2010 Gun Contest Winner: Trevar McAllister
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RONAN — Trevar McAllister’s only just finished his second year hunting, but he’s got a new rifle to use for the next several seasons.
The 13-year-old is the 2010 Lake County Leader Gun Contest winner. Co-sponsored by Ronan Sport and Western, Trevar is the proud new owner of a Savage Model 14 bolt action, .270 Winchester short mag; the rifle retails at $760. Trevar’s name was picked from a total of more than 83 entries in this, the fourth year of the annual contest.
“I didn’t know what to think, I started running around,” Trevar said of his reaction to learning he won.
The Ronan eighth grader had two entries: a 5x6 bull elk and a 4x4 whitetail buck. He said he shot the elk near Helena while out hunting with his dad.
“He was facing me and I shot him in the chest from about 200 yards,” Trevar said. “Elk hunting was hard but it was worth it when I got my bull.”
His whitetail entry ended up being the winner and as luck would have it, Trevar harvested the animal on the last afternoon of hunting season near St. Regis.
“I saw that buck the last day and my heart started pounding,” Trevar said. “He was at 40 yards and my dad called him in to 30 yards and I shot him with a .243.”
The young hunter said he could have had even more during his estimated 35 days out hunting this year as he missed four bucks and a bull. But in two seasons, he’s had quite a haul: Last season, Trevar harvested an elk, deer, antelope and bear.
With his new gun, Trevar is only hoping for more good luck and good aim.
At 13, Trevar is the third teenager in the last three years to win the contest. Heather Mathison, at the time a Polson High School sophomore, won in 2008, while Brandy Stevens took last year’s contest. Sport and Western owner Rob Shrider said the teen trend is a positive thing.
“We’re happy to do it,” he said. “It’s good for the kids and good for the public to get outside, hunt and fish and enjoy nature.”
The Leader has sponsored the Gun Contest for four years. Polson Police Chief Doug Chase draws the winner after all forms are filled out. The annual contest runs from opening day of hunting season until one week after it closes.