2026 NRL Hunter Thread

[KY_coop]

I would also like more one day matches near me. But for now im just happy to see more matches on east coast!
My group has started brainstorming where/how we could run/host a small field style match like nrlh

 

[mlevimadden]

I have, there's just a lack of 1 day matches near me compared to the 2 day matches (really 2.5 day commitment with check in). Don't get me wrong, they're awesome I just wish there were more of them near me.

I'm very interested to see these other "Find-Range-Engage" leagues or outlaw matches start up. I understand its a huge commitment to set up a range for these type of matches compared to PRS so I understand why they aren't as prevalent.

Fair comment. Where are you at in CO? If you’re on the front range there are like 5 one day matches a year if you’re willing to drive to Cameo.

I had a conversation with the MD at the one day match and he said it was a break even at $60/shooter by the time he paid the landowner, paid NRL commission, bought lunch for everyone, paid for targets and gas to set them up, and paid his helpers. I think it takes a very special venue, landowner, and MD to make a sustainable one day NRLH match and is part of the reason it isn’t more common.

 

[Bobrobheimer]

Fair comment. Where are you at in CO? If you’re on the front range there are like 5 one day matches a year if you’re willing to drive to Cameo.

I had a conversation with the MD at the one day match and he said it was a break even at $60/shooter by the time he paid the landowner, paid NRL commission, bought lunch for everyone, paid for targets and gas to set them up, and paid his helpers. I think it takes a very special venue, landowner, and MD to make a sustainable one day NRLH match and is part of the reason it isn’t more common.

Cameo is a bit of a haul for a one day from the front range too though. I went over for the winter games match and at 7 stages I am not sure it was worth the drive time. (Amazing shooting complex though!)

 

[Bobrobheimer]

From my understanding it's just a handicap system. So the 8lb magnum goes into it with a 7 point lead on the 17lb 6mm. Might be a lot to figure out for the people checking shooters in, but should be very simple by the time scores are being entered.

That seems right:

 

[mlevimadden]

Cameo is a bit of a haul for a one day from the front range too though. I went over for the winter games match and at 7 stages I am not sure it was worth the drive time. (Amazing shooting complex though!)

I’ve been debating signing up for the 5/23 shoot out there and can’t make up my mind either. Definitely further than I’d like to drive for a 1 day shoot.

I also haven’t been able to convince myself to head up to Cheyenne for a 1 day PRS match to get my ass kicked with a 12# NRL gun.

 

[Bobrobheimer]

I’ve been debating signing up for the 5/23 shoot out there and can’t make up my mind either. Definitely further than I’d like to drive for a 1 day shoot.

I also haven’t been able to convince myself to head up to Cheyenne for a 1 day PRS match to get my ass kicked with a 12# NRL gun.

I have been meaning to do that myself!

 

[LongWayAround]

I’ve been debating signing up for the 5/23 shoot out there and can’t make up my mind either. Definitely further than I’d like to drive for a 1 day shoot.

I also haven’t been able to convince myself to head up to Cheyenne for a 1 day PRS match to get my ass kicked with a 12# NRL gun.

Giblet and I shot the one day at Cameo last summer with a couple of our other buddies.

It's a really cool venue and backdrop with the huge cliff faces. The wind was just ripping by the time we finished though.

I've also been thinking about trying some of the local prs but haven't committed yet.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

2026 MDT Hunter Challenge PRS Hunter Match | Arbuckle, CA

Outlaw PRS Hunter match Apr 26–27, 2026 in Arbuckle, CA. Find-range-engage stages with experimental handicap scoring. Limited spots—register.

www.sniperology.com

It is not NRL, but is a similar format. I will be headed up to Arbuckle, CA in the morning hopefully there will be a few WKRs there, if so shoot me a message and we can try to meet up.

 

[SkeeterMcgiblet]

2026 MDT Hunter Challenge PRS Hunter Match | Arbuckle, CA

Outlaw PRS Hunter match Apr 26–27, 2026 in Arbuckle, CA. Find-range-engage stages with experimental handicap scoring. Limited spots—register.

www.sniperology.com

It is not NRL, but is a similar format. I will be headed up to Arbuckle, CA in the morning hopefully there will be a few WKRs there, if so shoot me a message and we can try to meet up.

I think this is the test match for the PRS field match

 

[mlevimadden]

Well I signed up for the 1-day match at Cameo on 5/23. Any other roksliders planning to shoot?

 

[rharbaugh]

2026 MDT Hunter Challenge PRS Hunter Match | Arbuckle, CA

Outlaw PRS Hunter match Apr 26–27, 2026 in Arbuckle, CA. Find-range-engage stages with experimental handicap scoring. Limited spots—register.

www.sniperology.com

It is not NRL, but is a similar format. I will be headed up to Arbuckle, CA in the morning hopefully there will be a few WKRs there, if so shoot me a message and we can try to meet up.

How'd it go? Thoughts?

 

[wind gypsy]

I see the scores up on Impact but they dont make sense to me..

 

[id_jon]

I see the scores up on Impact but they dont make sense to me..

I'd imagine they'll be working out a way to make it easier to follow at some point. I'd like to see columns with: weighted score(which seems to be what they show us now), actual impacts, rifle weight, and power factor, and maybe one for combined handicap.

 

[SouthPaw]

How'd it go? Thoughts?

I posted this in the other thread:

I shot and RO'd the Arbuckle match this past weekend. It was a fun match and the ability to use your hunting rifle was on display a bit, but most guys were using their NRL 25/6.5 CM.

One rule change they tried that I think takes away from the "hunter" aspect is that items did not need to be stowed. Rifles could also be carried with bipod deployed and mag in to start stages. I shot the entire match without a backpack, carrying rifle in one hand, a sand game changer and tripod in the other. Most stages I was on glass in 10-15 seconds and was far less stressed for time.

One interesting change was vital sized targets for more points in front of the full sized animal targets on some stages. I RO'd a stage with vital targets and it really puts in perspective how difficult it is to hit animal vitals on first round impacts. Not too many shooters made first round hits to vitals and most that did were the seasoned shooters you see frequent the NRLhunter events.

 

[Wiscgunner]

I posted this in the other thread:

I shot and RO'd the Arbuckle match this past weekend. It was a fun match and the ability to use your hunting rifle was on display a bit, but most guys were using their NRL 25/6.5 CM.

One rule change they tried that I think takes away from the "hunter" aspect is that items did not need to be stowed. Rifles could also be carried with bipod deployed and mag in to start stages. I shot the entire match without a backpack, carrying rifle in one hand, a sand game changer and tripod in the other. Most stages I was on glass in 10-15 seconds and was far less stressed for time.

One interesting change was vital sized targets for more points in front of the full sized animal targets on some stages. I RO'd a stage with vital targets and it really puts in perspective how difficult it is to hit animal vitals on first round impacts. Not too many shooters made first round hits to vitals and most that did were the seasoned shooters you see frequent the NRLhunter events.

I like the vitals addition but hate to see it get away from hunting as there is plenty of those style of matches

 

[rharbaugh]

I posted this in the other thread:

I shot and RO'd the Arbuckle match this past weekend. It was a fun match and the ability to use your hunting rifle was on display a bit, but most guys were using their NRL 25/6.5 CM.

One rule change they tried that I think takes away from the "hunter" aspect is that items did not need to be stowed. Rifles could also be carried with bipod deployed and mag in to start stages. I shot the entire match without a backpack, carrying rifle in one hand, a sand game changer and tripod in the other. Most stages I was on glass in 10-15 seconds and was far less stressed for time.

One interesting change was vital sized targets for more points in front of the full sized animal targets on some stages. I RO'd a stage with vital targets and it really puts in perspective how difficult it is to hit animal vitals on first round impacts. Not too many shooters made first round hits to vitals and most that did were the seasoned shooters you see frequent the NRLhunter events.

How did the structure the target arrays then having the shooter find the targets on the clock? I’ve only shot two PRS matches on a square range and I can’t imagine how’d they prevent shooters from pre-scouting targets. I was thinking there could be a couple ways of evening the playing field. One would be there would only be one or two targets per stage that everyone could see in advance, but you’d only know your target once you started your stage. The other would be there are hundreds of targets on the range and then it’s a game of where’s Waldo + memory.

 

[acochran]

One rule change they tried that I think takes away from the "hunter" aspect is that items did not need to be stowed. Rifles could also be carried with bipod deployed and mag in to start stages. I shot the entire match without a backpack, carrying rifle in one hand, a sand game changer and tripod in the other. Most stages I was on glass in 10-15 seconds and was far less stressed for time.

Interesting change to the stage workflow of Hunter matches where gear management is a big part of success. I think deploying gear and keeping workspace efficient is very beneficial for real world field shooting success. I’d hate to see that go away as a skill set to manage for these matches.

I like the handicap system for rifle and caliber selection. Curious to see how this match informs future decision for PRSuit.

 

[NevadaMike]

This was my 5th match to RO and by far my favorite. There were so many more smiles and shooters found and engaged more targets with just a few seconds more available with the start format. There were still some zeros but I did not hand out nearly as many as the previous matches. A wide range of scores clearly differentiating the leaders from the rest of us despite a little more breathing room. It was by no means a cake walk for anyone with targets at 1000 yards and beyond with points for hitting vital zones. Refreshingly there were several new faces walking the prize table first. I think it will become popular very quickly.

 

[CHAD PEZZLE]

I Shot the Arbuckle match this year and last. Last year I shot skilled, this year I shot Sportmans. I think it was a great match, and had a ton of fun. Last year was only my second match and my first NRL match, I was humbled very quickly. Last year I tried shooting a few stages without any help it was obvious that my lack of experience made things very difficult. My gear management and process was terrible and it left me with minimal time to find targets and shoot stages. This year I was much more prepared with my process being more dialed in, but I'm still average at best. I was much better at finding targets as well.

Being able to carry all your equipment in hand also cut down on time to setup. But guys that were already running the OBI link system were probably still just as fast as last year. Another key change was that you could also start each stage mag in bolt back, not having to fumble with a mag mid stage sped things up a lot for me as well.

Dan also had a few stages that required 2 glassing locations, it was a fun twist compared to last year. Certain targets wouldn't be visible from the first location, so you would range and shoot from the first position, then move and have to search for targets from another position and engage. A lot of stages were shot Far to Near or Right to Left, which is opposite of what most NRL matches are I believe.

Vital zone stages were worth an extra point, but they were challenging. One of them had targets in the 1000-1150 yard range. I zeroed that stage

 

[SouthPaw]

How did the structure the target arrays then having the shooter find the targets on the clock? I’ve only shot two PRS matches on a square range and I can’t imagine how’d they prevent shooters from pre-scouting targets. I was thinking there could be a couple ways of evening the playing field. One would be there would only be one or two targets per stage that everyone could see in advance, but you’d only know your target once you started your stage. The other would be there are hundreds of targets on the range and then it’s a game of where’s Waldo + memory.

The match was located in hilly terrain with a good mix of open hillside and knolls of trees and brush to help keep targets less visible to those not shooting the specific stage. Shooters were generally staged on top of the hills away from the shooting locations, mostly preventing them from pre scouting targets or shooting positions. ROs parked trucks in between as well to provide additional cover. It is night and day different from a flat range.