Jim Gurkowski, a life-long resident of Berlin and a 1968 graduate of Berlin High School, has devoted many hours to the Berlin sportsmen’s community.
Trapshooting – and giving back to the sport through volunteer work – has been a true passion for Jim. It began at the Berlin Conservation Club, where he has served a number of years on the Board of Directors. He was a Hunter Education instructor for the youth of Berlin and surrounding communities, helping them learn the proper and safe way to handle guns while out in the woods or fields hunting. He served as tournament director of the annual Ironman Shoot held each year during Labor Day weekend. During his time he was able to bring in participants from across Wisconsin and Illinois, ultimately tripling the two-day event’s attendance to over 300 fellow sportsmen. This event is the second largest fundraiser for the Conservation Club and has resulted in additional funding for the Youth BB gun, Hunter Education, and Youth Trapshooting programs. His commitment and involvement with B.C.C. was honored with a Lifetime Membership Award.
Jim has traveled the United States making a name for himself in the trapshooting world, taking many titles – at state and national levels. In 2002 he was one of the Wisconsin State Gun Club Champions and in 2019 became a member of the All-State Trapshooting Team. His most memorable
shoot was in Tucson Az. where he was named the top shooter out of 512 competitors. He was again a member of the All-Star Team in 2020.
He is involved with the Wisconsin State Shooting complex, working with youth shooting and on the Board of Directors. He oversaw all the building projects at the complex and continues to work to improve and expand it.
Jim’s most recent accomplishment was the highest honor in the trapshooting world. In 2019 he was the first Berlin alumni to be inducted into the Wisconsin Trap Shooting Hall of Fame. He was chosen because of his hard work and dedication to the sport and its participants. Jim carries, pride, passion, and dedication for the sport every day. He overcame personal
challenges and continues to set goals for himself.
“Don’t worry about the target you miss. Focus on the next one out.”