Congratulations to our State Team members!

2023 State 4-H Shooting Team group photo

2024 team tryouts

The selection process for the nine state shooting teams begins this fall after the completion of the state shoot. 4-H youth selected for the state shooting teams will represent Missouri 4-H at the National Invitational Match to be held June 22–27, 2025, in Grand Island, Nebraska. Any 4-H Shooting Sports member who has met eligibility requirements in their county program, is enrolled in the appropriate project number and is at least 14 years old (must be 14 years old by Dec. 31, 2023) may participate in the selection process. If numbers and space allows, 13-year-olds may participate for the experience, but are not eligible for the state team. Nearly all of the team selection process is comprised of multiple tryout dates. Each team has a unique process.

All registration will be done on-site the day of tryout(s). Cash or check ONLY – No credit cards can be accepted. Make checks payable to: Missouri 4-H

$10 fee for 1st team tryouts, $10 for additional team tryout.

If you would like to fill out the registration form ahead of time and bring it, please download form below. Copies will be available to fill out on-site.

2025 STATE TEAM TRYOUT REGISTRATION FORM [PDF]

The events shot at the tryouts may be different than state shoot events and definitely different than county events. Please familiarize yourself with the national 4-H shooting events.

2024 NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS EVENT SYNOPSIS [PDF]

If selected, the youth must commit to participating in the national contest. Youth selected should be prepared for some financial obligations (most costs are provided) and be committed to practice with other team members and coach prior to the national.

NOTE: A 4-H member may try out for more than one team. But when that team selection matches conclude, if the shooter's scores qualifies for the team then he or she must decide at that time whether or not to be on that team. Shooters cannot continue the tryout process once selected to a team.

Remember, many state team members are not extremely skilled when they try out; the competition is not fierce. Don't wait until you're "good enough" - come and try out. If you don't make the team this year, you will be much better prepared for next year.
 

Discipline Date(s) Time(s) Location(s) Details
Archery Oct. 12 Check-in at 8:00 a.m.
Scoring starts at 8:30 a.m.		 Prairie Grove Shotgun, Columbia Each tryout event will consist of abbreviated rounds of FITA, Field, and 3-D. The top two scores will decide placement.
Oct. 13
Oct. 26
Oct. 27
Muzzle Loading Sept. 29 Check in at 9:00 a.m.
Scoring starts at 10:00 a.m.		 Prairie Grove Shotgun, Columbia All scores count for final selection.
Oct. 13
Pistol (both) Sept. 29 Air Pistol AM, Small Bore PM Dysart Memorial Shooting Complex, Marshall Best score decides placement. Morning check-ins at 8:00 am, scoring at 9:00. Afternoon check-ins at 1:00, scoring at 1:30
Oct. 12 Small Bore AM, Air PM
Oct. 26 Air Pistol AM, Small Bore PM
Small Bore Rifle Sept. 28 Check in at 8:30 a.m.
Scoring starts at 9:00 a.m.		 Dysart Memorial Shooting Complex, Marshall Best score decides placement.
Oct. 5
Air Rifle Sept. 29 Check in at 1:00 p.m.
Scoring starts at 1:30 p.m.		 Dysart Memorial Shooting Complex, Marshall Best score decides placement.
Oct. 20 Check in at 9:00 a.m.
Scoring starts at 9:30 a.m.		 Cole County Fairgrounds, Jefferson City
Hunting Skills Dec. 14 Check in at 10:00 a.m.
Scoring starts at 10:30 a.m.		 Dysart Memorial Shooting Complex, Marshall Only offered 1 time.
Shotgun Sept. 29 Check in at 9:00 a.m.
Scoring starts at 9:30 a.m.		 Prairie Grove Shooting Complex,
Columbia		 Best 3 scores in each event will decide placement.
Oct. 13 Pole Cat Creek, Harrisonville
Oct. 27 Ozark Shooters Sports Complex,
Walnut Shade
Nov. 10 United Sportsman’s Club,
Jefferson City

Provided by the shooter.

Youth are responsible for providing their own firearms or archery equipment and arrows/ammunition. Please refer to the event synopsis of these events. The synopsis is available from your extension center or from the Missouri 4-H Shooting Sports website.

The four individuals with the highest applicable scores will be given the opportunity to represent Missouri as a state team member. The fifth highest scorer will be selected as an alternate, but will only attend the national match if one of the four cannot. An individual may only try out for 1 discipline per day. Those not making a team on that day are welcome to try for another team during following tryouts but must notify Missouri 4-H if trying for another team.

Selection of team members will be announced at the conclusion of the last in the series of try-outs. Selected team members and parents are to remain for an orientation, questions and answers, and planning period to get acquainted, meet coaches, and arrange practices and travel arrangements.

During tryouts, meals and lodging are on your own.

A $145 good faith deposit will be expected at the time of team selection. Team members will also be asked to participate in other efforts to raise funds for the state teams,such as raffle tickets. If enough funds are raised, a portion of the deposit will be distributed back to the team members. If you are not ready to make this commitment, please do not sign up for the state qualifier. Team members may solicit local funding and contributions to subsidize their expense. Many county 4-H councils will contribute to participants in national events. Please check with your local 4-H staff person for advice and guidance. Parents are encouraged to make the National match a family vacation and attend with their child.

Missouri 4-H Shooting Sports Commitment to teams and coaches — If fundraising efforts are successful (as anticipated), the Missouri Shooting Sports program will pay the registration fee and lodging for team members and coaches and provide several meals. Historically, most parents travel as a family to the national match to observe their child. If parents cannot go, then other travel arrangements will be made for that team member.