Effective January 1, 2001
Supersedes all previous editions
In cooperation with the National Rifle Association of America, Education and Training Division, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
CAUTION: The procedures and techniques outlined in this publication may require special abilities, technical knowledge, or safety considerations. The sponsor of the Oklahoma Youth Hunter Education Challenge, and the National Rifle Association of America, their agents, officers, employees, accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using these procedures and techniques and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages.
Mention of technical data or products does not necessarily mean they have been tested by the Oklahoma Youth Hunter Education Challenge or the National Rifle Association staff and does not constitute endorsement or verification.
Local restrictions may apply to some techniques, procedures, and products in your area. It is your responsibility to check local laws and game regulations before proceeding.
These rules and regulations are subject to change or modification at
any time due to safety considerations or site requirements.
The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:
When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
Protection of your sight and hearing are YOUR responsibility. Wear adequate eye and ear protection while on the firing line as shooter, official, or spectator.
The fundamental rules for safe archery/bow handling are:
When using or storing a bow, always follow these rules:
Be aware that certain types of archery equipment and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
The following Code of Conduct will be adhered to at all times by all participants, instructors, coaches, sponsors, spectators, and volunteer staff.
Participants, parents, sponsor, or coaches will not be allowed on any event site after the daily close of an event without the express consent of the NRA State Coordinator.
Participants will exhibit behavior above reproach at all times.
Violation of this Code of Conduct will result in immediate disqualification and or permanent expulsion of individual or team involved with the Oklahoma YHEC program.
The Youth Hunter Education Challenge events are:
Shooting events: Hunting Archery Challenge
Hunting Muzzleloader Challenge
Hunting Shotgun Challenge
Light Hunting Rifle Challenge
Responsibility events: Hunter Responsibility Exam
Hunter Safety Trail Challenge
Hunting Orienteering Challenge
Hunting Wildlife Identification Challenge
Some events may not always be scheduled for the an Oklahoma Youth Hunter Education Challenge. Every attempt will be made to schedule all eight challenges at state events.
Participation in the Oklahoma State Youth Hunter Education Challenge annual Championship is open to any person who has not yet turned 20 years of age by the starting date of the championship who has successfully completed a hunter education course in North America.
The two divisions of participants are Juniors who are less than 15 years by the starting date of the annual state championship and Seniors who are 15 years or older (but less than 20) by the starting date of the annual state championship.
The two categories of participants will include teams of exactly five in the same division or individual participants in either division.
All participants will furnish copies of the following documentation to Event Coordinators prior to the registration cut-off date: A. Birth Certificate and B. Hunter Education Card.
All participants are required to participate in all events at the state championship event. Failure to participate in all challenges will result in disqualification and ineligibility for awards.
Pursuant to NRA regulations, any Oklahoma YHEC participant is eligible to attend the NRA International YHEC Championship if he or she participated in the most recent Oklahoma YHEC Championship.
The participant will move through a multiple point archery course in a natural setting. The course is designed to simulate shooting situations encountered while bowhunting.
The Hunting Archery Challenge will be conducted with participants taking shots at animal type targets varying in distance from 10 to 40 yards. Targets will be life-size with scoring areas directly over the vital areas of the animal.
Scoring: Each participant will shoot a total of 30 shots each worth 10 points if inside the inner most scoring ring, 5 points for the outer most scoring ring (vital area) and 3 points for outside the vital area. Challenges must be made on the range before the next arrow is pulled. The Hunting Archery Challenge has the maximum possibility of 300 points.
Archery Equipment: Only hunting-type compounds, recurves, or long bows will be permitted. Bows may be equipped with hunting type sights. Self-adjusting sights are permitted. Participants may use only one bow throughout the activity (exception - bow malfunction).
Restrictions:
The Hunting Muzzleloader Challenge will be conducted with participants shooting at targets varying in distance from 20 to 75 yards. Participants will shoot from one to three positions.
Scoring: Participants will shoot up to 12 shots counting as a hit if touching the line or inside the target area, zero points for outside the target area. The Hunting Muzzleloader Challenge has a maximum possibility of 300 points.
Equipment: Any flintlock or percussion type muzzle loading rifles .54 caliber or smaller will be permitted. Inline actions are permissible. Accessories for .45 and .50 caliber muzzleloaders will be available for use during the event. Only pure lead projectiles may be used, either round ball or slugs. Participants using other than .45 or .50 caliber muzzleloaders are required to furnish their own accessories. Pyrodex will be provided. Muzzleloaders may have a set trigger, not to be set until ready to fire. Muzzleloaders may be equipped with sporter-type thumbhole stocks (non-adjustable). Slings not to exceed 1½ inches in width are acceptable. Sights will be open with no optics. Muzzleloaders may be loaded with single projectile patched round balls or a factory manufactured type lead bullet. Participants may only use one muzzleloader throughout the event with the exception of muzzleloader malfunction. Participants’ using their own accessories requires prior approval from the event director.
Restrictions:
Hunting Shotgun Challenge participants will move through a multiple station Hunter’s Clays course designed to simulate hunting conditions and situations. The layout will depend on the available topography. Shooting stations may depict bird flight, running animals, and shooting obstacles.
The Hunting Shotgun Challenge will be conducted with participants taking shots at clay targets. Sizes of clay targets may vary depending on different situations.
Scoring: Each participant will shoot a total of 30 shots, each worth 10 points for a hit (broken target) and zero points for a miss (lost target). The Hunting Shotgun Challenge has a maximum possibility of 300 points.
Scoring will be done by designated YHEC officials. Only legal targets will be scored and the score judge will be the sole judge of whether or not a target is broken. Officials may ask assistance from the trap operator or a range official if they feel their assistance is required.
The scorer will call lost for any target determined to be missed. Any challenge to the call must be made immediately by the participant. The score judge will then make the final decision with assistance from the trap operator and/or the range official.
Only targets with a visible piece broken off will be scored dead. Dusters, targets deflected or redirected in flight (but with no visible breakage) will be scored lost.
Based on the scorer’s judgment, should a target hit an obstruction (i.e. tree or limb) before the participant has had ample time to fire, a new target will be thrown. However, should the participant have ample time (in the scorer’s judgment), and fails to do so before the target hits an object near the end of its path and breaks, the target will be scored as lost.
Shotguns and ammunition: Any 12, 16 or 20 gauge shotgun will be permitted. Double targets will be thrown in some instances; therefore the shotgun should be capable of holding two shells. YHEC officials will furnish all 12 and 20 gauge ammunition. Participants using 16 gauge shotguns are required to furnish their own minimum 30 shots of low brass #7 ½, #8, or #9 shot size subject to the approval of the event director. Ammunition must be under the direct control of the participant’s coach or sponsor to and from the hunting challenge event.
Participants may not change choke tubes at any time during the event. Adjustable butt plates or cheek pieces may not be adjusted during the event. Participants may use only one shotgun during the event with the exception of a malfunction. No practice shots are allowed.
Shooting procedures: Each participant may or may not be allowed to see one legal target from each trap prior to shooting the activity at the station. Only participants and scorer will be allowed on the station or firing line while shooting each station. The scorer will hand the ammunition to the participant as required.
Each shooter will begin in the ready position when calling for the target. The gun must be off the shoulder with the butt plate below the shoulder level. The shotgun may not be shouldered until after the target is visible. In other words, in case of a delay pull, the participant cannot call for the target and immediately shoulder the shotgun. Repeating, the shotgun must not be shouldered until the target is visible.
A Legal Target: A legal target is a whole clay target that is thrown from the trap in a prescribed manner within five-second time limit after the participant calls for the target.
An Illegal Target: An illegal target is a target broken by the trap or another obstruction. Illegal targets will be re-thrown for the participant, regardless of whether or not the participant fires at the target.
Malfunctions:
The following occurrences will be considered malfunctions and new targets will be thrown: 1. Ammunition malfunction.
The following malfunctions will not be allowed and targets will be scored lost:
Should a shotgun break through no fault of the participant, another shotgun may be borrowed and the activity continued. However, if the breakage occurs during the firing at a target, and the target is missed, it will be scored as lost. No practice with a borrowed shotgun is allowed.
Restrictions:
The Light Hunting Rifle Challenge will be conducted with participants taking shots at life-size game targets with scoring areas directly over the vital areas of the game and varying in distance from 15 to 75 yards. Participants will shoot from three positions.
Scoring: Each participant will shoot a total of 30 shots, 10 at each position worth 10 points each if inside or touching the vital area. Shots outside the vital area are scored as zero points. A participant will be allowed seven continuous minutes per position or distance. The Hunting Rifle Challenge has a maximum possibility of 300 points.
Rifles and Equipment: Only standard type .22 caliber rim fire rifles designed primarily for hunting will be permitted. All action types, except fully automatic, will be permitted. The rifle may not exceed eight pounds in weight, excluding sling. The rifle must have a minimum trigger pull of two pounds (907 grams). Rifles may be equipped with a hunting sling not to exceed 1-½ inches in width. Non-adjustable thumbhole stocks are permitted. Sights will be open, peep with standard front post or bead, or hunting scopes of four-power magnification or less. Participants may use only one rifle throughout the activity except in case of gun malfunction. Another .22 rifle may be borrowed for the purpose of finishing the activity but no sighting-in will be allowed. All ammunition used in this event will be .22 long rifle. YHEC staff will supply ammunition. If possible, participants will be notified of the specific brand of ammunition prior to the event.
Restrictions:
The Hunter Responsibility Exam consists of broad-based hunting and conservation information. Participants will complete a written examination that includes 50 to 60 questions (multiple choice, true or false, fill-in-the-blank, or essay).
Scoring: Participants will be asked to answer all or as many questions possible in the allotted amount of time. Participants must answer all test questions with no assistance from other participants, written material, or coaches/sponsors. Students will have sixty (60) minutes to complete the test. The maximum possible score of the Hunter Responsibility Exam is 300 points.
Restrictions:
The Hunter Safety Trail Challenge will be conducted with participants moving through a multi-station pre-determined trail designed to simulate actual hunting conditions and situations. Participants may be tested and scored on the do’s and don’ts of firearms and archery safety and shoot/don’t shoot situations encountered in a hunting environment. Stations may include, but are not limited to, hunter game situations, target identification, landowner relationships, and safe gun handling.
Scoring: Participants will travel to various stations, each worth a score for a correct response or answer. Incorrect answers or responses will be scored as zero points. The Hunter Safety Trail Challenge will have a maximum possibility of 300 points.
Restrictions:
Participants will be required to demonstrate knowledge using map and compass on a field course, performing certain tasks at skill stations and answering questions relating to land navigation, maps, map symbols, and other related skills. The maximum score for the Hunting Orienteering Skills Challenge is 300 points.
Scoring: The participants may be scored in three or more skill areas including field navigation, distance estimation, and map/compass knowledge.
Restrictions: The following are not permitted during the Hunter Orienteering Skills Challenge:
Resource material for this event can be taken from The Hunter’s Guide (NRA publication), Be An Expert With Map And Compass Orienteering Handbook by Bjorn Kjellstrom, and Your Way With Map and Compass Orienteering by John Disley, available at or through your local bookstore.
Participants will identify 30 wildlife encounters in a field station or natural outdoor setting. Each correct identification will be worth 10 points and an incorrect score will be worth zero. The Hunting Wildlife Identification Challenge has a maximum score of 300 points.
Participants may be asked to observe and identify both game and non-game animal species. Wildlife sign including skulls, furs, feathers, antlers, horns, tracks, or other, will be identified from 1 to 50 yards. All wildlife is North American.
Restrictions:
Correctly answering a predetermined number of questions, making a certain number of hits in a prescribed target area or correctly completing a prescribed activity accumulates event points. The maximum possible point score for each event is 300.
Ties for all categories, individuals and teams will be broken for award purposes. The following criteria will be used.
In the event of a tie, the individual or team with the highest level of achievement in the Hunter Responsibility Exam will be declared the winner. If a tie remains, the individual or team with the highest level of achievement on the Hunter Safety Trail will be declared the winner. Should a tie remain the individual or team with the highest combined level of achievement in the four (4) responsibility events (Hunter Responsibility Exam, Hunter Orienteering Skills, Hunter Safety Trail and Hunting Wildlife Identification) will be declared the winner. The final tiebreaker will be based on a combined score of the four (4) shooting events, Hunting Shotgun Challenge, the Light Hunting Rifle Challenge, Hunting Muzzleloader Challenge and the Hunting Archery Challenge.
Should individuals or teams tie in the Hunter Responsibility Exam, the tie breaking formula will start at the second criteria level (Hunter Safety Trail Challenge).
Challenges concerning the value of shots as scored must be made immediately by the participant and will be resolved at each event. When shot value scores cannot be determined between the participant and the volunteer scorer, the event manager will make the final determination. Only participants may challenge and all challenges must be made during the challenge period on the activity site. The challenge period is immediately before the next participant comes to the station or firing line or as outlined in the specific event regulations.
Protests must be filed in writing by the participant and be brought to the attention of the state event director. If the individual receives no satisfaction, the written protest may then be submitted to the YHEC Protest Committee within one hour of the protest for review, consideration, and final decision. The protest committee will be comprised of four members (YHEC state event director and three assigned adult YHEC volunteers).
Only range, trap, or ammunition malfunction will constitute an
alibi. Alibis will not be allowed for firearm, arrow or bow malfunction. In
the event of a firearm or bow malfunction, the participant may borrow a firearm or bow and
continue the activity. No practice or sighting-in will be allowed for borrowed
equipment once the activity has begun.
The Oklahoma State Youth Hunter Education Challenge Championship will be held annually at a site and date to be determined by the State YHEC Committee. For more information, you may contact the NRA Oklahoma State YHEC Coordinator: