Grand Island, Nebraska
June 25-30, 2023
Rules & Forms
Event registration is coordinated through your 4-H Shooting Sports State Coordinator or Designated Person. You can the contact information for your state's Shooting Sports coordinator at 4-hshootingsports.org.
General Rules
Memo: Position on adding/expanding disciplines at 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships
Event Synopsis
Accommodations
To request any accommodation to participate in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, the individual or state coordinator MUST contact the host state Match Director, Steve Pritchard, before completing the registration process and prior to the registration deadline. Those instances require individuals to complete and submit an Accomodation Request Form. If a needed accommodation arises after the event registration deadline, please submit the request as soon as possible using the same Accommodation Form and contact your state coordinator.
Silhouette Range Update
The distance for all silhouette matches (Muzzleloading, Smallbore Pistol, Smallbore Rifle) will be measured in “yards” not “meters” for 2022 to accommodate available space. We will be able to offer 32 firing points this year on a temporary silhouette range located on the Cowboy Action Range at HPSP.
New for 2023
- In Air Rifle Silhouettes, an athlete with only one rifle will be allowed to mount their scope and check for zero on a 15-meter Range Wednesday after their 10-meter event is finished. Contact Mike Jochum.
- Trap, Sporting Clays and Skeet will be mixed squadding. Competitors will not shoot with anyone from their own state.
- Course of Fire for 3-P Sporter Air Rifle - 60 record shots – 20 shots kneeling, 20 shots prone, 20 shots standing.
- In all archery disciplines, no coaches, parents, or spectators will be allowed on any ranges during competition. Only coaches and/or parents will be allowed on ranges for equipment failure or medical reasons with permission from CRO and/or ARO.
Each year, the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee reviews both the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship Rules and Regulations as well as the Minimum Standards and Best Management Practices of a 4-H Shooting Sports Program. Decisions to edit are based on the safety and education of our youth as well as the integrity of the 4-H program. In keeping with our long-standing philosophies of not participating in simulated combat sports nor shooting at humanoid targets the committee has implemented a new minimum standard, listed below.
- Any firearm built or modified to give the distinct impression of a modern military style firearm such as an AR or AK is not allowed in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program. Listed below are visual examples of, but not limited to, firearms that resemble those not allowed. Examples of unacceptable firearm components include: any type of muzzle devices (muzzle brake, recoil compensator, suppressors, porting), front pistol grips, heat shield/shroud, and magazines extending more than 1 inch below the receiver.
Ported barrels are permitted on shotguns & pistols.
Reminders for 2023
- Fan/Spectator Support Items – The following items will NOT be allowed as fan/spectator support items at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships: artificial noisemakers, (including but not limited to horns, cow bells, bells, buzzers, shakers, clickers, thunder sticks, rattles), compressed air horns/sirens, and whistles. Sportsmanship vocal cheering and support from the team are encouraged.
- Ceremony Celebration – Due to possible personal injury to spectators and participants, there will be NO throwing, tossing, or discharging of any items during the opening ceremony parade of participants or during awards ceremonies.
- Coaches and participants are reminded to check their specific discipline section in this Synopsis for NGB version of rules that will be implemented this year.
- Equipment check-in is scheduled for Sunday only, from 3-6 p.m. No equipment check-in is scheduled for Monday. Each discipline will have designated entry and exit doors for check-in. See the 2023 schedule.
- Competitors are limited to checking in a maximum of three firearms or bows during the official equipment check-in period. Chief Range Officers may verify a backup firearm or archery equipment, if needed, on the practice range.
- Hunting Skills participants must check-in ALL their equipment including their shotgun.
- NO cell phones, radios, or other electronic communication devices may be used by competitors or others on or in the immediate vicinity of competitive ranges during active competition.
- Food and drink may be brought to the Heartland Public Shooting Park, but NO food or drink may be brought into the Heartland Events Center or the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center. Food vendors will be available at the Heartland Public Shooting Park and the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center.
- The Heartland Public Shooting Park allows use of golf carts, ATV’s, club cars and similar vehicles on site. Individuals can rent two seat golf carts from the Heartland Public Shooting Park for a fee of $60 per day. There are no half day rentals. Contact the Heartland Public Shooting Park (308.385.5048) directly if you are interested in renting a golf cart for the week. Carts are available on a first come, first serve basis. Operators of all vehicles, including privately owned, at the Heartland Public Shooting Park must be 18 years of age or older and hold a valid driver’s license. Violation of this rule is grounds for disqualification for any individual or team involved.
- No golf carts, ATV’s, club cars or similar vehicles will be allowed on the 3D and field archery ranges during competition.
- The rounded scoring apportionment percentages will be used for the three days of competition in Hunting Skills and will be as follows: Wildlife ID- 11%, Wildlife Management- 11%, Hunter Skills- 12%, Map/Compass Test- 11%, Compass Courses- 11%, Decision Making/Shoot/No Shoot- 11%, Shooting- 33% (11% of each day’s score).
- Spotters - Each shooter may have one spotter with them on the firing line who may have a scope or binoculars to advise the shooter where shots are hitting. The spotter will also keep time and advise the shooter in a quiet voice. The spotter may not touch the shooter or the shooter’s equipment after the shooter assumes their position on the firing line. The spotter may be positioned beside or behind the shooter but not forward of the shooter. Coaches and parents may not be Spotters. Spotters can only be a registered competitor within that event.
- In all silhouette events, only tie scores for the top 10 individuals and top 5 teams will be broken. In the event of a tie score, the score card will be reviewed and the shooter with the most Ram hits will be declared the winner. If tie remains, then by the most Turkey hits, then most Pig hits, and then most Chicken hits. If all animal hits are the same, a shoot-off on Rams will determine the winner. The shooters will fire alternate shots until one shooter misses with the other shooter hitting the target. Shooters will be allowed one warmup shot with their spotter prior to firing their first tie breaker.
- All shotguns used by contestants must be equipped, fitted, and utilized (i.e., shell catcher) so as not to eject empty shells in a manner that substantially disturbs or interferes with other contestants.
- Shotgun events on Tuesday will start at 9 a.m. Shotgun events on Wednesday and Thursday will start at 8 a.m.
- All arrows brought to the Archery and Hunting Skills Check-in tables on Sunday, must be stored in a quiver or a storage container.
- Air Rifle Equipment Check-in will be by teams.
- Air Pistol – Two models of Air Pistols or facsimile (no break open pistols) are NOT allowed in this event for safety reasons: Air Venturi V10 Target and Stoeger XP4.
- In all archery disciplines, when going down range, all bows must be grounded.
- The Orion Scoring System and target will be used in Smallbore Rifle 3-P event.
Check-In Procedure
Beside Shotguns, all equipment and supplies must be inspected at the check-in station on Sunday. See the Schedule for designated times and locations. No equipment check-in is scheduled for Monday. Equipment may be checked at any time before, during, or following the competition to ensure compliance with the event rules.
Shotgun participants DO NOT need to check in their firearms or equipment prior to competing.
Participants should complete the appropriate discipline check-in forms and bring TWO copies to their discipline check-in station or follow the email directions on the form, if provided. This will help crews inspect and process your equipment in a timely manner.
For questions about this program or the information on this page, please contact: