GENERAL RULES

1. Participants must be between the ages of 10 and 13 to participate in the Junior Challenge, and between the ages of 14 to 17 to participate in the Senior Challenge.
2. Overall winners in either the Junior or Senior Challenge are not allowed to participate again in the same division.
3. No sponsor fees will be refunded for participants who are selected to compete.
4. Withdrawals from the Challenge will be replaced from the remaining applications in the order the applications were received. There will be a maximum of 50 competitors in each age division.
5. Withdrawals after September 15, or absentees on the date of the Challenge may be replaced at the discretion of the Challenge committee. Participants must arrive at the Challenge site and register before the actual events have begun.
6. Chaperones will accompany each relay of participants. They will be responsible for the proper identification of the participants and for making sure each participant in the relay participates in each event. Score Runners will relay score sheets to the scorer’s table. A panel consisting of one person from Wildlife Resources, one person from Law Enforcement, and one person from the Wildlife Federation will resolve all disputes. Decisions of the Panel will be final.
7. Any act or action by participants, which is ruled unsafe, negligent, or unsportsmanlike, may result in forfeiture or disqualification.
8. Any accident or injury to a participant shall be reported immediately to the Scorer in charge of the event.
9. A Participant may choose not to compete in any individual event. A score of zero (0) will be recorded for the events not attempted, and will be included in the total score.
10. Cheating or discussion of test questions among participants will result in forfeiture or disqualification from the Challenge as determined by the Scorer and / or Panel.
11. Each event will be worth a total of 100 points and each participant’s score for each event will be reported to the scorer’s table as a number between 0 and 100. The Youth Challenge Committee reserves the right to change the rules and types of events included in this competition as needed.
12. The Scorer in charge at each event will record a score for each competitor in each relay. The score sheets for all competitors in the relay will then be given to the Score Runner, who will take them to the score table.
13. Each event will have an event winner, based on the highest score within that event. An overall winner for each division will be recognized as the contestant with the highest overall score.

RANGE SAFETY RULES

The following range safety rules will apply and be enforced in all events conducted on firing ranges.

1. All persons shooting and working on the firing line will wear hearing and eye protection. Eye protection will be either prescription glasses or safety glasses. Safety glasses and hearing protection will be made available. Ball caps are recommended.
2. The designated Head Range Officer will be in charge of the range.
3. All shooters must listen to and obey all commands given by the Head Range Officer and other Range Officers.
4. All firearms will be kept down range at all times. Rifles cleared and removed by a Range Officer for repair or other reason will be the only exception.
5. Anyone not adhering to commands of a Range Officer will be removed from the range and will not compete further in the competition.

OUTDOOR YOUTH CHALLENGE

EVENT RULES

Open Sight Small Bore

1. Only rifles and ammunition provided by the Outdoor Youth Challenge will be used.
2. No special shooting jackets or other special shooting equipment may be used while competing in the competition.
3. Identical rest material will be supplied to each shooting position. No other material may be used.
4. All shooting will be done in the prone position.
5. Range distance will be 50 feet.
6. Target used will be the National Rifle Association NRA#A17 50 ft. small bore rifle target.
7. Each shooter will be allowed three practice shots at the center practice bullseye.
8. The 10 numbered outside bullseyes will be counted in scoring, with one shot being fired at each.
9. The bullseye targets consist of concentric rings with score values from 5 to 10. A miss will count as 0.
10. Total score will be recorded as a value between 0 and 100 with 100 being a perfect score.
11. If more than 10 shots are fired at the counted bullseyes, the highest value(s) will be thrown out and the lowest value will be the score, regardless of the reason.
12. If 2 shots are fired at the same bullseye, the competitor may skip one bullseye and continue and both shots will count.
13. Shots will be counted based on the highest scoring ring they touch.
14. A jury of West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Section Range Officers and the Head Range Officer will make all decisions regarding scoring of targets. Their decision will be final.

Muzzleloader (Senior Division Only)

1. Only muzzleloaders and ammunition provided by the Outdoor Youth Challenge will be used.
2. No special shooting equipment will be used.
3. Range Staff will load all muzzleloaders, set them in cross-sticks, cap them, and pull the hammers back. Competitors will fire at will after range has opened.
4. Targets will be at 30 yards.
5. Each competitor will fire 2 practice rounds at a bullseye target for practice. Each competitor will then fire 3 rounds at a buffalo target that also has a bullseye.
6. The bullseye target consists of concentric rings with score values of 5 to 10. A miss will count as 0.
7. Total points will then be multiplied by 3.33 for a total of 100 points possible.
8. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker round will be shot.

1. Only shotguns and ammunition provided by the Outdoor Youth Challenge will be used.
2. No special shooting equipment will be used.
3. Standard clay targets will be thrown with traps.
4. Each contestant will shoot 2 rounds for practice and then 5 rounds for score.
5. Each round hit will count 20 points for a total of 100 points possible.
6. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker round will be shot.

Archery

1. Only bows and arrows provided by the Outdoor Youth Challenge will be used.
2. No aiming devices will be utilized.
3. Two practice shots will be fired before scoring.
4. Five shots will be taken at a standard archery target from a distance of 15 yards.
5. The bullseye target consists of concentric rings with score values of 5 to 10. A miss will count as 0.
6. The competitors’ score will be multiplied by two. There will be a total of 100 points possible.
7. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker round of another five shots will be used.

Casting Contest

1. A short-range casting distance will be set by officials, and will remain the same for all contestants.
2. Contestants can choose between open-faced or closed-faced rod/reel outfit.
3. Casting lure will be of the same size and weight for all contestants.
4. Each contestant will get 5 casts.
5. Target will consist of three scoring areas, with points as follows:
   • Center ring will be worth 10 points
   • Second ring will be worth 8 points
   • Third ring will be worth 5 points
   • Outside scoring rings will be 0 point
6. Total points scored will be added together and multiplied by 2. Total possible points will be 100.
7. A long-range casting distance will be set by officials, and will remain the same for all contestants.
8. Each contestant will receive one long range cast. Distance from target will be measured and the closest distance to target will be utilized as a tiebreaker if needed.

Fish Identification

1. Each contestant will be given 10 questions that are set by officials. The questions will remain the same for all contestants.
2. Questions may include, but not be limited to, subjects like:
   • Fish Identification using pictures
   • Fish Identification using actual specimens
   • Fish habitat
   • Stream ecology
   • Fishing techniques and equipment
3. Each question will be worth 10 points with a total of 100 points possible.
4. Bonus questions will be asked of contestants and used as a tiebreaker if needed.

Wildlife Identification

1. Each contestant will be given 20 questions that are set by officials. The questions will remain the same for all contestants.
2. Questions may include, but not be limited to:
   • Hunting and Trapping Laws and regulations
   • Wildlife Identification using Pictures
   • Wildlife Identification using actual specimens
   • Identification of mast producing species
   • Principles of Wildlife Management
3. Questions will be worth 5 points each with a total of 100 points possible.
4. In the event of a tie, tiebreaker questions will be used to determine the event winner.

Range and Distance Estimation

1. Six objects that are related to the outdoors will be placed at known distances.
2. One of the objects will be used for practice. The event scorer will have the competitor guess the distance to the practice object and will then tell them the actual distance.
3. The five other objects will be used for scores. The competitors will guess the distance to each object, and will also be asked whether or not the object is in a shoot or don’t shoot position based on its surroundings and its position relative to the contestant.
4. Scoring will be as follows:
   • Within 5 yards +or- will be 20 points
   • Within 10 yards +or- will be 15 points
   • Within 15 yards +or- will be 10 points
   • Within 20 yards +or- will be 5 points
   • Over 20 yards +or- will be 0 points
5. Total possible score will be 100 points.
6. In the event of a tie, the answers given to questions about shoot or don’t shoot based on the position of the object will be used as a tiebreaker.

Wildcard Event

1. This event will be changed from year to year, and the topic or theme for the event will be determined by the Youth Challenge Committee.
2. The scoring for the event will be such that the possible point values are from 0 to 100.
3. The person running the event will supply the Youth Challenge Committee with a brief description of the event detailing the content, scoring procedure, tie-breaking criteria, etc., similar to those listed above.