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FAIRBANKS -- Trap shooting and Alaska’s 50th anniversary will go hand-in-hand this week when the Fairbanks Trap Club hosts the Pacific International Trap Association Alaska State Shoot.

While Alaska is celebrating its 50th year of statehood, the 50th annual PITA State shoot will take place at the Fairbanks Trap Club, 6.5 Mile Old Steese Highway.

As many as 70 shooters from throughout the western United States and Canada are expected to converge on the trap shooting facility for five days of shooting that begins at 11 a.m. today.

“Shoot, there are already 17 motor homes here right now,” Fairbanks Trap Club president Brian “Stubby” Hughes said Tuesday night as club members prepared the facility for competition that gets under way at 11 a.m. today. “They started showing up yesterday and we expect a lot more of them by the time we hold championship events on Saturday and Sunday.”

Hughes said he expects 70 or more shooters to be on hand for this year’s event.

In a normal year, Hughes said, about 45 or 50 competitors would be a good turnout.

In addition to shooters from throughout Alaska, Hughes said that large contingents from Whitehorse, Yukon and Fort St. John, British Columbia, were expected, as well as a couple of participants from Washington and Oregon.

Hughes said as many as 10 junior division shooters could participate.

“That’s a high percentage for an event like this,” Hughes said.

Preliminary shoots are held today and Thursday, with Class Championships scheduled for Friday and the PITA championships on Saturday and Sunday.

“Some of the best of the best will be here,” Hughes said. “It’s going to be as good as it gets anywhere in the sport.”

Hughes said he expects Fairbanks shooters to hold their own.

“We shoot 100 targets and there will be a lot of shooters who can hit all 100,” Hughes said. “Fairbanks shooters usually do really well in this event and we’re going to try and uphold that tradition.”

In addition to the competition, there are a couple of pot luck barbecues and a pig roast scheduled for competitors.

Shooters will be vying for $12,000 in prize money and trophies during the five days of competition.

Competition runs from 11 a.m. to about 3 or 4 p.m. each day. Spectators are welcome.