Shooting Sports

Program General Information

Purpose

•  Provide education on wildlife management, conservation, and related topics

•  Provide participants with a supervised shooting experience emphasizing shooting skills and firearm safety

•  Provide recognition for high scoring individuals and county team members

•  Provide involvement of leaders and parents for supervision and range instructors

Participation Fee

There is a participation fee of $20.00 per child per discipline (air/bb count as one discipline). This is payable to Wright County 4-H (please do NOT pay the coaches directly, turn in fee to the Extension Office). Trap has an additional fee of $12.00 per night, payable at the range. There will also be a small fee per night for .22 (TBD). 

Equipment

• BB Gun, Air Rifle, and Air Pistol: Wright County 4-H provides all of the ammunition and guns for the shooters to use for these three disciplines. If you do have a gun your own that you would like to use, please bring it to the first practice for coach approval; 4-H requires single shot BB guns, air rifles and air pistols be used both in practice and competition.

• Trap:  You must provide your own shot gun and ammo for trap shooting. Typically you will shoot 2 rounds per practice.

•  .22 Rifle:  Wright County has .22 Target Rifles available to use, but you may bring your own rifle to use as well. We will have .22 ammunition you may purchase at the Extension Office. Wright County provides the targets.

• Archery:  Most youth provide their own bow, arrows (dozen) with target tips (field tips), quiver, and arm guard. 4-H provides the bales and targets. We do own a limited amount of bows and arrows for beginning shooters to try out the sport.

Eligibility by Age

(Grade level is the grade completed)

Grade 3:

• BB Gun 

• Wildlife

• County level Archery (not eligible for State Shoot)

Junior - Grade 4-6:

• BB Gun, Air Rifle, Air Pistol

• Archery

• Wildlife

Intermediate - Grade 7-9:

• BB Gun, Air Rifle, Air Pistol

• Archery

• Trap (6th grade may participate at practices but youth must be in 7th grade to participate at State Shoot)

• .22 Rifle (6th grade may participate at practices but youth must be in 7th grade to participate at State Shoot)

• Wildlife

Senior - Grade 10+:

• Air Rifle, Air Pistol 

• Archery

• Trap

• .22 Rifle 

• Wildlife

WILDLIFE EDUCATION

Educational Opportunities are open to grades 3+

• April 12, Sandhill Crane Count: (2 hours), Cost: Free Wright County 4-H is joining 2000 other volunteers throughout the Midwest on April 12 to help monitor the abundance and distribution of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes. It is easy to become involved! Training videos prepared by the International Crane Foundation will be provided.

• June 7, Grades 3-8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. & Grades 9+ from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Wildlife Day - Robert Ney Memorial Park, Maple Lake: Wildlife Calling Demo, Songbird Demonstration, Pond Study, Orienteering, Wildlife Habitat Evaluation, Games, Skillathon Study, tons of fun! Each session counts for 6 hours of wildlife training for those planning on participating in the Minnesota 4-H State Shoot. Youth in grades 9+ will be asked to complete a wildlife research project prior to attending to share during the event. Cost: $15.00 (6 hours)

•  July 10, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wilderness Day Camp -Robert Ney Memorial Park, Maple Lake: Grades 4-8: Campers will enjoy a fun-filled one-day camp filled with a variety of crafts, skits, songs, games and wilderness exploration with our enthusiastic camp counselors who will be with them throughout the day! Cost: $15.00 (6 hours)

• July 30, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Outdoor Adventures - Kayaking – Bertram Chain of Lakes Park, Monticello: Grades 5+: Youth will spend the day kayaking through the chain of lakes with a wildlife guide from the Wright County Parks and Recreation Department. Youth will stop on a small island for lunch then venture back to their starting point. Cost: $20.00 (6 hours)

•  July 31, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Junior Chef: Campfire Cuisine – Bertram Park, Monticello: Grades 4-8: You will learn cast iron cooking techniques that can be used when camping or just enjoying an outdoor meal! Enjoy this fun day that includes songs, games, and fun with the day camp counselors! Cost: $15 (6 hours)

• Zooming Into Wildlife calls with Three Rivers Park District: July 30, August 6, August 13, 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (2 hours each) Topics include: Solitary Bees, Mussels, and Water Resources. Cost: Free

• Complete a County Fair Project on Exploring the Environment, Fishing Sports, Natural Resources, Shooting Sports, or Wildlife & Biology Management project (2 hours, limit 2 hours) Cost: Free

• Other 4-H Wildlife Event: OWLS, Wildlife Wednesdays, MN Aquatic Wonders, etc. Must report hours back to Kim (kimfox@umn.edu) about what you participated in and how many hours can be earned.

PREVIOUSLY HELD EVENTS:

• Project Workshop Day (Deer Session) - 1 hour

• Christmas Bird Count – 5 hours

• Ice Fishing Day Camp- 3 hours

Coach Contacts: 

Steven Hogg Email

Susan Steinke at Email

Nicole Marquette Email

Vanessa Kovacs Email

Joe Hadash Email

Please pre-register for these events on your account at http://mn.4HOnline.com. Full instructions at http://z.umn.edu/4hEvents.

SHOOTING SPORTS PRACTICES

Cost: There is a participation fee of $20.00 per child, per discipline with a family cap of $100 (BB/air disciplines are combined in one fee). The fee must be paid prior to attending the first practice to Wright County 4-H (please do NOT pay the coaches directly, turn in fee to the Extension Office, 3500 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313 or call 763-682-7394 to pay by credit card). Trap carries an additional cost of $12/practice to be paid at practice.  Coaches do not pay a fee for their children. Youth may receive a refund for their fee if they decide within the first two practices not to participate.

Parental Consent Form: All youth participating in the program must sign a parental consent form, which you will be prompted to do during online registration. For this reason, all youth MUST be registered prior to attending a practice. If coaches do not have record that your consent form is on file, you will not be allowed to participate in practice, so be sure to complete this far in advance of your first practice.

Please accompany your 4-H youth to the practices. The coaches can always use help to be an extra pair of eyes, scoring targets, putting up new targets, etc. If you are unable to accompany your child, please be there at least ½ hour before practice is over as there may be times the coaches need to talk with you and/or give you additional information. To coach on the shooting line, parents will need to attend one of the MN 4-H coach training sessions. Please contact the Wright County Extension office for more details.

Please be on time for your practice.  We try to start shooting right at the start time. If you are late, you may have to wait until a second round to get in the line. Practices run approximately 2 hours. 

The date and time of practices are subject to change. Please talk with your coaches to verify practice dates. Practices may be canceled due to inclement weather. Please call your coach if you are unsure. NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICES HELD DURING THE WRIGHT COUNTY FAIR. Please plan accordingly.

DNR Firearm Safety Certificate: Youth are not required to have their firearms safety certificate to participate in Wright County Shooting Sports.

Your cooperation in this is greatly appreciated. All of our coaches are volunteers. If we all work together, we can make it a successful year!

Air Rifle, BB Gun, and Air Pistol

Start Date:  Tuesdays, beginning May 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Wright County Fairgrounds, Howard Lake

Supplies:

• Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Binoculars, Shooting Roll (towel, yoga mat, rug), Small Backpack (optional)

• Guns (optional): 4-H requires single shot BB guns, air rifles, and air pistols be used both in practice and competition. Wright County 4-H has a stock of guns available for the youth to use.  If you have a BB gun/air rifle/air pistol of your own that you would like to use, please bring it to the first practice and the coaches will look at it to see if it is an appropriate gun to use. 

Coach Contacts:

Aaron Marquette 763-221-2214  northforkfarmmn@gmail.com

Joe Hadash 763-439-7947

Ken Kremer 612-247-8709

Pete Eiden 763-242-3761

Miriana Eiden 763-283-7882

Steven Hogg 763-744-7059

Archery

Start Date:  Mondays, beginning May 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Location: Wright County Fairgrounds, Howard Lake

Supplies:

• Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Small Backpack (optional).

• Bows/Arrows (optional): Some youth provide their own bow, arrows (dozen) with target tips (field tips). Wright County 4-H does own a limited number of bows and arrows for beginning shooters to try out the sport.

• Quiver, finger tabs/gloves/ arm guard (optional)

• 4-H provides the bales and targets.

Coach Contacts:

Matthew Schuette 763-350-8410

Brad Neutz 612-490-0513

Aaron Marquette 763-221-2214

Josh and Lane Simpson 763-614-7925

Kurt and Lily Steinke 763-227-5192

Tina Scherer 651-785-6142

Jeremy Mounsdon 701-367-9525

.22 Rifle

Start Date: Wednesdays, beginning May 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Monticello Sportsman Club, 7959 State Highway 25 NE

Supplies:

• Safety Glasses, Pencil, Binoculars, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Small Backpack (optional), Ear Protection, Shooting Roll (towel, yoga mat, rug)

• Guns/Ammo: Wright County has some .22 Target Rifles available to use. You may also bring your own .22. Your firearm does need to meet MN 4-H safety and rule requirements. We do ask that you bring your own ammunition, but some will be available for purchase at practice if you forget.

• Wright County 4-H provides the targets.

Coach Contacts:

Ken Kremer 612-247-8709

Pete & Miriana Eiden 763-242-3761

Steven Hogg 763-744-7059

Trap

Start Date: Thursdays, beginning May 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Location: Annandale Gun Club, 360 Conservation Club Road 

Supplies:

• Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Ear Protection, Small Backpack (optional).  

• Guns/Ammo: Youth must provide their own shot gun and ammo (plan for 2 rounds of shooting per practice).

Cost (beyond the $20 program participation fee): $12.00 per night of trap shooting

Coach Contacts:

Matt Schuette 763-350-8410

Brad Neutz 612-490-0513

Wayne Samuelson 612-719-9143

Calendar

State Shoot - September 5-7 2025, Alexandria MN

The "State Shoot" aka State 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Competition is a statewide shooting sports competition held each year at the culmination of our shooting sports season.  It is not required that youth participate in the State Shoot in the fall, but it is highly encouraged as it is an excellent way to showcase the skills that you have learned, a great way to meet other 4‐H’ers from around the state, and a great way to bond with teammates and celebrate everyone's hard work! More information about the State Shooting Sports & Wildlife Invitational will be distributed at practices during the summer.

Participation Requirements

4-H members shall be considered eligible to participate in the Minnesota 4-H State Invitational Match if they

meet these minimum requirements:

• A minimum of 8 hours of wildlife education must be completed annually.

• 15 hours of discipline instruction and shooting for each participant (including basic safety, range rules and etiquette, and scoring) in each event in which the participant competes for the first year. After the initial training, the participant shall have an additional eight (8) hours of training annually in each discipline he/she is to participate in.

• In case of .22, air rifle, air pistol, and BB Gun disciplines only, 15 hours total training of one discipline and 8 hours in each other related discipline. After the initial training, the participant shall have an additional eight (8) hours of training annually in each discipline he/she is to participate in.

• Counties must provide a conservation exhibit and silent auction donation. 

* These requirements are set by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Program. There are no exceptions to these rules, and if you are not able to complete the required hours in both Wildlife and On-line Training and Marksmanship, you will not be eligible to participate in the 4-H State Shoot. 

Cost

There is a non-refundable fee of $35 per person and additional fees for each event. County need-based scholarships are available to help cover these costs. 

State Shoot Information Packet and Registration (Due July 1):  COMING SOON!

National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships

All 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife members in good standing and meeting the criteria below are eligible to compete in the National 4-H SS Championships. Official 4-H enrollment is required. 

• Age Requirements – Participants must have passed their 14th birthday by January 1 and may not have passed their 19th birthday before January 1 of the current year in which the 4-H Shooting Sports Championships are held (2026).

• Youth must have participated in the 2025 Minnesota 4-H SS&W Invitational in the discipline in which they desire to attend at Nationals.