Her Instagram bio states,
“Junior shooter of Rimfire, USPSA, and 3-gun. Homeschooled girl living my dreams. Follow along as my career grows and improves. NO GUNS FOR SALE!”
Cheyenne Dalton started shooting 10 years ago, at the age of five. Her dad handed her a bolt-action .22 rifle, taught her safety plus basic fundamentals and she quickly progressed to a Ruger 10/22. “My dad wanted me to understand how guns worked and how to handle them safely, because he figured if I knew how they worked that I’d be much less likely to have an accident with one,” said Cheyenne. “He would take me hunting with him (to just watch, and be in the woods with him). I enjoyed shooting and hunting was the next progression of that.” By the time she turned 7, she could be found out hunting with her father.
Cheyenne, as you’ve probably figured out, is an up-and-coming competition shooter. When asked about her choices of shooting sports, she said, “Three-gun is so much fun because of the movement and long-distance targets that must be engaged; it's challenging and entertaining. I also love Rimfire Challenge because of the speed it takes to be competitive…and because I get to meet new shooters and I think that's a huge part of the importance of Rimfire challenge and shooting in general. We need a new generation of shooters!”
Cheyenne recently won High Limited Lady at the NSSF Rimfire World Championship.
When not on a range for competition, you might find her in the woods of the Missouri Ozarks. “Turkey and deer hunting are a lot of fun, too. It's nice to spend time with my family in the woods or around a campfire,” said Cheyenne, who plays violin, mandolin, guitar, upright bass and ukelele in a family bluegrass band.
Her favorite subjects are math and science. “I haven't incorporated shooting into my school work yet, but I'm sure there will be an opportunity at some point. I am homeschooled so I am able to study lots of subjects and take advantage of opportunities that a lot of kids can't,” added Cheyenne.
Her family rallies around her as she strives to improve her competition shooting abilities with practice two or three times weekly on a local range. “My family is a huge part of my shooting. My dad has always been by my side—whether it is practicing, or at a match or working on my guns. My mom is also involved with other aspects of the shooting that we do. I can't imagine how many hours we've put into shooting or how many miles we've driven to matches or other shooting-related events. My grandparents are very supportive as well. We are all one big team.”
Someday, she hopes to become a dentist or a pharmacist, but she also wants to continue shooting. “I think it would be fun to have a TV show, too,” she added.
Cheyenne has created a very active Instagram account, cheyennedaltonshoots, and posts practically every day. Visitors might find the “gun of the day,” or catch up with her about her latest competition, or just enjoy a quick look behind-the-scenes at a match. She blogs at her website: www.cheyennedalton.com. She also operates a Facebook fan page: Cheyenne Dalton – Competitive Shooter. https://www.facebook.com/cheyennedalton.competitveshooter/
Fans can follow her well-made and insightful videos, where safety reigns supreme and fun abounds on the range.
“I have stayed true to my beliefs and upbringing and tried to be a good example for shooters, especially younger girls. There's a lot of junk in the shooting world with women and I'd like to change that image a bit,” said Cheyenne.
She brings enthusiasm and youth to an age-old sport, and reminds all of us why we love the shooting sports.
