, Papa, Uncle, and sometimes sister. Six years later she was shooting at a National Sporter Air rifle competition where she learned she can shoot in college. But first Danica had to make the transition from sporter rifle to precision rifle. The fall of 2024, instead of buying a car, she got herself a precision rifle. Originally she was borrowing the suit needed from Yellowstone Rifle Club and was eventually able to purchase a non-customize one for herself. Five months into this journey she 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 got the score needed competed 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 a non-customized 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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