2025 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships Equipment Check-in Procedures
Registration & Equipment Check-in will occur at multiple sites on Sunday, June 22, 3-6pm. Entry and Exit doors will be marked. Designated Equipment Check-in locations and entry doors can be found in the specific map on the website.
- Air Rifle and Air Pistol - Pinnacle Bank Expo
- Compound & Recurve – Fonner Park – North Concourse
- Smallbore Pistol – Heartland Events Center - South Hall
- Muzzleloader – Heartland Events Center – North Hall
- Smallbore Rifle & Hunting Skills – Heartland Events Center - Arena Floor
During equipment check-in at 4-H National Championships, there is a special emphasis on the handling of equipment.
For archery check-in the following instructions will be followed:
- At no time will an arrow be allowed to be attached to the string of the bow.
- The only time a string will be pulled back will be at the check in table when the bow scale is attached.
- All arrows brought to Archery Check-in table on Sunday, must be stored in a quiver or a storage container.
- All bows will be cased for carrying to the check-in area.
For firearms (meaning anything with a muzzle used at the National Championships including muzzleloaders, .22 rifles, .22 pistols, air rifles and air pistols) this emphasis will be done to achieve the following:
- Consistency: Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction means that a firearm is NEVER pointed at anyone when in someone’s hands.
- Reinforcement: Always abiding by this rule emphasizes its importance.
- Safety: Taking simple and easy steps to further reduce the chances of an injury or death. Make sure your chamber is EMPTY and your firearm is unloaded before checking-in!
At check-in:
- All firearms will be cased for carrying to the check-in area.
- Firearms will be uncased and re-cased only at the designated station with the muzzle pointed in the indicated safe direction:
- The station will be situated so that nobody can be in front of the case when it is opened.
- If a case is opened and the muzzle is pointed in the wrong direction, the case is to be closed and the case turned so that the muzzle is pointed in the safe direction.
- If a case contains firearms with muzzles pointed in each direction only the firearm pointed in the safe direction will be removed. Then the case is closed and turned so that the other firearm can be removed with its muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- When uncased, all handling of firearms will be done so that the muzzle is never pointed at anyone.
The standard safe handling procedures will also be followed at check-in:
- The competitor is responsible for all aspects of their firearms and equipment during check-in. The coach is responsible for all aspects of team firearms and equipment during check-in. All magazines, clips, etc. MUST be empty. No ammunition is allowed in the check-in area by either the competitor, coach, or anyone else. This includes pellets for air events. Coaches and/or competitors that violate this policy will be disqualified and dismissed from the Championships.
- Actions will be open, and magazines removed before removal from the case. Air firearms will have a clear barrel indicator installed and rimfire (.22 LR) firearms will have an empty chamber indicator installed.
- All handling by the competitor will be accomplished without touching the trigger.
- The competitor is responsible for all aspects of their firearms and equipment during check-in. The coach is responsible for all aspects of team firearms and equipment during check-in. All magazines, clips, etc. MUST be empty. No ammunition is allowed in the check-in area by either the competitor, coach, or anyone else. This includes pellets for air events. Coaches and/or competitors that violate this policy will be disqualified and dismissed from the Championships.