A Wenaha Muzzleloaders event is a family affair. Here, the member identified only by his “mountain name” — Smokin’ Joe — gives his daughter a few pointers.

WENAHA — Once a month, in the small town of Troy, located about 50 miles from Enterprise, a small group of avid gun owners meet for what they call a “shoot.” They gather to socialize and show their skills with black powder weapons.

They call themselves the Wenaha Muzzleloaders.

Brandy Dutton, the group’s vice president, said the club was started in 1976, by “a small group of men” through a mutual love of 1840s blackpowder, muzzleloading guns.

She said the group’s 60 or so members, one of whom is 104 years old, all have mountain names. Hers is Running Bear.

She said it is one of the oldest clubs around and is gearing up for its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The club holds a shoot on the fourth Sunday of every month and an annual rendezvous on the fourth weekend of April. The range is located just west of Troy at the Griz Flats campground, on Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife land, on the Wenaha River.

The club uses and only allows the traditional round ball and patch weapons, flintlock style or cap and ball style weapons. The club also has hawk (tomahawk) and knife-throwing events.

There are also activities for children such as scavenger hunts, crafts and pee wee shoots.

Members dress in 1800s-period clothing, and come from Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Monthly shoots begin at 10 a.m. and usually end by 3 p.m.

Running Bear, who has been shooting for 30 years and learned from her father, said she was drawn to it because of its focus on “old values and family. Doing things the traditional way — cooking together and laughing.”

The Wenaha Muzzleloaders Club is open to anyone, no experience is necessary. If someone is interested but has no experience, “we’ll walk them through it and get you started,” said Running Bear.

Something Running Bear wants people to know and understand about the Wenaha Muzzleloaders Club is that it is more than a club about shooting.

“One of the biggest things is that we’re not just a shooting club,” she said.

She explained the club is also demonstrating traditional family values and ways of doing things that are no longer done but are still of value.

“Out of all the years I’ve been in the club, I’ve become a good shooter but I’ve gotten more family out of it. We’re there for everyone — even though we don’t know their real name (only their mountain name) — that’s how close you become to these people,” she said.

More information on the Wenaha Muzzleloaders can be found at www.muzzleloaders.com.