When the hunting season winds down, many dedicated outdoorsmen find themselves counting down the days until it returns. But what if the off-season could be more than just a waiting game? For serious hunters, competition shooting offers a thrilling and productive way to stay sharp, challenge themselves, and even discover new gear and shooting techniques. From mastering new shooting positions to participating in precision-based events like the NRL Hunter series, off-season competition can enhance field performance while fueling your passion for marksmanship.
Ready to turn your hunting rig into a competition-ready platform? Explore our chassis collection here or call us at 970-241-1807.
Why Hunters Should Embrace Competitive Shooting for Off-Season Hunting Activities
Participating in competitive shooting for hunters provides valuable carryover into the field. The off-season is a perfect opportunity to engage in off-season hunting activities that improve shooting discipline, situational awareness, and gear familiarity. Events such as NRL Hunter Competitions mimic the decision-making and shot-placement demands found in real-world hunting scenarios. Whether you're refining skills for next year’s mule deer hunt or seeking year-round shooting opportunities, competition keeps your instincts sharp.
Understanding the NRL Hunter Series and Other Long-Range Shooting Competitions
The NRL Hunter series stands out for its real-world hunting application. Designed to reflect field conditions, the NRL Hunter format eliminates standardized target distances and instead challenges competitors to identify target locations, range them accurately, and engage from natural positions.
Every NRL Hunter match tests competitors’ abilities to process stage details quickly, much like in real hunts. These matches allow shooters to fine-tune their gear management during stressful situations. The NRL Hunter series has multiple divisions which include Open Heavy, Open Light, Factory, and Teams. Matches also include a division for young guns and female shooters so you can get the whole family involved.
NRL Hunter Stage Layout
Every NRL Hunter stage is designed in 3 different ways. 1 target, 4 positions. 2 targets, 2 positions. 4 targets 1 position. Before starting the stage, shooters will know what target shape they are looking for and the indicator that is placed next to the first target. Targets are typically animal-shaped and the indicator is a placard with a number or letter on it.
As they approach the shooting position, shooters will see multiple markers. Match directors will inform shooters which markers are glassing stakes and which are the shooting positions. Each stage will have 3 glassing stakes, which indicate the area where targets are present. There will be one stake in the rear and 2 stakes out front. If the shooter glasses from behind the rear glassing stake, the targets will be between the 2 front stakes. Once targets are located, then shooting positions will also be marked with flags, paint, or other indicators. The shooter has to be within arm's reach of the shooting position while shooting.
NRL Hunter Divisions
NRL Hunter Open Light- Open light rifles have to weigh under 12 lbs with everything attached except the magazine. Open light rifles look like your everyday custom hunting rifle. A lot of hunters enjoy shooting this category so they can get comfortable spotting shots and making adjustments with the same rifle they use in the fall.
NRL Hunter Open Heavy- Open heavy rifles have to weigh under 16 lbs with everything attached except the magazine. Open heavy rifles are typically guys running more match-based rifles. Larger bipods, suppressors, and larger contoured steel barrels are all seen on open heavy rifles.
NRL Hunter Factory Division- Factory rifles have to weigh under 12 lbs with everything attached except the magazine. The NRL Hunter has a list of SKUs on their website for rifles that qualify for the factory division. This is a great division for hunters looking to get into the sport without spending a large chunk of change on a new custom rifle.
NRL Hunter Team Division- Team rifles have to weigh under 16 lbs with everything attached except the magazine for both shooters. The team's division adds another factor to the shooting competition. Not only do shooters have to manage their gear and shooting on the clock, but communication becomes a large factor when shooting teams. Teams are a great way for hunting partners to start communicating more easily in stressful situations.
The NRL Hunter series is structured to simulate real-world hunting conditions, requiring participants to be proficient in marksmanship, rangefinding, and field strategy. PRS (Precision Rifle Series) events are also worth exploring, offering similar structures but often with known distances and more controlled environments.
How to Start Hunter Competition Practice and Improve Shooting Accuracy
Hunter Practice Fundamentals
The best way to start is by identifying your weaknesses as a shooter. This could be a bad trigger press, poor position building, or poor target acquisition. Although competitions are a great place to identify these weaknesses, practicing on your own allows you to fine-tune some skills before you are on the clock.
Rifle Marksmanship Drills for the Off-Season
Precision rifle drills are key to building consistency. Focus on:
- Positional shooting from rocks and tripods to help build a stable position
- Target transitions under time constraints
- Dry fire routines to help with target acquisition
Gear Up: NRL Hunter Gear and tips
NRL Hunter Chassis
XLR Industries' rifle chassis systems are purpose-built for both competitive and hunting environments. The Element 4.0 Magnesium has an integrated arca rail which is an invaluable feature while shooting competitions. The arca rail allows you to run your bipod or tripod anywhere on the forend and create very stable shooting positions in any terrain.
NRL Hunter Tripod
Tripods are a very important tool in NRL Hunter matches. Shooters will not only use their tripods for shooting off of, and supporting the buttstock of the rifle in elevated shooting positions. A good shooting tripod allows shooters to easily build a shooting position in unbalanced terrain. Some good tripod options for the NRL Hunter are the T3 Optics Dauntless, Really Right Stuff Field Grade Tripod, or the Two Vets QDT Tripod. All of these tripods are heavy but they give shooters a great shooting platform for competitions.
NRL Hunter Bipod
In competitions, shooters will use their bipod more than any other tool. Make sure you have a bipod that is able to go from low to high quickly. Some of the most commonly used bipods are the MDT Ckye Pod, Gunwerks Elevate Bipod, and the Tricer RP. Each of these bipods allows you to shoot from a prone position, all the way up to a seated position, very easily. The MDT Ckye Pod is by far the most used bipod in the NRL Hunter Series.
NRL Hunter Shooting Bag
Shooting bags are going to be used on almost every stage at NRL Hunter matches. Although there are a lot of great bags on the market, the best bags that I have found are the Armageddon Gear gamechangers. For positional shooting, a great choice is the Schmedium with sand fill. Sand fill allows the rifle to dig into the bag and get a very solid shooting position. For prone shooting, the armageddon gear OG Gamechanger with standard fill (beads) is a great choice. Bead-filled bags allow you to easily manipulate the bag and get as stable as possible.
NRL Hunter Gear Setup Tips
Although there is a wide list of gear shooters can possibly buy for shooting their first match, take what you have and see what gear you like the best. The above gear is what is used by the top-level shooters, but is not necessary for your first match.
Finding the Right Competition Shooting Range and Events
Looking for a competition shooting range or upcoming shooting competitions? Many NRL and PRS-style matches are hosted nationwide. Platforms like PractiScore can help locate local long-range shooting competitions nearby. You can also check out NRLHUNTER.COM and PRECISIONRIFLESERIES.COM for national-level matches.
Hunting Rifle Upgrade Ideas That Also Win Competitions
Your trusted hunting rifle can also be competition-ready with a few smart upgrades. Consider replacing the stock with a precision rifle chassis, upgrading your scope, or adding a new bipod. These hunting rifle upgrade ideas serve dual purposes: improving field performance and preparing you for competition.
Browse XLR's full collection of upgrades to elevate your setup for both the range and the field.
Sharpen Your Skills with Practical Precision Shooting Tips
Success in both hunting and competition boils down to fundamentals. Here are some precision shooting tips to enhance your next competition and hunting season:
- Use the off-season for consistent rifle training
- Focus on breathing, trigger control, and follow-through
- Practice finding natural shooting positions quickly
Whether you're shooting solo or with a team member, it's crucial to learn how to build a stable shooting position in a timely manner.
Train Like You Hunt—Master the Off-Season with Competition Rifle Shooting
For hunters, the off-season doesn’t have to be idle. With competition rifle shooting, every round downrange is an investment in your next hunt. Whether you believe competition shooting is for you or not, practicing in the off-season will allow you to easily make shots in the fall.
XLR Industries proudly supports the growing community of competitors and field-tested shooters. Explore our lineup of chassis systems and start dominating the field and the firing line.
Upgrade your hunting rifle for the firing line today. Contact XLR Industries at 970-241-1807 or fill out our contact form here.