Shooting Sports
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The West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program encompasses the goals of youth development, volunteer leadership, capacity building for youth and their families, and environmental stewardship. Our program is designed to:
- Offer young people between the ages of 9 and 21 safe and thorough instruction and training in the areas of archery, air pistol, air rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun, and wildlife conservation.
- Enhance self-confidence, personal development, responsibility and sportsmanship.
- Create an appreciation and understanding of Natural Resources.
- Provide volunteer instructors with the safe and proper instructional techniques and information needed to maintain Shooting Sports and Conservation Clubs.
- Train and certify West Virginia 4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders to be positive role models and mentors for youth in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.
Goals & Objectives
West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports provides an outstanding opportunity to promote human growth and development in the many life skills identified by the National 4-H Program. Decision making, teamwork, problem solving, responsibility, and increasing self-esteem are vital in developing our youth to be productive and positive adults in our society. Youth development is the number one goal of the West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program.
Specific objectives of the 4-H Shooting Sports program:
- To enhance development of participant’s self-concept, character and personal growth through safe educational and socially-acceptable involvement in shooting activities.
- To strengthen families through life-long recreational activities.
- To develop leadership qualities in youth and adult participants.
- To expand 4-H membership and involve additional 4-H adult volunteers.
- To encourage understanding of natural resource concepts through participants’ interest in shooting and wildlife conservation.
- To expose participants to the broad array of vocation and lifelong avocational activities related to shooting sports.
- To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, including sound decision-making, self-discipline and concentration.
- To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
- To complement and enhance the impact of existing safety and hunter education programs.
- To provide 4-H training and certification in the various shooting sports disciplines for adult volunteers.
- To maintain and expand a state level committee of nationally trained and certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors.
Events & Trainings
West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program offers a variety of trainings and events for its members and volunteers at the county, state, and regional level. For county specific programming, please contact your local county Extension office to learn more about the 4-H Shooting Sports program in your area.
For state and regional level 4-H Shooting Sports programming, use the links and event timeline below to find more information about this year's events and trainings!
2024 - 2025 Event Timeline
Event Name |
Location |
Dates |
| State Shotgun Match | Fairmont Gun Club | October 5, 2024 |
| Level 1 Shooting Sports Instructor Training | WVU Jackson's Mill | November 1 - 2, 2024 |
| State Muzzleloader Match | WVU Jackson's Mill | November 9, 2024 |
| Air Rifle Postal Match | At Home | December 15 - 29, 2024 |
| Regional Air Rifle Match - Upshur | Upshur County | January 4, 2025 |
| Regional Air Rifle Match - Jefferson | Jefferson County | January 11, 2025 |
| Regional Air Rifle Match - Wayne | Wayne County | January 11, 2025 |
| Regional Air Rifle Match - Monroe | Monroe County | January 31, 2025 |
| Regional Air Rifle Match - Marshall | Marshall County | February 1, 2025 |
| State Air Rifle Match | Shell Building - Morgantown, WV | February 22, 2025 |
| Air Pistol Postal Match | At Home | February 15 - 20, 2025 |
| Level 1 Shooting Sports Instructor Training | WVU Jackson's Mill | February 23, 2025 |
| State Air Pistol Match | State Fire Academy - WVU Jackson's Mill | March 1, 2025 |
| State Archery Match | WVU Jackson's Mill | April 5, 2025 |
| WHEP Contest | WVU Jackson's Mill | TBD (April 2025) |
| Ultimate Outdoor Weekend | WVU Jackson's Mill | May 2 - 4, 2025 |
| National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational | Grand Island, NE | June 22 - 27, 2025 |
| State 4-H Shotgun Fun Clays Event | Stonewall Sporting Clays | August 30, 2025 |
Instructor Trainings
Level 1 Shooting Sports Instructor
WVU 4-H Shooting Sports hosts two (2) Level 1 Shooting Sports Instructor trainings each year in November and February. The upcoming February training will be held on Sunday, February 25th with an available, optional, Saturday night stay. We will begin promptly at 8 AM, please consider this when making travel arrangements.
CERTIFICATION
Certification is available in the following disciplines:
- Air Pistol
- Air Rifle
- Archery
- Muzzleloader
- Shotgun
- Shooting Sports Coordinator
- Wildlife/Hunting
WHO
Attendees must be 21 years or older and be a Vetted 4-H Volunteer.
- First Time Instructors - Must complete the required four-hour online training modules before attending the instructor training on Saturday Deadline to complete the online training modules is February 14th.
- Returning Instructors - Only required to attend the single day instructor range training on Sunday.
WHEN
Sunday, February 23, 2025
WHERE
COST
$125 (covers materials, meals, and lodging)
REGISTRATION
If you are interested in attending this event, please register using your ZSuite account here.
https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/33480
If you do not have a ZSuite account, please reach out to Nancy Yates at nmyates@mail.wvu.edu.
Regional Air Rifle Qualifiers
Multiple Events
County level WVU 4-H Shooting Sports programs will host five (5) Regional Air Rifle Matches in January between Jefferson, Marshall, Monroe, Upshur, and Wayne County.
WHO
Attendees must be 9 years or older and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 9 - 13 Years Old (as of Date of Match)
- Seniors: 14 Years Old (as of 1/1/25) and not older than 19 Years Old (as of 1/1/25)
WHEN
Dates and locations vary, participants are welcome to attend the site/date that works best for them.
- Marshall: January 4, 2025 | Location TBA
- Monroe: January 4, 2025 | Location TBA
- Upshur: January 4, 2025 | Location TBA
- Jefferson: January 11, 2025 | Location TBA
- Wayne: January 11, 2025 | Location TBA
COST
$15
REGISTRATION
Registration information has yet to be announced.
State Matches
Multiple Disciplines
State Shotgun Match
This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Shotgun discipline activities. This match will consist one round each of Skeet, Trap, and Five Stand Sporting Clays (75 Targets). A relay will take approx. 90 minutes.
The field will be divided into Junior, Senior, and Masters Divisions with the Seniors qualifying to represent WV 4-H at the 2025 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
WHO
Attendees must be 12 years or older (as of 1/1/24) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 12 - 13 Years Old
- Seniors: 14+ Years Old
- Masters: 12 - 20 Years Old and has previously competed at the National Championship
WHEN
Saturday, October 5, 2024
WHERE
Fairmont Gun Club
COST
$25
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
State Muzzleloader Match
This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Muzzleloader discipline activities. This match will mimic the 4-H National Championship with one-fourth the number of total shots and targets. Relays will be 30 minutes and 5 shots each.
The field will be divided into Junior, Senior, and Masters Divisions with the Seniors qualifying to represent WV 4-H at the 2025 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
WHO
Attendees must be 12 years or older (as of 1/1/24) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 12 - 13 Years Old
- Seniors: 14 - 19 Years Old
- Masters: 12 - 20 Years Old and has previously competed at the National Championship
WHEN
Saturday, November 9, 2024
WHERE
COST
$10
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
State Air Rifle Match
This event is reserved for the top Junior and Senior shooters from the Regional Air Rifle Qualifiers. This match will follow a 3x20 course of fire with 20 shots from each position (kneeling, prone, standing). Contestants are to bring their guns, eye protection, pellets, shooting mats, kneeling rolls, and spotting scopes, etc. No equipment will be available.
The field will be divided into a Junior and a Senior Match with the Seniors qualifying to represent WV 4-H at the 2025 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
WHO
Attendees must be 9 years or older (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 9 - 13 Years Old
- Seniors: 14+ Years Old
WHEN
Saturday, February 22, 2025
WHERE
Shell Building - Morgantown, WV
COST
$0 (Payment Received at Regional Qualifier)
REGISTRATION
This invitational match is reserved for the top Junior and Senior shooters in the regional matches. The registration for this event will not be made public.
State Air Pistol Match
This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Air Pistol discipline activities. This match will be governed by National 4-H Championship Match protocols.
The field will be divided into a Junior, Intermediate, and Senior age divisions. The course of fire will be Slow Fire Bullseye (40 shots) for all divisions and seniors will also shoot a rapid fire event (40 Shots). The Slow fire event lasts one hour, the rapid fire event should take less than 20 Minutes.
WHO
Attendees must be 9 years or older (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Junior: 9 - 10 Years Old (Seated, Two-Handed)
- Intermediate: 11 - 13 Years Old (Standing, Two-Handed)
- Senior: 14+ Years Old (Standing, One-Handed)
WHEN
Saturday, March 1, 2025
WHERE
State Fire Academy - WVU Jackson's Mill
COST
$25 (Includes Participant Box Lunch) - Additional meals for family members can be purchased for $13 each.
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
State Archery Match
This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Archery discipline activities. This will be a half match mimicking the National 4-H match. Participants will be expected to shoot Field, FITA and 3-D.
The field will be divided into Junior, Senior, and Genesis class divisions with the Seniors qualifying to represent WV 4-H at the 2025 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
WHO
Attendees must be between 9 - 19 years old (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Junior: 12 - 14 Years Old
- Senior: 14 - 19 Years Old
- Genesis: 9 - 18 Years Old*
*Genesis class participants cannot be older than 18 on the date of the match.
WHEN
Saturday, April 5, 2025
WHERE
COST
$25 (Includes Participant Box Lunch) - Additional meals for family members can be purchased for $13 each.
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
Postal Matches
Multiple Disciplines
Air Rifle Postal Match
WV 4-H Shooting Sports hosts an Air Rifle Postal Match each December. This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Air Rifle discipline activities and will mimic the CMP National Air Rifle Postal Match.
This event is a 10-meter three-position (3X10) air rifle competition. All teams and individuals must register for this event. Officials targets will be mailed, and after firing, targets must be returned to Zona Hutson for official scoring by December 29, 2024. Firing instructions will be sent to each team or individual with the targets.
WHO
Attendees must be 9 years or older (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 9 - 13 Years Old
- Seniors: 14+ Years Old
WHEN
Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Sunday, December 29, 2024
WHERE
At Home/Local Range
COST
$3 per Shooter
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
Air Pistol Postal Match
WV 4-H Shooting Sports will host an Air Pistol Postal Match for the first time this February. This event is open to all WV 4-H members participating at the county level in 4-H Air Pistol discipline activities and will be governed by National 4-H Championship Match protocols.
All teams and individuals must register for this event. Officials targets will be mailed, and after firing, targets must be returned to Zona Hutson for official scoring by February 20, 2025. Firing instructions will be sent to each team or individual with the targets. Two targets (2x5) will be recorded for each Slow-Fire and Rapid-Fire shoot.
WHO
Attendees must be 9 years or older (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Junior: 9 - 10 Years Old (Seated, Two-Handed)
- Intermediate: 11 - 13 Years Old (Standing, Two-Handed)
- Senior: 14+ Years Old (Standing, One-Handed)
WHEN
Saturday, February 8, 2025 - Thursday, February 20, 2025
WHERE
At Home/Local Range
COST
$3 per Shooter
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this match has yet to be announced.
Additional Events
WHEP Contest
The Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) is the only national youth program that teaches wildlife and fish habitat management with a scientifically-based curriculum created and managed by wildlife and fisheries professionals.
During the contests, students compete in individual and team events on species identification, management practices, general species knowledge, a written management plan, and an oral defense of the written plan.
WHO
Active WV 4-H and/or FFA Members: See Judging Contest General Rules for specific team composition, entry, state eligibility, etc.
WHEN
TBD (April 2025)
WHERE
COST
$TBD
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this event has yet to be announced.
Ultimate Outdoor Weekend
Ultimate Outdoor Weekend is held at Jackson's Mill full of 4-H Shooting Sports and Outdoor skills. Campers will learn new skills and gain confidence in multiple outdoor disciplines. The first evening of camp features the ultimate adventure program where campers form small group teams to adventure through the Jackson's Mill facility.
Day two features Shooting Sports and additional class discipline training throughout the day. Participants are encouraged to earn up to 14 Skill Badges through their participation across all years attending (REWORD). We wrap up with a guest/feature speaker and camp service project. We look forward to novice and experienced youth joining us to learn and hone their outdoor skills.
WHO
West Virginia youth ages 12 to 21 as of September 30, 2025
WHEN
Friday, May 2, 2025 - Sunday, May 4, 2025
WHERE
COST
$150
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this event has yet to be announced.
4-H Shotgun Summer Clays at Stone Wall
This is an intended Fun Match! Though we'll offer recognition for higher results, this is a great practice session for instructors who may be limited in their ability to practice sporting clays.
Coaches and parents are encourage to participate! We will also have a self provided cook-out following the match.
WHO
Attendees must be 12 years or older (as of 1/1/25) and an Enrolled 4-H Member.
- Juniors: 12 - 13 Years Old
- Seniors: 14+ Years Old
WHEN
Saturday, August 30, 2025 (Shotgun Start at 10:00 a.m.)
WHERE
Stonewall Sporting Clays, Weston (Roanoke) WV
COST
$30/Youth | $60/Adult
REGISTRATION
Registration information for this event has yet to be announced.