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Jun. 13—Garald Gillies took aim with his high-powered rifle at 800 yards, the target's center appearing as a faint dot to the naked eye. He had a scope. Other shooters at the range took aim while lying prone on the ground, but not Gillies. He sat in a chair.
A buddy, Tim Morrell, stood nearby with his iPhone in hand. Seven seconds after each shot was fired, the results of Gillies' marksmanship showed up on a digital app.
"Look how well he's doing," Morrell said.
The app showed where Gillies' bullets hit the target. Most of them were near the center.
Twenty-two minutes later when the first round of shooting was completed — 15 rounds for each of the dozen or so shooters — Gillies sat quietly in his chair, listening to the wind whip around him and the pop of other shooters' rifles being fired.
"Nice shooting," a fellow marksman said, shaking his hand. Gillies smiled and returned the gesture. "You too."
A few minutes passed and then he noted it was the first time that all of his bullets nearly hit the bull's-eye. As he sat quietly, he was apparently absorbing that news, too.
This was a Friday in early September 2025 during the first round of a long-range shooting competition hosted over the weekend by the Bismarck-Mandan Rifle and Pistol Association at the Fried Family Marksmanship Complex in Moffit, North Dakota. But the scene could be played out at most any gun range in the state, including the Forks Rifle Club in Grand Forks, where Gillies is a member.
He took first place in the unclassified, expert and sharpshooter relays during that September weekend's regional championship — a first for Gillies.
But why was he able to shoot from a chair?
The National Rifle Association typically requires competitive shooters to lie prone, but Gillies received a waiver to sit due to a disability. He lost his leg in November 2022 when it was amputated above the knee due to diabetes that damaged the limb.
"I almost didn't make it," he said. "But it sure is good to still be here."
Gillies, who grew up in Grand Forks but now lives in Bathgate, North Dakota, a little more than an hour's drive from his former hometown, competes in F class — or precision long-range rifle shooting. It's something he's been doing for at least the past decade, maybe a few years more, he told the Grand Forks Herald in June. He's been a member of the Forks Rifle Club for more than half that time and a hunter for most of his life.
Gillies was recently in Moffit again for another shoot and plans to participate in shoots later this month at the Forks Rifle Club. In fact, it wouldn't be uncommon to see Gillies at other competitions across North Dakota. He's even competed outside of the state, including a shoot in Oklahoma.
Shooting in the off-season — and all year long, whenever he can — helps hone his skill as a marksman and provides camaraderie among fellow gun enthusiasts. Now retired, there's just something about the shooting sport that helps make him feel more complete — and it's not only about the gun. More so, it's about the people-connection to the sport and the friendships he's made over the years.
The great thing about club membership, besides it being closer to home, he said, is it has allowed him to meet new people and at times be a mentor to up-and-coming shooters, young and old alike. That's another thing about the sport — anyone can do it.
Tyler Klebe can attest to that. As club president and someone who's been involved with the Forks Rifle Club on and off for the past 16 years or so, he's seen all ages of shooters use the facility, which has both outdoor and indoor shooting opportunities.
Klebe shoots in the F-Open class, but has also shot sporting clays with his wife, Mandie, at the Grand Forks Gun Club. He is joined in the F-Open by his 17-year-old daughter, Taryn, who also keeps busy with other competitions, including three-position and precision air rifle and three- and four-position smallbore shoots. Taryn also participates in summer and summer youth leagues.
"We don't have off-seasons," Klebe says.
His family isn't the only one.
Klebe says the club sees a lot of families who come out to share in the shooting sport together, some members of a family taking part in different leagues — including the precision air rifle and smallbore shoots — what Klebe calls "a great opportunity for kids. We see a lot of grandparents and their grandkids."
The club's shooting range sits in a little more 117 acres in Emerado in Grand Forks County. Ammo and gear are available at the club, and the number of youth who participate varies, depending on the time of year.
"The club competes with hockey and basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring," he said. "But we start off strong," noting that sometimes 25 kids start a season's league before the numbers start to dwindle due to other commitments. It is a time commitment.
"It just depends and it's not for everybody," he said.
For Klebe and his family, it has been one of the ties that bind. It also has improved other things in his life: his aim has gotten better, he's made more friends and he gets to participate in a sport that is deeply meaningful to him.
Klebe is not off the mark when it comes to the dividends of the shooting sport. Gillies, from firsthand experience, concurs there are many benefits.
Every morning of the week, except for Sundays, Gillies makes a trip to the small community of Neche to have coffee with friends. Because of his disability, sometimes they'll help him at home with projects. It's one of the connections he's made over the years, in part due to his involvement in the club.
"Oh yes," he said, "I've made many friends over the years. It's a great way to meet people."
Gillies, who often brings his own chair with him to shooting events, said mentoring is a big part of the sport and he has had the chance to learn techniques from others and coach colleagues and newbies alike. He will gladly offer his rifle to someone who'd like to try it out at the club.
"To me that's what being a mentor is about, offering someone else your gun," he said.
Klebe said many people at the club are like that and that it's a great place for new shooters because there is always someone there to help. Even old pros can get help if needed, because that's just the way it is in the shooting sports: long-lasting friendships are readily in the making and most everyone is eager to help.
"The club owns some guns that you can shoot and there are always members who are willing to let you try theirs," Klebe said. "If you want to try out that vintage rifle, I pretty much guarantee somebody would let you borrow a gun."
The club is always looking for new members, Klebe said, noting that because it is a 100% NRA membership range, anyone who wants to join also has to be an NRA member.
"I've never had a bad experience there, before I was involved or after," he said. "It's always been good people. Everybody's always been safe and seem to follow the rules."
Members can participate all year, even when the snow flies, thanks to its 50-foot indoor range for .22 caliber rifles. Beside the smallbore opportunities for young people, there are shooting positions that adults can participate in, including an indoor .22-handgun league and a light-rifle league.
The Forks Rifle Club is a sometimes overlooked gem, Klebe said, but when they finally experience it they know why it's a jewel.
"If you're willing to shoot, there is something for you there," he said. "It's nice to have a range of that caliber that is that close. There are a lot of opportunities to meet new people and shoot different guns."
Continue reading...
A buddy, Tim Morrell, stood nearby with his iPhone in hand. Seven seconds after each shot was fired, the results of Gillies' marksmanship showed up on a digital app.
"Look how well he's doing," Morrell said.
The app showed where Gillies' bullets hit the target. Most of them were near the center.
Twenty-two minutes later when the first round of shooting was completed — 15 rounds for each of the dozen or so shooters — Gillies sat quietly in his chair, listening to the wind whip around him and the pop of other shooters' rifles being fired.
"Nice shooting," a fellow marksman said, shaking his hand. Gillies smiled and returned the gesture. "You too."
A few minutes passed and then he noted it was the first time that all of his bullets nearly hit the bull's-eye. As he sat quietly, he was apparently absorbing that news, too.
This was a Friday in early September 2025 during the first round of a long-range shooting competition hosted over the weekend by the Bismarck-Mandan Rifle and Pistol Association at the Fried Family Marksmanship Complex in Moffit, North Dakota. But the scene could be played out at most any gun range in the state, including the Forks Rifle Club in Grand Forks, where Gillies is a member.
He took first place in the unclassified, expert and sharpshooter relays during that September weekend's regional championship — a first for Gillies.
But why was he able to shoot from a chair?
The National Rifle Association typically requires competitive shooters to lie prone, but Gillies received a waiver to sit due to a disability. He lost his leg in November 2022 when it was amputated above the knee due to diabetes that damaged the limb.
"I almost didn't make it," he said. "But it sure is good to still be here."
Gillies, who grew up in Grand Forks but now lives in Bathgate, North Dakota, a little more than an hour's drive from his former hometown, competes in F class — or precision long-range rifle shooting. It's something he's been doing for at least the past decade, maybe a few years more, he told the Grand Forks Herald in June. He's been a member of the Forks Rifle Club for more than half that time and a hunter for most of his life.
Gillies was recently in Moffit again for another shoot and plans to participate in shoots later this month at the Forks Rifle Club. In fact, it wouldn't be uncommon to see Gillies at other competitions across North Dakota. He's even competed outside of the state, including a shoot in Oklahoma.
Shooting in the off-season — and all year long, whenever he can — helps hone his skill as a marksman and provides camaraderie among fellow gun enthusiasts. Now retired, there's just something about the shooting sport that helps make him feel more complete — and it's not only about the gun. More so, it's about the people-connection to the sport and the friendships he's made over the years.
The great thing about club membership, besides it being closer to home, he said, is it has allowed him to meet new people and at times be a mentor to up-and-coming shooters, young and old alike. That's another thing about the sport — anyone can do it.
Tyler Klebe can attest to that. As club president and someone who's been involved with the Forks Rifle Club on and off for the past 16 years or so, he's seen all ages of shooters use the facility, which has both outdoor and indoor shooting opportunities.
Klebe shoots in the F-Open class, but has also shot sporting clays with his wife, Mandie, at the Grand Forks Gun Club. He is joined in the F-Open by his 17-year-old daughter, Taryn, who also keeps busy with other competitions, including three-position and precision air rifle and three- and four-position smallbore shoots. Taryn also participates in summer and summer youth leagues.
"We don't have off-seasons," Klebe says.
His family isn't the only one.
Klebe says the club sees a lot of families who come out to share in the shooting sport together, some members of a family taking part in different leagues — including the precision air rifle and smallbore shoots — what Klebe calls "a great opportunity for kids. We see a lot of grandparents and their grandkids."
The club's shooting range sits in a little more 117 acres in Emerado in Grand Forks County. Ammo and gear are available at the club, and the number of youth who participate varies, depending on the time of year.
"The club competes with hockey and basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring," he said. "But we start off strong," noting that sometimes 25 kids start a season's league before the numbers start to dwindle due to other commitments. It is a time commitment.
"It just depends and it's not for everybody," he said.
For Klebe and his family, it has been one of the ties that bind. It also has improved other things in his life: his aim has gotten better, he's made more friends and he gets to participate in a sport that is deeply meaningful to him.
Klebe is not off the mark when it comes to the dividends of the shooting sport. Gillies, from firsthand experience, concurs there are many benefits.
Every morning of the week, except for Sundays, Gillies makes a trip to the small community of Neche to have coffee with friends. Because of his disability, sometimes they'll help him at home with projects. It's one of the connections he's made over the years, in part due to his involvement in the club.
"Oh yes," he said, "I've made many friends over the years. It's a great way to meet people."
Gillies, who often brings his own chair with him to shooting events, said mentoring is a big part of the sport and he has had the chance to learn techniques from others and coach colleagues and newbies alike. He will gladly offer his rifle to someone who'd like to try it out at the club.
"To me that's what being a mentor is about, offering someone else your gun," he said.
Klebe said many people at the club are like that and that it's a great place for new shooters because there is always someone there to help. Even old pros can get help if needed, because that's just the way it is in the shooting sports: long-lasting friendships are readily in the making and most everyone is eager to help.
"The club owns some guns that you can shoot and there are always members who are willing to let you try theirs," Klebe said. "If you want to try out that vintage rifle, I pretty much guarantee somebody would let you borrow a gun."
The club is always looking for new members, Klebe said, noting that because it is a 100% NRA membership range, anyone who wants to join also has to be an NRA member.
"I've never had a bad experience there, before I was involved or after," he said. "It's always been good people. Everybody's always been safe and seem to follow the rules."
Members can participate all year, even when the snow flies, thanks to its 50-foot indoor range for .22 caliber rifles. Beside the smallbore opportunities for young people, there are shooting positions that adults can participate in, including an indoor .22-handgun league and a light-rifle league.
The Forks Rifle Club is a sometimes overlooked gem, Klebe said, but when they finally experience it they know why it's a jewel.
"If you're willing to shoot, there is something for you there," he said. "It's nice to have a range of that caliber that is that close. There are a lot of opportunities to meet new people and shoot different guns."
Continue reading...
