Shooting Sports Project

A teenager uses a bow and arrowShooting Sports is one of the most popular 4-H projects in Larimer County and is one of the largest 4-H Shooting Sports programs in the state of Colorado.

Members learn how to care for and handle shooting sports equipment safely. There are numerous options, from rifles to bows. Members also have the opportunity to hone their skills and test themselves by competing in the county shoot and, if they qualify, the Colorado 4-H State competition.

Disciplines

Larimer County 4-H offers members the opportunity to participate in Shooting Sports in multiple, varied disciplines. Members enroll in the Shooting Sports project, and then each discipline separately.

  • Air Rifle
  • Air Pistol
  • Archery
  • Muzzleloading
  • Outdoor Skills
  • Shotgun
  • .22 Pistol *
  • .22 Rifle
  • Western Heritage *

* .22 Pistol and Western Heritage have age and additional requirements for participation.  Please contact our Shooting Sports Project Leaders or talk to your Club Leader to learn more. 

Volunteer-run Shooting Sports Website

The shooting sports project has many events and updates. The Shooting Sports Project Volunteers maintain a dedicated project website. Check it out for another option to stay up-to-date.

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New Shooting Sports Members

Members new to Larimer County 4-H Shooting Sports must complete the orientation process by attending an Annual Safety Meeting on Zoom first, followed by new member orientation for each discipline second. This process must be completed before members can attend practices.

Annual Safety Meeting on Zoom Schedule

Both members and parents are required to attend, and we will be taking attendance during the meeting. Please log in a few minutes around 6:25 p.m.—we will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. About a week before each scheduled Zoom meeting, the link will be emailed to all members who are enrolled in Shooting Sports.

  • Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 8th, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

New Member Orientation

Each Shooting Sports discipline will be holding its own orientations for new members. Go to each discipline’s page and/or the calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Returning Members

All returning members are required to attend the mandatory Annual Safety Meeting on Zoom. Both members and parents are required to attend, and we will be taking attendance during the meeting. Please log in a few minutes around 6:25 p.m.—we will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. About a week before each scheduled Zoom meeting, the link will be emailed to all members who are enrolled in Shooting Sports.

Annual Safety Meeting on Zoom Schedule

  • Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 8th, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Orientation for Returning Members New to a Discipline

Returning members who are adding a new discipline must attend the new member orientation for the new discipline before they can attend practices.

Each Shooting Sports discipline will be holding its own orientations for new members. Please reach out to the Shooting Sports project leader or go to each discipline’s page and/or the calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Returning members are defined as those who participated in practices for the discipline during the previous year.

4-H has its own specific requirements for equipment. We recommend that you do not purchase equipment until after orientation. We also offer members the opportunity to use county equipment and try the discipline and various equipment before deciding what they are interested in and want to buy.

4-H E-Records were previously known as Record Books. Each project has its own E-Record book that members are required to complete each year. We recommend downloading and starting your record book right away. All record books should be kept in a 3-ring binder. The front cover should have the 4-H'ers name, unit number, and project.  

Need help filling out your E-Record? Talk to your club leader, project leader, or visit our E-Record help page.

If you participate in the Larimer County Fair, you will turn in your e-record at Interview Judging Day in July. Learn more about getting your project ready for the Larimer County Fair.

2023 - 2024 Record Book (PDF)

2023 - 2024 Record Book (DOCX)

Project units are designed for members 8-18 years old.

Archery

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn care for and safety of archery equipment (recurve and compound)
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in archery through local, district, and state events
  • Explore other project areas in relation to archery

Air Rifle & Air Pistol

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn care for and safety of air rifle and air pistol equipment
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in air rifle and air pistol through local, district, and state events
  • Explore other project areas in relation to air rifle and air pistol

.22 Pistol

Prerequisite: One year of 4-H Shooting Sports fireline experience. Must be 11
years old 4-H age.

Investigate topics such as:

  • Learn care for and safety of .22 pistol equipment
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in .22 pistol through local, district, and state events
  • Explore other project areas in relation to .22 pistol

.22 Rifle

Investigate topics such as:

  • Learn care for and safety of .22 rifle equipment
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in .22 rifle through local, district, and state events
  • Explore other project areas in relation to .22 rifle

Muzzleloading

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn care for and safety of muzzleloading equipment
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in muzzleloading through local, district, and state events
  • Explore related projects

Outdoor Skills

Investigate topics such as:

  • The history, ethics, laws, and careers around hunting.
  • Types of hunting and outdoor equipment
  • Preparing/ planning for hunting including firearm safety and outdoor survival skills
  • Hunting skills and techniques such as tracking game, field care, and processing of game.
  • Characteristics of popular game species

Shotgun

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn care for and safety of shotgun equipment
  • Demonstrate safety through practice, talks, demonstrations and exhibits
  • Demonstrate skills in shotgun through local, district, and state events
  • Explore related projects

Western Heritage

Prerequisite: One year of 4-H Shooting Sports fireline experience. Must be 9 years old 4-H age or older. Members must be 12 years old 4-H age to use handguns.

  • Instill the practices of firearm safety, personal responsibility, and marksmanship along with an appreciate for American history.
  • Learn in a participatory living history style through the use of historically accurate firearms, clothing, and accessories representative of the years 1860 - 1900.
  • Optional: Create and "alias," or name/ costume representative of a character in the Old West.

Hunter education is NOT required to take part in Shooting Sports in Larimer County 4-H. Members can participate in practices and county shoots without having a hunter education card. However, to be eligible to compete at the state competition, participants must submit their hunter education card before the July 1 deadline.

We encourage all Shooting Sports members to get their hunter education card. You can read more and register for the courses by visiting Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s site.

County Shoots

Put them on your calendar now

  • Shotgun (5-Stand and Skeet): July 9, 2024
  • Archery: July 13, 2024
  • Air Pistol/Air Rifle: July 14, 2024
  • .22 Pistol: July 16, 2024
  • Shotgun (Trap): July 16, 2024
  • .22 Rifle: July 20, 2024
  • Muzzleloading: July 20, 2024

Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports events.

You will find Leader Certification Clinics, Ambassador information, State Shoots & results here.

To print all upcoming events, select "Agenda" and then "Print"