McLean County 4-H Shooting Sports

2012 Air Rifle Workshops

2012-02-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Feb 24 Fri Level 2 only 7pm to 8:30 pm
Mar 9 Fri Level 2 only 7pm to 8:30 pm
May 5 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm
June 2 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm
July 7 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm
Sept 1 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm
Oct 6 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm
Nov 3 Sat Level 1 @ 9 to 10:30 Level 2 @ 11 to 12:30pm

Air Rifle Training on 1/21/2012

2012-01-12T15:46:00.001-08:00

Register now for the January 21 4-H Air Rifle-Levels 1 and 2, offered by state certified 4-H Shooting Sports Air Rifle Instructors. Level 1 will be held from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM, and Level 2 will be offered from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. Registrations will be taken through January 19. Only youth who have participated in 4-H Air Rifle Level 1 may attend Level 2. https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6330

Pictures from 2011 Shotgun Clinic

2012-01-07T16:29:00.000-08:00

2011 was the first year that McLean county offered the Shotgun discipline to 4-Hers. Here are a couple of pictures from one of the activities. A special thanks to Darnall's Gun Works and Ranges for their support by providing the free use of firearms and an excellent range!

Ashton Kutcher Shows Off

2011-10-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun movie clip showing one man's skills from his 4-H shooting sports experience!

October Shotgun Clinics

2011-10-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

Register now for the McLean County 4-H Shotgun Level 1 Training event Saturday, October 15 or 29. Choose from either 10:00 - 11:30 AM or 1:00 - 2:30 PM times. This training will be offered by state certified McLean County 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors. Participants should be 12-18 years old, and will be accepted on a "first registered - first served" basis. The classes will be held at Darnall's Shooting Range, 7.7 miles southwest of the Interstate Center on IL Rte. 9. Street address is 6125 East 1175 North Rd. Bloomington, IL 61705-9012.

October 15 Session
October 29 Session

Archery and Shotgun for 2011-2012!

2011-09-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

McLean County will be adding Archery and Shotgun events for the 2011-2012 4-H year! Be on the lookout here and on the county 4-H website for announcements!

Camp Whitetail

2011-08-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Camp Whitetail is a weekend camp program designed to develop and practice skills useful to outdoor sportsman of Illinois. The program scheduled for October 22-23, 2011 is set up to accommodate families, or adult/child “teams”. Participants will learn safe firearm handling, archery, tree stand safety, wildlife identification, first aid, and game care. The fee is $49 per person which covers all expenses including lodging and meals. To register or obtain further information about Camp Whitetail, call 4-H Memorial Camp at 217/762-2741 or email Curt Sinclair at sinclair@illinois.edu. Click here for the link:http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/39828.pdf

2011 Fair Exhibits

2011-08-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

A hat tip and super kudos to Merideth Martin for her Best of Show display on the 4-H air rifle program at the McLean County Fair! Elaine Brown placed Reserve Best of Show for her display on Rifle Safety. Great job ladies!

What can I do in 4-H Shooting Sports?

2011-08-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

In Illinois, we have three disciplines:
1. Rifle (air rifle and small bore, like .22LR)
2. Archery
3. Shotgun

We're not about hunting, although some of us do hunt. We're about teaching life skills while giving 4-Hers an activity we hope they will enjoy for a lifetime. We focus on safety, skills, and sharing.

County-wide activities are held about every-other month throughout the year. There are also club activities when clubs have certified instructors. We aren't into competitions just yet...the program in our county really just started at the end of 2009.

If you've already been shooting, you're welcome to come refine your skills. If you've never shot at all, you're welcome to come learn a new skill!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

2011-08-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

So what do you shoot at? We use targets at various distances. Most of the time we use standard ring targets.

Where do you shoot? It varies. Sometimes we shoot at outdoor ranges, and other times we use the fairgrounds on the west side of Bloomington. For air rifle, we mostly shoot indoors.

Do I have to have my own rifle/shotgun/bow? No, we provide the equipment you need. For small bore rifle and shotgun, you'll need ear protection. For all disciplines you'll need eye protection. Some classes and instructors may have other basic items you may need to bring.

What about ammunition? You may be asked to pay a small fee (usually less than $5) to help cover ammunition.

Is there a particular curriculum you follow? For small bore rifle, we use material from the CMP, NRA, and NSSF. For air rifle, it depends on the instructor, although NRA material is mostly used.

Do you need equipment/money/stuff? In some cases yes. Because of Illinois law, and University of Illinois Extension Service policies, we are very restricted on ownership of firearms. In most cases, we are looking for companies or individuals to help us with funds and supplies. If you're interested in donating, contact Michael at michael@thefarmonline.com.

Instructor's Class

2011-08-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

The next scheduled instructor's training for the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program will be held Oct. 28-30, 2011 at the 4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello. The training is for adults aged 21 and older who wish to be trained in one of the following disciplines: Archery, Rifle, Shotgun and/or Coordinator. To register or for more information, contact:

dddawson@illinois.edu
phone 217.782.6515