Kelly Dionne was shooting targets at Cabela's when the idea popped into his mind.

A turkey shoot, he thought, could benefit local food banks in Kootenai County. It could bring people together for a good cause, and it could be a lot of fun, too.

"We have a lot of hungry people in the community. And that's kind of the whole impetus behind the Turkey Shoot," Dionne said.

He talked to Cabela's staff and pitched his plans.

"Pretty soon it just started taking off," Dionne said. "And here we are today."

The Cabela's Turkey Shoot is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, at the big outdoors store in Post Falls. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the shooting starts at 9.

Five-person teams will aim and fire at the store's indoor shooting gallery. Using laser-equipped rifles, participants will squeeze off 60 shots from three different stations.

Twenty glowing targets will provide a sporting challenge. Shooters might aim for a roaring bear or a slithering snake; some shots will be as long as 40 feet.

"I think it's going to be fun competition," said Michael Warnecke, an outfitter at Cabela's. "They're open sights, and you're going to have to go at it."

The fastest, most accurate squad will claim the Turkey Trophy.

Prizes will also be awarded to the best-dressed teams and the top turkey caller.

Dionne, a principal organizer of the event, said he hopes for 120 teams and 600 marksmen (or women). The registration fee is $250 per team.

Almost 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Post Falls Food Bank and Community Action Partnership in Coeur d'Alene. In 2010, those two facilities served more than 70,000 families, according to the Turkey Shoot website.

"There's a very big need for a little bit of help in the community," Warnecke said, "and we need to do it when we can."

An outdoors trade show will coincide with the Turkey Shoot. Idaho Fish and Game is planning to attend, along with conservation groups Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever.

"We're going to have a number of things that people can do prior to the shoot or after," Dionne said, including duck, turkey and elk calling contests.

Sponsors for the conservation groups are still needed, and Boy Scout teams from Kootenai County are seeking sponsorships as well.

Dionne is looking to collect $30,000 for the local food banks.

"If it's as successful as we think it's going to be, Cabela's will take this on as a national program," he said. "There's never been anything done like this before."

Buck Knives, The Coeur Group, the Coeur d'Alene Press and Digital Lizard are facilitating the event.

For information or to register a team, log on to theturkeyshoot.org.