Program Purpose
Provide education on wildlife management, conservation, and related topics
Provide participants with a supervised shooting experience emphasizing shooting skills and firearm safety
Provide recognition for high scoring individuals and county team members
Provide involvement of leaders and parents for supervision and range instructors
Wildlife Education
Educational Opportunities are open to grades 3+
April 18, Sandhill Crane Count: (3 hours), Cost: Free Wright County 4-H is joining 2000 other volunteers throughout the Midwest on April 18 to help monitor the abundance and distribution of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes. It is easy to become involved! Training videos prepared by the International Crane Foundation will be provided.
June 29 - Pitch and Pack Adventure Day Camp, Schroeder Park, Annandale - Grades 4-8: Campers will enjoy a fun-filled one-day camp filled with a variety of crafts, skits, songs, games and wilderness exploration with our enthusiastic camp counselors who will be with them throughout the day! Cost: $15.00 (6 hours)
June 25, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Outdoor Adventures - Kayaking – Bertram Chain of Lakes Park, Monticello: Grades 5+: Youth will spend the day kayaking through the chain of lakes with a wildlife guide from the Wright County Parks and Recreation Department. Youth will stop on a small island for lunch then venture back to their starting point. Cost: $20.00 (6 hours)
Zooming Into Wildlife calls with Three Rivers Park District: August 5, 12, and 19, 3:00-4:00 pm (2 hours each) Cost: Free
Complete a County Fair Project on Exploring the Environment, Fishing Sports, Natural Resources, Shooting Sports, or Wildlife & Biology Management project (2 hours, limit 2 hours) Cost: Free
Other 4-H Wildlife Event: OWLS, Wildlife Wednesdays, MN Aquatic Wonders, etc.
Previously Held Events:
Project Workshop Day (Wildlife Tracks, Woodworking for Wildlife, Owl Pellets) - 1 hour/session
Christmas Bird Count – 5 hours
Ice Fishing Day Camp - 3 hours
Coach Contacts:
Registration
Please pre-register for these events on your 4HOnline account. If you need help getting signed up you can view step-by-step registration instructions.
Tracking Wildlife Hours
Youth must have a minimum of 8 hours of wildlife education each year to participate at the state shoot. There are many ways to earn hours on both the county and state levels. Once you've earned your hours, you will need to fill out our wildlife hours tracking form to earn the hours. If it's an activity outside of Wright County programming, you will need to also report at a Federation or Club Meeting about your experience.
Shooting Sports Practices
Your cooperation in this is greatly appreciated. All of our coaches are volunteers. If we all work together, we can make it a successful year!
Registration
Register online through your 4HOnline account. Select "Wright County 4-H Shooting Sports" under the events tab. For more help, view step-by-step instructions.
Participation Fee
There is a participation fee of $20.00 per child, per discipline with a family cap of $100 (BB/air disciplines are combined in one fee). The fee must be paid prior to attending the first practice to Wright County 4-H (please do NOT pay the coaches directly, turn in fee to the Extension Office, 3500 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313 or call 763-682-7394 to pay by credit card). Trap carries an additional cost of $12/practice to be paid at practice. Active coaches are not charged a fee for their children for shooting sports disciplines. Youth may receive a refund for their fee if they decide within the first two practices not to participate.
Eligibility by Age
(Grade level is the grade completed)
Grade 3:
BB Gun
Wildlife
County level Archery (not eligible for State Shoot)
Junior - Grade 4-6:
BB Gun, Air Rifle, Air Pistol
Archery
Wildlife
Intermediate - Grade 7-9:
BB Gun, Air Rifle, Air Pistol
Archery
Trap (6th grade may participate at practices but youth must be in 7th grade to participate at State Shoot)
.22 Rifle (6th grade may participate at practices but youth must be in 7th grade to participate at State Shoot)
Wildlife
Senior - Grade 10+:
Air Rifle, Air Pistol
Archery
Trap
.22 Rifle
Wildlife
Parental Consent Form
All youth participating in the program must sign a parental consent form, which you will be prompted to do during online registration. For this reason, all youth MUST be registered prior to attending a practice. If coaches do not have record that your consent form is on file, you will not be allowed to participate in practice, so be sure to complete this far in advance of your first practice.
Please accompany your 4-H youth to the practices
The coaches can always use help to be an extra pair of eyes, scoring targets, putting up new targets, etc. If you are unable to accompany your child, please be there at least ½ hour before practice is over as there may be times the coaches need to talk with you and/or give you additional information. To coach on the shooting line, parents will need to attend one of the MN 4-H coach training sessions. Please contact the Wright County Extension office for more details.
Please be on time for your practice
We try to start shooting right at the start time. If you are late, you may have to wait until a second round to get in the line. Practices run approximately 2 hours.
The date and time of practices are subject to change
Please talk with your coaches to verify practice dates. Practices may be canceled due to inclement weather. Please call your coach if you are unsure. Note: There will be no practices held during the Wright County Fair. Please plan accordingly.
DNR Firearm Safety Certificate
Youth are not required to have their firearms safety certificate to participate in Wright County Shooting Sports.
Start Date
Tuesdays, beginning May 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Location
Wright County Fairgrounds, Howard Lake
Supplies
Wright County 4-H provides all of the ammunition and guns for the shooters to use for these three disciplines. If you do have a gun your own that you would like to use, please bring it to the first practice for coach approval; 4-H requires single shot BB guns, air rifles and air pistols be used both in practice and competition.
Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Binoculars, Shooting Roll (towel, yoga mat, rug), Small Backpack (optional)
Coach Contacts
Aaron Marquette 763-221-2214
Joe Hadash 763-439-7947
Ken Kremer 612-247-8709
Pete Eiden 763-242-3761
Annette & Ed Hystad 763-688-3393
Jesse Smith 763-219-2147
Start Date
Mondays, beginning May 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Location
Wright County Fairgrounds, Howard Lake
Supplies
Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Small Backpack (optional).
Bows/Arrows (optional): Some youth provide their own bow, arrows (dozen) with target tips (field tips). Wright County 4-H does own a limited number of bows and arrows for beginning shooters to try out the sport.
Quiver, finger tabs/gloves/ arm guard (optional)
4-H provides the bales and targets.
Coach Contacts
Matthew Schuette 763-350-8410
Kurt Steinke 763-227-5192
Start Date
Wednesdays, beginning May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Location
Monticello Sportsman Club, 7959 State Highway 25 NE
Supplies
Safety Glasses, Pencil, Binoculars, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Small Backpack (optional), Ear Protection, Shooting Roll (towel, yoga mat, rug)
Guns/Ammo: Wright County has some .22 Target Rifles available to use. You may also bring your own .22. Your firearm does need to meet MN 4-H safety and rule requirements. We do ask that you bring your own ammunition, but some will be available for purchase at practice if you forget.
Wright County 4-H provides the targets.
Coach Contacts
Ken Kremer 612-247-8709
Pete Eiden 763-242-3761
Steven Hogg 763-744-7059
Tom Fleigle 763-238-2986
Start Date
Thursdays, beginning May 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Location
Annandale Gun Club, 360 Conservation Club Road
Supplies
Safety Glasses, Pencil, Basic Calculator, Water Bottle, Ear Protection, Small Backpack (optional).
Guns/Ammo: Youth must provide their own shot gun and ammo (plan for 2 rounds of shooting per practice).
Cost (beyond the $20 program participation fee)
$12.00 per night of trap shooting
Coach Contacts
Matt Schuette 763-350-8410
Aaron Marquette 763-221-2214
Wayne Samuelson 612-719-9143
Competition Opportunities
The "State Shoot" aka State 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Competition is a statewide shooting sports competition held each year at the culmination of our shooting sports season. It is not required that youth participate in the State Shoot in the fall, but it is highly encouraged as it is an excellent way to showcase the skills that you have learned, a great way to meet other 4‐H’ers from around the state, and a great way to bond with teammates and celebrate everyone's hard work! More information about the State Shooting Sports & Wildlife Invitational will be distributed at practices during the summer.
Participation Requirements
4-H members shall be considered eligible to participate in the Minnesota 4-H State Invitational Match if they meet these minimum requirements:
A minimum of 8 hours of wildlife education must be completed annually.
15 hours of discipline instruction and shooting for each participant (including basic safety, range rules and etiquette, and scoring) in each event in which the participant competes for the first year. After the initial training, the participant shall have an additional eight (8) hours of training annually in each discipline he/she is to participate in.
In case of .22, air rifle, air pistol, and BB Gun disciplines only, 15 hours total training of one discipline and 8 hours in each other related discipline. After the initial training, the participant shall have an additional eight (8) hours of training annually in each discipline he/she is to participate in.
Counties must provide a conservation exhibit and silent auction donation.
* These requirements are set by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Program. There are no exceptions to these rules, and if you are not able to complete the required hours in both Wildlife and On-line Training and Marksmanship, you will not be eligible to participate in the 4-H State Shoot.
Cost
There is a non-refundable fee of $35 per person and additional fees for each event. County need-based scholarships are available to help cover these costs.
Registration
State Shoot Information Packet and Registration (Due July 1): COMING SOON!
More Information
All 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife members in good standing and meeting the criteria below are eligible to compete in the National 4-H SS Championships. Official 4-H enrollment is required.
Age Requirements – Participants must have passed their 14th birthday by January 1 and may not have passed their 19th birthday before January 1 of the current year in which the 4-H Shooting Sports Championships are held (2026).
Youth must have participated in the 2025 Minnesota 4-H SS&W Invitational in the discipline in which they desire to attend at Nationals.