2023 SAVAGE BACKCOUNTRY XTREME HUNTER

AUG 3-6, 2023 at WILLS RANCH - DOUGLAS, WY

A CAMP-BASED HUNTING CHALLENGE


SAVAGE, NRL HUNTER, and COMPETITION DYNAMICS have teamed up to bring you a multi-day backcountry hunting adventure!

This match is a test of a two-man team's ability to complete hunting-related challenges while based at a "spike camp" for three nights. A majority of the challenges will take the form of field-style shooting stages. For these, both team members will be using rifles that fall into the same NRL-Hunter equipment division (Light, Heavy, or Factory).

There will be other hunting-related shooting challenges using guns provided by the match. There will be hunting/field craft challenges, to specifically include coordinate-based and distance/bearing-based land navigation.

A team should be able to efficiently locate, identify, range, and engage practical targetry spread in the terrain using both rifles. Some of the skills involved include target recognition, ranging, wind doping, ballistic data management, marksmanship under field conditions, non-standard shooting positions.

Teams will hike in all their own equipment, including camping equipment, to establish their "spike camp" at a designated location. Once in the field, all movement will be done on foot.

Since re-scheduling to 2023 and the political problems with Cameo, we are moving this match to one of CD's primary event sites: the Wills Ranch in Douglas WY. We have run matches here since 2012, including the Snipershide Cup, Team Challenge (under the TBAC, US Optics, and Burris headline banners), Rocky Mountain Steel Quest, and the Sniper Adventure Challenge.

RATINGS
What do these ratings mean?
 
   Physical Difficulty: 8 (Very Hard)
   Marksmanship Complexity: 8 (Very Hard)
THE TEAM

  • Zak Smith

    Match Director

  • Jimmy Holdsworth

    Asst Match Director

  • Collin Fossen

    Asst Match Director

  • Travis Ishida

    NRL-Hunter Liason
MATCH OVERVIEW
  • Backpack in a short distance
  • Set up your spike camp
  • At least 20 field stages with your guns
  • Several pick-up gun stages
  • Land Navigation, Fieldcraft, and Hunting Skills Challenges
  • Team declares one NRL-Hunter division
  • Three nights in the field
  • Shooting three days
  • Expanded stages vs. normal NRL-H
  • "CD-tweaked" stage procedures to match typical hunter experience

DETAILS

  • 3-day match
  • 2-man teams
  • Teams shoot rifles in the same NRL-HUNTER division
  • Per-day on-foot movement limited to 10 miles or less
  • Teams will pack in (hike) all their gear and camp
  • We will have a designated location for all competitors to set up camp for a congenial atmosphere
  • Water will be provided at the spike camp via natural water or a water trailer or similar
  • Stages will be timed but movement between most shooting stages will be "off the clock"
  • A few days before the match, registered competitors will get a match briefing packet PDF that will detail exact procedures, schedules, scoring, penalties, etc.
  • Unknown, various, and non-standard target sizes
  • Almost all targetry will be reactive armor steel plate
  • Safe/recommended round count: 150 per rifle.
  • Sign-up and payment will be done via CD's system

MATCH NEWS
SPONSORS
LOCATION OF MATCH SITE
Venue: Private 8000 acre ranches near Douglas, WY.

Check-in address will be sent to match participants before the match.



MATCH SCHEDULE (PRELIMINARY)
THURSDAY
1100-1400 MANDATORY CHECK-IN (ALL COMPETITORS MUST BE CHECKED IN BY 1400)
1400-1500 BRIEFING / Q&A / STAGING
1500 DEPART FOR CAMP
FRIDAY
Report to designated stages at designated times
SATURDAY
Report to designated stages at designated times

SUNDAY
Report to designated stages at designated times
1200 DONE WITH FIELD SHOOTING - BREAK CAMP - RTB
1400 AWARDS, ETC
MATCH RULES

SAFETY

This section is the 2017 Competition Dynamics Unified Safety Rules for Shooting

  1. USPSA safety rules are the baseline for safety at this match.
  2. Violation of any safety rule will result in match disqualification (DQ).
  3. The Match Director has the right to disqualify any competitor for Unsportsmanlike Conduct based on his judgement.
  4. Competitors shall practice good muzzle control and firearm safety at all times. Competitors that do not handle their weapons safely will be disqualified from competing further in the match with no refund of match fees.
    1. Do not ever allow the muzzle of your weapons to point at anyone.
    2. Do not load your weapons until directed to do so by a range officer.
    3. Do not put your finger on the trigger until your sights are aligned with your target.
    4. Obey all Range Officer commands immediately.
  5. In addition to the USPSA definition of an Accidental Discharge, the stage RO may call an A.D. using his own judgement, e.g.: if the competitor was clearly not engaging a target. Any round that does not impact within 10 yards of the target the competitor is engaging, or impacts in an unsafe area or direction, is declared to be an AD.
  6. The entire competition area is a "cold range."
    1. No firearms may be loaded at the match site except under the direct command of a RO.
    2. Long-guns shall be kept unloaded in cases or on a designated rack, and carried muzzle up or muzzle down and the action open.
    3. "Sweeping" any person with a weapon's muzzle will result in immediate D.Q.
  7. All firearms must have a functioning safety, subject to verification by an RO at any time. (A pistol that has not had any factory safety devices disabled will be considered to have a safety for the purpose of this rule.)
  8. Any firearm or ammunition deemed by any RO or match staff to be "unsafe" for any reason may not be used in the match until a determination is made by the match director that it may continue.
  9. All firearms must be able to be completely unloaded without firing a round.
  10. Any firearm that can be demonstrated by any RO or match staff to have a hammer/striker that will fall without the trigger being pressed shall be deemed unsafe and may not be used in the match until repaired.
  11. Any rifle slung must have an empty chamber, unless directed by the stage RO.
  12. No person shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the match site. Any person found to be impaired and unsafe as a result of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting and requested to leave the range.
  13. Safety glasses and ear protection are required to be worn/used at all times by competitors and spectators when in the vicinity of any weapons being fired.
  14. No person shall place a rifle in such a position that it points at any other person. Find a safe direction if you need to set your rifle down! If you find out there are people passing or downrange, wait until they are clear and then relocate your rifle.
  15. This match may include dynamic shooting in natural terrain. Match staff will communicate what are safe directions to point firearms while shooting, or while waiting. This will typically be presented during a stage or match briefing. The competitor shall note and obey the safe muzzle direction guidelines.
  16. Ammunition must not cause unusual target damage or cause a fire or other safety risk.
    1. No steel jacket or core projectiles
    2. No armor piercing, incendiary, or tracer bullets
    3. Ammunition that must be "fired" to be unloaded once chambered is declared to be unsafe and may not be used in this match.

Note: rules are subject to change up until the match date.

FURTHER PROCEDURAL RULES WILL BE DETAILED IN THE MATCH PACKET. WHEN THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN A NRL-HUNTER RULE AND A RULE IN THIS MATCH, THE MATCH PACKET AND THE MATCH DIRECTOR'S JUDGEMENT WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE.

PROCEED TO REGISTRATION AREA