DeKalb County 4-H Shooting Sports

03/07/2026

Interested in an opportunity to help 4-H Youth learn the shooting sports?

Instructor training registration is now open! Approved Volunteers are eligible to attend and we have the money to cover your registration fees, if you are willing to committing helping for a couple of years.

We can always use more help and we know you will find the experience fulfilling.

Attached is a flier and below is a screenshot with more info. If you have questions, please fire away!

03/01/2026

ADVANCED AIR RIFLE will start MARCH 19, and run for 8 weeks. Advanced class will typically only run for 1.5 hours (6:30 - 8 pm).

Here's what I need:
If you have a student that completed Beginner or Advanced in 2025 or before that wants/plans to do the Advanced class, please reply with name and year Beginner was completed by Thursday, March 5.

Those replies will be used to build the expected class list/size.

For current Beginner students, if there is desire to go the Advanced class, please consider that now. Announcement will be made on openings after response opportunity for past students.
Students MUST pass the Beginner course to do Advanced. This includes Instructor evaluation of shooting discipline and safety on the range. If students are still working through the progression of Beginner targets but are showing the ability (simply not had enough range time to complete), they may be permitted to do Advanced but may be required to finish the seated/supported targets before moving to other positions.

COMPLETION of at least one (1) year of Advanced is required before doing .22 Rifle (can be the same year). Once competency is demonstrated in the Advanced class, students may return to Advanced and/or .22, as desired.

Other considerations, students in the Advanced class will shoot the larger air rifles and will be expected to handle (and pump) the rifles on their own. They will also learn and shoot 4-position Rifle standards (prone, sit, kneel, stand). Those of smaller stature may struggle. Some have done it and done it well, but it requires patience and endurance. Parents/Guardians, consider this in your discussions with your kids. If they are struggling, they likely will not enjoy it.

Instructors reserve the right to remove students if they cannot be safe, but we would much rather NEVER have to do that. We want them to enjoy the activity and the experience, with the hope it will be something they stick with their entire life.

If you have questions, please fire away.

02/20/2026

Big thanks to Auburn Police Department for coming out to talk to the Beginner Air Rifle class, and for bringing the bearcat for some hands on learning.

01/14/2026

Beginner Air Rifle starts this THURSDAY, January 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall. Cost is $25. Please come early on the first night.

Archery 1 one week from TONIGHT, January 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall. Cost is $25. Please come early on the first night.

Please sign up at https://v2.4honline.com/ or contact Purdue Extension-DeKalb County 4-H to verify your enrollment.

01/06/2026

Just a reminder that Beginner Air Rifle will start January 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall. Cost is $25. Please come early on the first night.

Archery 1 will start January 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall. Cost is $25. Please come early on the first night.

If you DID NOT receive an email with this same info today, then you are NOT on the current Shooting Sports Rosters. Please sign up at https://v2.4honline.com/ or contact Purdue Extension-DeKalb County 4-H to verify your enrollment.

See you soon!

12/20/2025

2026 COURSE SCHEDULE!

If you did not receive this information in your 4-H registered email, then you are NOT on the current Shooting Sports rosters.

Reminder: To participate in Shooting Sports, a student must be ENROLLED IN 4-H for the current year. Here is the link to sign-up: https://v2.4honline.com/ If you have questions about enrollment, please contact the Purdue Extension-DeKalb County 4-H.

Beginner Air Rifle will begin Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall (please come early the first night as there will be sign-up/admin to do). Open to all regular 4-H members (3rd-12th grades). Classes will run for for 8 weeks (with 1 snow/weather date available to add at the end). Members must be enrolled in 4-H before arriving for the first night. Cost is $25 due on the first night of class. All equipment and materials are provided. Class usually ends around 8:30 pm. Early arrival is appreciated to help setup, and early arrival is strongly encouraged on the first night to complete sign-in/admin. Description of the course as reflected in the Handbook remains the same. Completion of Beginner course is required before moving to Advanced course.

Advanced Air Rifle will begin March 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Class usually ends around 8:00 p.m. Also runs for 8 weeks (with an extra week reserved, if needed) at the Exhibit Hall. Completion of the Beginner course (in the same or a previous year) is a prerequisite to the Advanced course (priority given to older members if class demand is high). Cost is $25. All equipment/materials are provided.
22 Rifle will begin May 21, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. Expected location is the Auburn Conservation Club. Completion of at least 1 year of the Advanced course is required before participation in .22 Rifle (can be done in the same year). Cost is $25. All equipment/materials are provided but students may utilize their own rifle/equipment, upon instructor approval.

Archery Level 1 will begin Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall, and run for 7 weeks (with an 8th week reserved as a weather date).

Archery Level 2 will begin Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Exhibit Hall, and run for 7 weeks (with an 8th week reserved as a weather date).

The Archery courses are based on the NASP program and all equipment is provided (Club equipment required) at the Level 1 course. Cost is $25. As students advance, utilization of their own equipment is permitted, at the instructor's discretion.

Note: Archery is always on Tuesday, Rifle is always on Thursday. Classes meet weekly until complete.

Here is a link to the Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=ZGVrYWxiLnNob290aW5nc3BvcnRzQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ

Here is our email, if you have questions: [email protected]

12/15/2025

Schedules for Beginner/Advanced Air Rifle and Archery 1 & 2 coming soon! Stay tuned!

Send a message to learn more

12/04/2025

No Air Pistol tonight! Please spread the word.

We will plan to extend class through 12/18/25.

Stay warm!

10/18/2025

If you missed the first week of Air Pistol but still want to participate, please do come still come this next Thursday (class starts at 6:30 p.m., come early to sign-in and get your materials). Our numbers were low week 1 because it fell right in Fall Break this year.

You did not miss anything that cannot be made up quickly and easily. Remember, new and returning students are both welcome. Beginner and Advanced shoot at the same time in Air Pistol

Hope to see you there!

10/15/2025

Air Pistol (Beginner and Advanced) starts tomorrow night (10/16) at 6:30 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall.

Please plan to arrive early as there will be sign-up and some admin to take care of before class starts. The course will run for 8 weeks (with T'giving off) and the cost is $25 (due upon arrival to class tomorrow night--cash or check). All equipment is provided, just come with a good attitude. :-)

If you did not receive an email regarding Air Pistol this morning, it is because you are NOT successfully enrolled in DeKalb 4-H Shooting Sports for the 2025-2026 season. Air Pistol starts tomorrow night, please ensure your student is ENROLLED before arrival.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

10/11/2025

Got questions? Want to check double-check your Shooting Sports enrollment? Come Monday (10/13) to the Exhibit at 6:30 PM.

SCHEDULING: October 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Exhibit Hall, we will be there to honor one of our volunteers and ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS you might have about the upcoming season. We can help ensure you are signed up and ready for Shooting Sports.

Air Pistol (Beginner and Advanced) starts October 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the Exhibit Hall. You must be ENROLLED for the new season to attend--OPEN ENROLLMENT will start October 1.

And while you're at the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair this coming week, please stop by our table in the Exhibit Hall. Purdue Extension-DeKalb County 4-H

10/04/2025

Air Pistol (Beginner and Advanced) starts October 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the Exhibit Hall. You must be ENROLLED for the new season to attend--OPEN ENROLLMENT will started October 1 (must be enrolled to attend).

WE NOW HAVE A FULL SET OF NEW PISTOLS thanks to Friends of NRA HQ!