NRL Hunter Match - Madras 2025

I have a lot of hobbies, in fact, my wife would probably joke (kinda) that I have about 10 too many. If you’re reading this I would make an educated assumption that you also have heard that once or twice before. As guys, we can’t help it. Tinkering with gear, tools, and understanding how things work is part of how we tick. I’ve been a firearm hobbyist for a long while - I like to geek out on everything from gas guns (hell yeah), bolt action rifles, pistols, revolvers, lever actions, and everything in between. It’s all fun, and a real shame I lost them all in a recent boating accident… ;) 

When I get really interested in something I’m the type of person who likes to learn as much as I can about it. That doesn’t make me an expert by any means (far from it), but I do my due diligence to soak up as much information as I can. After all, I believe that learning and self-improvement is something that we should all constantly pursue. How can I get better? Where am I lacking? Until you are really ready to ask yourself these questions and honestly answer them, you’ll likely remain at the same place you’ve been. This is especially true when it comes to hunting. Yes, we’ve all had success filling tags, and yes, your rifle probably has done its job when asked. But do you think you’re at a point that you can’t improve? Doubtful. 

This brings me to a recent experience that has truly opened my eyes. Myself and Kevin Guillen just got back from an NRL Hunter match that was presented by Leupold Optics in Madras, Oregon. There were approximately 250-300 people ranging from all different skill levels and professional backgrounds with all kinds of different gear and rifle builds, and there wasn’t a single ego in sight. As a first-time match attendee in the Skills Division I have never had so many kind people welcome me into the sport with genuine advice, tips, and encouragement. People went out of their way to explain some of the whys and hows to me when they could have been preparing for their own match. That is not something that I have seen a lot of in competitive sports, and it solidified to me that the NRL Hunter community is something truly special. The camaraderie and sportsmanship made the experience even more meaningful. Kevin and I were lucky to be paired into a squad with good shooters and good friends of ours - Buck Serres, Clark Woodward, and Madi Woodward who were graciously helping us throughout the match. Buck and Clark ended up winning 1st place in the Teams Division! 

For those unfamiliar, the NRL (National Rifle League) Hunter is a shooting competition designed to replicate real-world hunting scenarios. The match will undoubtedly make you a better spotter, better shooter, and overall a better hunter. Each match has 18 stages with different shaped animal steel targets anywhere from 200-1,000 yards away. At each stage you have to find your well-hidden animal targets, range your targets, build your shooting position(s), and shoot the targets in an attempt to make an “impact” with as many as possible. You only have a total of 4 minutes (if you’re doing individual) to complete the stage and the number of impacts you have when the time runs out is your score for the stage. At the end of the match you tally up your scores to find your total. Doesn’t sound too hard right? Wrong. 

I cannot explain how humbling (yet fun) of an experience this was. My personal goals were to score higher in Day 2 than I did in Day 1 and to clear a stage - I met my goals, but so many of those stages were freaking TOUGH. Madras offered one heck of a trying environment - desert terrain, variable winds, and narrow shooting lanes. The match pushed me to evaluate my process and refine where I’m wasting valuable time, improve my glassing and ranging skills, and significantly better my ability to shoot from improvised positions. The format exposed weak spots I didn’t notice during casual practice and it really forces you to think critically, make fast decisions, and rely on quick and precise shots. These are the same skills that make someone a better, more responsible hunter. It was really difficult, and I loved every second of it.

If reading this made you think, “That sounds tough - where do I sign up?”, then you’re our kind of people and I highly suggest looking up matches for 2026 (they sell out quickly). Head over to nrlhunter.org to find a match near you or a location you’d like to travel to. If you end up going to one make sure to come say hello to our Wilderness Athlete team - I’d be great to see you there! As for me, I’m taking what I’ve learned at this match and implementing it into my everyday skills. As a student of the game, I’m already looking forward to the next NRL Hunter match and what I’ll be able to learn the next go around.