Dedicated NRL Hunter Forum?

[Kurts86]

Still wish there was an “I actually hunt with this gun (and not from a blind)” class. Not sure how you would enforce it, but something to try and embrace the “Hunter” component versus gamer guns.

I hunt with my open light gun identical to how it is run in NRL hunter at 11.5 lbs on spot and stalk hunts out west. It’s a 7 lb rifle without a scope, bipod and suppressor. The only compromises I would make on some hunts would be to switch from a Cykepod to a Mountain bipod for 1-1.5 lbs weight savings on true backpack hunts. Most of the time I’ll take the speed and versatility of a heavier bipod because of how I can build positions.

My open light gun is still quite manageable to carry and in no way behaves like my 20 lb PRS rifle setup both from carry/recoil impulse perspectives. It requires a weight conscious decisions to build an open light gun with true long range components

Some of the gaming of NRL hunter drives me a bit nuts but this is omnipresent throughout shooting competition. It does drive innovation ultimately in gear optimization. NRL hunter is still much more filled with competitive shooters shifting disciples from PRS/Highpower/F class than serious hunters trying to get better at shooting.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Some of the gaming of NRL hunter drives me a bit nuts but this is omnipresent throughout shooting competition. It does drive innovation ultimately in gear optimization. NRL hunter is still much more filled with competitive shooters shifting disciples from PRS/Highpower/F class than serious hunters trying to get better at shooting.

I enjoy the game and think it can be hugely beneficial to hunters to use to develop skills, but you have to go into it knowing that you are the only person you are competing against and to ignore the gamers. Gamers are going to game; it's a competition after all.

I've been trying to convince my brother in law and a couple of buddies to come shoot one with me for the past several years. Finally went by myself last year but am still on them for this year. It's just hard to convince them to spend the time and money it takes to shoot a 2 day match they pretty well know they are going to suck at.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Still wish there was an “I actually hunt with this gun (and not from a blind)” class. Not sure how you would enforce it, but something to try and embrace the “Hunter” component versus gamer guns.

I've thought about this some too. I haven't really come up with a solution, and I appreciate folks are just going to game the rules no matter what the rules are because it's a game. But, my thought was a 10 pound weight limit and to disqualify tripods from the "mountain light" division. I know folks (myself included) carry tripods when hunting, though, and plenty of folks are carrying heavier rifles, so it would be kinda arbitrary. The only other thought I had was to impose weight limits on everything---rifle, bags, and tripods---to try and force folks to use lightweight bipods and tripods and lighter fill bags.

But at the end of the day, there is nothing stopping someone from showing up and shooting Skills with what they actually hunt with other than want-to. I don't think you can legislate want-to with rules.

 

[wind gypsy]

It's just hard to convince them to spend the time and money it takes to shoot a 2 day match they pretty well know they are going to suck at.

Needing a full weekend plus Friday off work is the biggest killer of most matches for me.

 

[ID_Matt]

Needing a full weekend plus Friday off work is the biggest killer of most matches for me.

The idaho directors have changed to saturday morning check in which is sure nice. Always frustrating when you have to take a friday off just to go spend 30 minutes checking in.

I've thought about this some too. I haven't really come up with a solution, and I appreciate folks are just going to game the rules no matter what the rules are because it's a game. But, my thought was a 10 pound weight limit and to disqualify tripods from the "mountain light" division. I know folks (myself included) carry tripods when hunting, though, and plenty of folks are carrying heavier rifles, so it would be kinda arbitrary. The only other thought I had was to impose weight limits on everything---rifle, bags, and tripods---to try and force folks to use lightweight bipods and tripods and lighter fill bags.

But at the end of the day, there is nothing stopping someone from showing up and shooting Skills with what they actually hunt with other than want-to. I don't think you can legislate want-to with rules.

The match in Laramie last year did a "backpacker" division that was based on total pack weight and gun. Seems it forced a lot to ditch the sand bags and heavy tripods for mid weight tripods and ultra light support bags.

 

[Pilsner]

I dunno, call it Factory Lite or something. You don't have to shoot it

It would be a crime if they did make that division and didn't call it the Fudd Lite division.