OUTDOOR & HUNTING SKILLS cOMPETITIONS
WYOMING OPPORTUNITIES
What is Hunting & Outdoor Skills?
Skill Development
Some valuable outdoor and hunting skills are not formally included in competition events but are strongly encouraged for personal growth, safety, and long-term success in outdoor recreation and conservation.
Outdoor and Hunting Skills Competitions
The outdoor and hunting skills competition is a National 4-H contest that challenges youth ages 8-18 to learn about North American Wildlife species, habitat management, hunting, and basic orienteering at the national level. Competing at the national level incorporates archery, shotgun, rifle, wildlife species and regulations from around the United States. Youth participating from Wyoming are in a team with up to 4 individuals.
Wyoming State Competition Details
Competition occurs at 4-H State Shoot – State Fair Grounds in Douglas, WY typically 2nd week of July
To prepare:
- Attend Zoom trainings offered by the Hunting Skills Coach
- Study List of Resources
Wyoming 4-H Competitions
This Wyoming 4-H contest is open to 4-H members ages 8–18 and focuses on outdoor skills, wildlife knowledge, and safe hunting practices. Participants will use their knowledge about Wyoming wildlife species, habitat management, hunting regulations, and basic orienteering.
At the state level, youth will:
- Identify and describe wildlife species that can be legally hunted under Wyoming Game and Fish rules.
- Complete a WY hunter safety test and a wildlife identification exam.
- Navigate a basic orienteering course, with difficulty adjusted for Junior, Intermediate, and Senior age groups.
- Distance Estimation (In Yards)
Wyoming State Resources
The following resources are provided as suggested learning tools. Availability may vary by county office, and some materials may not be accessible locally. Inclusion of these resources does not constitute endorsement by Wyoming 4-H.
State Event: Selection Criteria Raton New Mexico
1. Senior members wishing to compete for an opportunity to win this trip will indicate so on the registration form.
2. Rifle – only one rifle event will count for points toward the trip.
3. Pistol – only one pistol event will count for points toward the trip.
4. Shotgun – only one shotgun event will count for points toward the trip
5. Archery – only one archery event will count for points toward the trip.
6. Points will be awarded to those registered for the award trip and finish in the top ten in each discipline. Each participant will have no more than their top three events counted. Points will be awarded as follows: 1st – 10 points, 2nd – 9 points, 3rd – 8 points, etc. through 10th place.
7. At least twelve winners will be announced at the awards program on Sunday morning and given the trip details.
Raton, New Mexico – 4-H Shooting Sports Trip for Record Books
1. Senior members only (individuals will be selected from top record books).
2. Members must have participated in the current year’s state shoot to be eligible to win the trip based on record book.
3. Record books will be due in the State 4-H Office, July 18th by 5:00 p.m.
**Members can only win the trip once (not once for shooting and once for record books). If a member forfeits the trip due to extenuating circumstance, future eligibility is at the discretion of the trip Coordinator.
Who can Help
WY 4-H National Hunting Skills Coach
County Shooting Sports Leaders
WYGF Hunter Safety Instructors
Contact Us
Wyoming 4-H
College of Agriculture, Life Sciences & Natural Resources
Room 112
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Dept. 3354
Email: 4h@uwyo.edu
Phone: (307) 766-5170
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming’s only four-year university in the rarefied air of the top research universities in the United States.
The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
© July 2025