2026 National Youth Hunter Education Challenge

July 19-25
Bentonville, Arkansas

In keeping with the established YHEC Rules, the 2026 NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge will conduct these eight disciplines:

Responsibility Events

• Wildlife Identification Challenge
• Shoot/Don’t Shoot Hunter Safety Trail
• Orienteering Challenge
• Hunter Responsibility Exam

Shooting Events

• .22 Rifle Challenge
• Shotgun Challenge
• Muzzleloader Challenge
• Archery Challenge

Fun events and activities for the entire family will include the Three-Person Shotgun Flurry, Flu-Flu Shoot, Trade Night, Duck Calling Contest, Dance Night, Cajun Feast Night, and more.

Equipment Needed

Since YHEC – as its name implies – is a hunting competition, the equipment and supplies should closely reflect the items a hunter would take hunting. Olympic-styled equipment is not allowed, such as Olympic-styled firearms and bows. Please see the list of required, permitted, and prohibited items under each discipline in the YHEC National Rules.

Competitors should provide their own equipment wherever possible. Because of time constraints, it may not be possible to share firearms and bows. All equipment will be inspected prior to each event.

Equipment and supplies not found in compliance with established YHEC National Rules or posted amended bulletins prior to the event will be prohibited. Competitor found using equipment or supplies deemed prohibited could be subjected to disqualification.

22 Rifle Challenge:

Hunting style .22 rifle, with all action types, except fully automatic are allowed. Rifle can be equipment with sling and scope. .22 factory-loaded long rifle ammunition, standard velocity.

Shotgun Challenge:

Any shotgun 12 gauge or smaller capable of holding two shells. Only factory-loaded 7½ – 9 shot with 1⅛ gram powder or less is permitted. YHEC will furnish .20 and .12 gauge only.

Muzzleloader Challenge:

Any flintlock, disk, percussion, musket, or 209-primer type muzzleloader rifle .54 caliber or smaller. Open, peep, hooded, or tunnel sights and sling allowed. Lead bullets or balls only.

Archery Challenge:

Hunting style compound, recurve, or long bow with hunting-style sights. Must have minimum 6 field point arrows carried in quiver. Binocular without range finder allowed.

Wildlife Identification:

Knowledge of North American game animals and birds, reptiles and protected species. The NRA Hunter’s Guide plus Iowa Hunting Regulations will be used as resources.

Safety (Shoot/Don’t Shoot) Trail:

Knowledge of hunting and gun safety – plus the hunting regulations for the state of Iowa – will be the references for this event. Competitor must supply .12 or .20 gauge shotgun capable of shooting two shots. (Blanks will be used).

Orienteering:

Field and map exercises to test ability to navigate a course. Magnetic compass and electronic devices (GPS) required. Pacing chart, mapping protractors, grids, roamers, and rulers can be used.

Responsibility Exam:

Knowledge of hunting, shooting, conservation, ethics, responsibility, and game laws as referenced in the NRA Hunter’s Guide and the hunting rules and regulations for the state of Iowa..

Please review the National YHEC Rules for full disclosure of rules and regulations that govern each of these events.