Cowtown Range
When
Where
The 2026 Arizona State Shooting Sports Multi Discipline Championships are right around the corner! Z-Suite registration is now open. Early registration is open until 9 February 2026. All competitors must be registered via Z-Suite no later than 19 February 2026. From 10 February to the date of the match, registration remains $40, but competitors will not receive a participant prize bag.
State championship archery, shotgun, smallbore rifle, smallbore pistol, muzzleloader, western heritage and hunting skills matches will be held 20-22 February 2026, at Cowtown Range, north of Phoenix near Ben Avery. All event shooting disciplines offer competition opportunities for Junior, Intermediate and Senior 4-H members actively enrolled and participating in correlated shooting sports projects. Please note members must have participated in a match of some sort (practice, rehearsal, county or state) prior to competing at the State Championships.
All participants are competing for silver buckles donated by the Arizona Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Seniors may also compete for one of the limited "wildcard" positions we have available for the State Shooting Team that is representing Arizona at the 4-H National Championships in June 2026 at Grand Island, Nebraska.
The event costs $40 to register for up to three disciplines except for shotgun. (Shotgun entries will be charged an additional $15 due to the cost of clays used during the match.) During registration, competitors are asked to select the event they would like to participate in during each of the three competition block periods. Thus, competitors can compete in three different disciplines for their single registration fee; one per block period. Note that competitors must choose between the events offered during each of the blocks. All relays will remain age division designated and thus no exceptions will be allowed to shoot with a different relay during a different block.
The 2025-2026 AZ State Match Rulebook will govern this match. Please go to our website to download a copy.
Please note that the hunting skills match includes an archery 3-D course of fire that mandates competitors can safely utilize a bow (provided by the competitor) and a smallbore rifle course of fire involving various hunting engagement scenarios.
Equipment utilized by competitors during the event must meet the standards listed in the state rulebook for each course of fire unless an exception to policy is approved by both the State Discipline Lead and the State Shooting Sports Coordinator.
We will also be conducting a raffle again this year for various shooting sports and non-shooting sports items benefiting the Arizona 4-H Shooting Sports program. Clubs and counties are highly encouraged to bring donated, homemade, or other interesting items for the raffle.
MASTER SCHEDULE
All competitors need to check-in, have their equipment inspected, and attend the opening ceremony / safety brief prior to reporting to their first relay location.
The general timeline for the weekend is below. Competitors are encouraged to register and complete equipment inspection on Friday, 20 February, in order to avoid potential long lines on Saturday and Sunday morning. Those who complete their registration and inspection on Friday afternoon will also be allotted practice time on available ranges. Timeline modifications will be posted on our state website.
| Date | Time | ||
| 20-FEB | Range / Event Setup (volunteers and range personnel) | 0900 | 1200 |
| Competitor Check-in | 1400 | 1600 | |
| Competitor Equipment Inspection | 1400 | 1600 | |
| Open Practice (All ranges minus archery 3-D and shotgun) | 1400 | 1800 | |
| 21-FEB | Competitor Late Check-in / Equipment Inspection | 0700 | 0800 |
| Opening Ceremony / Safety Brief (Pavilion Near Cowtown Rifle Range) | 0800 | 0830 | |
| Movement to First Range (All sites) | 0830 | 0900 | |
| Match Competition Block 1 (All sites) | 0900 | 1300 | |
| Lunch / Transportation to Next Range (All sites) | 1300 | 1330 | |
| Match Competition Block 2 (All sites) | 1330 | 1730 | |
| 22-FEB | Competitor Late Check-in / Equipment Inspection | 0730 | 0800 |
| Match Competition Block 3 (Cowtown Ranges) | 0800 | 1200 | |
| Range Teardown (Volunteers, members and range personnel) | 1200 | 1300 | |
| Awards Ceremony (Pavilion near Rifle Range) | 1300 | 1400 | |
COWTOWN RANGE VIDEO and WAIVER REQUIREMENT (Everyone entering the Cowtown Range complex)
Please ensure you watch the Cowtown Range video and sign the online waiver before the match (link is below). You can add family members (to include minors) under the family member’s tab. Everyone entering Cowtown Range must watch the video and sign the waiver, regardless if you are competing or not.
Video and Waiver Link:
https://www.bizzflo.com/booking/index/onboarding/code/kv637cf22b
BEN AVERY RANGE VIDEO and WAIVER REQUIREMENT (Shotgun competitors only)
If you are a shotgun competitor, please ensure you watch the Ben Avery range safety video and sign the waivers below before the match (link is below). Bring a hardcopy of your signed waivers to check-in, please. These will be turned into Ben Avery range personnel Saturday morning.
Safety Video:
Safety Waiver:
Minor Consent Form:
RAFFLE REMINDER
We are conducting our annual state shooting sports fundraising raffle again this year. Competitors and counties are asked to provide a donation in support of this fundraising effort for the State Shooting Sports Program. Please get creative and help support the growth of shooting sports across the state!
SMALLBORE RIFLE AND PISTOL COMPETITORS
During the silhouette course of fire, we are shooting steel targets at distance this year. We are not using paper targets to conduct the match. Smallbore rifle will use 1/5 scale targets placed at the four distances stated in the rulebook. Smallbore pistol will utilize 1/5 scale steel targets placed at scaled distances in proportion to those listed in the rulebook (as the steel targets we have available are smaller than those listed in the rulebook).
SHOTGUN COMPETITORS
As Ben Avery is again conducting a large tournament this weekend, anticipate potential parking and other crowd related issues. We have two fields reserved for the day (one each trap and skeet). Our competitors will have to integrate with the general public on the sports clays course. Please plan on meeting at the Ben Avery shotgun clubhouse after the opening ceremony to break into firing groups. Look for Stacy, Kim and Kat once you get there.
FACILITY OVERVIEW
Cowtown Range has limited parking available near the live fire ranges we are using. Please be prepared to potentially walk a short distance from the parking lot to your range depending on which disciplines you are competing in. See attached map for a general overview of the facility. It’s recommended that you bring chairs, portable shade structures and food and drink for the day.
CAMPING
Dry camping is available for free just outside Cowtown's main gate on the southside of the adjoining BLM property. Look for our group of RVs and the 4-H sign / flag if you are planning on camping out.