PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) South Dakota State University Extension 4-H is now accepting applications to be part of the Hunting Skills team that will participate at the 2025 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships.

To print off an application form, visit extension.sdstate.edu/events and search “hunting”. Mail completed applications to State 4-H Office Attn: John Keimig, Berg Agricultural Hall 112, Box 2207E, Brookings, S.D., 57007. Applications are due by Sept. 1, 2024.

Applicants must be currently enrolled 4-H members and include a letter of reference with their application. They must also complete a hunting skills test on Sept. 7, 2024, at the Mitchell Shotgun Range during Fall Shot.

“This application will show your interest in selection to the team,” said Keimig, SDSU Extension Youth Safety Field Specialist. “If selected for the team, there will be an expectation to attend and participate in practice sessions.”

Hunting Skills is a skill- and knowledge-based contest that includes animal identification (wings, fur and skulls), orienteering and map reading, and hunting knowledge based on the NRA hunting guide, in addition to shooting ability.

The 2024 hunting contest included 3-D archery; Hunting Clays, a walk-through sporting clays course using a shotgun; and Paper Animal Targets using a rifle. Basic knowledge of all three disciplines is helpful but not required.

The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships are scheduled for June 22-27, 2025, in Grand Island, Nebraska. South Dakota will send a team of four. The national trip is self-funded except for registration, trading pins and a state shirt that are provided by the state committee.

For more information, visit the SDSU Extension website or contact John Keimig, SDSU Extension Youth Safety Field Specialist, at 605-688-5575 or John.Keimig@sdstate.edu.

SD team ties for 2nd at 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships

South Dakota’s team tied for second place for the sweepstakes award at the 2024 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships.

Thirty-five youth representing South Dakota State University Extension 4-H competed at the national championships from June 24-28 in Grand Island, Nebraska. The annual competition drew 708 youth from 40 states to demonstrate their abilities in archery and shooting across multiple disciplines.

South Dakota tied with Missouri for the second-place sweepstakes award. Louisiana won first place. For team events, SDSU Extension 4-H won 3-P air rifle and second place in overall air rifle. South Dakota also won second place as a team in overall air pistol.

Landon Tieszen from Turner County scored the highest individually, winning first place in 3-D compound archery and third place overall in archery.

“South Dakota’s 4-H Shooting Sports program continues to reach new heights in the overall placing at nationals. The success of the youth participating there starts with the county-level volunteers,” said John Keimig, SDSU Extension Youth Safety Field Specialist. “Those local volunteers help to lay a tremendous foundation for these young competitors to build upon. Our success is a reflection of those efforts.”

Senior 4-H members must qualify at one of three competitions to make it to the national contest. They can only compete in a division once but can return in other divisions.

South Dakota also had three members participate in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Ambassador program, which included additional responsibilities during the national championships such as announcing and handing out awards.

Complete results:

Air Pistol
Team (18 teams):
Rapid Fire – 3rd
Slow Fire – 3rd
Overall – 2nd

Individual (75 total contestants):
Silhouettes – Elijah Kari, 7th
Slow Fire – Elijah Kari, 4th
Slow Fire – Luke Dangel, 10th
Overall – Elijah Kari, 9th

Air Rifle
Team (21 teams):
3-P – 1st
Standing – 2nd
Silhouettes – 3rd
Overall – 2nd

Individual (93 contestants):
3-P – Clay Crawford, 2nd
3-P – Austin Crawford, 5th
3-P – Zoe Dissing, 9th
Standing – Clay Crawford, 4th
Standing – Zoe Dissing, 5th
Overall – Clay Crawford, 4th
Overall – Zoe Dissing, 5th
Overall – Austin Crawford, 10th

Compound Archery
Team (22 teams):
FITA – 4th
Field Archery – 3rd
3-D – 2nd
Overall – 3rd

Individual (92 contestants):
FITA – Josiah Hays, 5th
FITA – Landon Tieszen, 9th
Field Archery – Landon Tieszen, 3rd
Field Archery – Josiah Hays, 7th
3-D – Landon Tieszen, 1st Place
3-D – Jaxen Dockter, 10th
Overall – Landon Tieszen, 3rd
Overall – Josiah Hays, 5th

Hunting Skills (45 Ind, 11 teams)
Team (11 teams):
Wildlife ID/Management – 4th
Hunter Skills/Compass – 4th
Decision Making/Rifle – 2nd
Overall – 3rd

Individual (66 contestants):
Decision Making/Rifle – Jenna Kruger, 3rd
Decision Making/Rifle – Josie Nold, 8th
Overall – Jenna Kruger, 8th

Recurve Archery (66 Ind,16 Teams)
Individual (66 contestants):
FITA – Colton Cass, 7th

Shotgun
Individual (129 contestants):
Trap – Hunter Sieverding, 3rd

Small Bore Pistol (62 Ind, 16 Teams)
Individual (62 contestants):
Silhouettes – Dante’ Rascher, 7th
Camp Perry – Dante’ Rascher, 5th
Overall – Dante’ Rascher, 8th

Small Bore Rifle
Individual (79 contestants):
Silhouettes – Alexander Schelske, 8th

SDSU Extension 4-H Shooting Sports competitors who also served as 4-H Shooting Sports National Ambassadors, from left: Shay Solinsky from Custer County, Nicolette Hoffman from Douglas County and Mya Heinje from Roberts County.
2024 Air Pistol competitors, from left: Coach Art Kneen, Sydney Baker and Elijah Kari from Butte County and Luke Dangel from Charles Mix County.