You are invited to participate in the Florida 4-H State Muzzle Loading Rifle Match, to be held February 2, 2013 in Brevard County.  This is going to be a fun and rewarding match to test the skills of the shooters, meet new people, and experience muzzle loading in an exciting way!

The primary purpose of the match is to have a fun, safe learning experience, shooting shoulder-to-shoulder with your fellow Florida 4-H members.  The secondary purpose is to select the 4 top senior shooters, to assist in determining who will qualify to represent Florida at the National Invitational in June of 2012.  Marksmanship is just one of the criteria in the selection process.

Rules

The match rules for this event will be those used for the National 4-H Invitational 2012, and may be found at this link:

TX 4-H Shooting Sports Program, Muzzle Loading Rifle Rules

We refer to the Texas 4-H Rules because more than likely, these will be the rules for the 2013 National Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska.

With these changes:

General 4-H Shooting Sports Rules - As Is, substitute FLORIDA for the word TEXAS.

Section 2 - Eligibility - This match is open to all Intermediate and Senior 4-H Members.

Section 3 - Equipment and Ammunition - As written.

Section 4 - Targets, as written but may change at the discretion of the Match Committee.

Section 5-18 - As written.

Registration

All registration will be done on this site through EventBrite.  The deadline for registration is Feb. 5, 2012 and checks must be received by Feb. 8th in Gainesville.  A Florida 4-H Participation form is required for check-in.  Please bring it with you completed and signed by parent and youth.  Click here for the form.

Cost and Fee Payment

This cost of the match is $25 paid in advance to the Florida 4-H Events Office.  Fees paid on the day of the event will incur a $10 late fee. 

Match Schedule

11:00 AM to 12:30PM - Check in and range setup at the match location

12:45PM - Opening Ceremony and Match Briefing

1:00PM - Shooting Begins

4:00PM or as schedule dictates match concludes

 - Immediately Following Match-End, Awards Ceremony

 - National Invitational Pre-Meeting for top senior shooters, required. 

Safety and Comfort

All firearms must arrive unloaded and cased.  A safety inspection will take place upon check-in and all "safe firearms" will receive a sticker.  Each shooter must bring hearing protection for those who accompany them.  All shooters and coaches must bring their own eye and ear protection.

If a firearm is needed for the shooter, this must be arranged prior to the event.  We will try to accommodate those shooters on a first come, first serve basis.

There are no seating accommodations at this range.  Please bring your own camp chairs.  Drinking water will be provided for the coaches and shooters.  There are convenience stores and and fast-food locations near the gun range.  

For those shooters selected to go to the National 4-H Invitational

The Invitational will be held this June 17-22 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

In order for a Senior Florida 4-H'er to be finally selected to attend this match they must show 1) a "team spirit attitude", 2) a willingness to do "Better Than Their Best" and uphold the ideals of 4-H program, and 3) display competent shooting skills and marksmanship.  For more information on the event, click here:

National 4-H Shooting Sports webpage

A 4-H member may only attend the National Invitational one time per discipline.  

If a shooter is selected and decides to attend, a non-refundable $50 deposit must be submitted to the FL 4-H Shooting Sports Committee by March 16, 2012.  Be aware that although portions of the shooter's attendance will be subsidised by the Florida 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, this trip usually costs the attendee $600-$900 out-of-pocket.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

Mr. Gus

Match Director