Ultimate-Hunter

[Bluumoon]

New competition? Similar to what I’ve set up a personal course for, terrain looks way cooler than what I’m working with though and not far from home.

Some things I would change of course, but this appeals to me more than NRL. Time factor scoring, less focus on finding targets vs setting up and shooting.

Demonstration videos appear to lean heavy on positions catering to prone/bipod positions. I’d venture that’s not representative of what actual courses will look like though, well hopefully not.

@Formidilosus, seems similar to what you suggested for scoring anyway.

 

[Tmac]

Off a quick review, that actually looks like it would good practice.

 

[Bluumoon]

Looking further into it sounds like limited stations up front (5?), if you get all first round hits could be less than a box of ammo.

I think they’ll need to step up shot opportunities if they want to draw people in from outside the immediate area.

No suppressors r/t shot timers not picking them up, not a deal breaker, but muzzle brakes galore. Ewww, poor ROs.

 

[BLJ]

Ultimate Hunter Shooting Sports – The shooting sports by hunters, for hunters

ultimate-hunter.com

Is this it?

 

[Bluumoon]

Ultimate Hunter Shooting Sports – The shooting sports by hunters, for hunters

ultimate-hunter.com

Is this it?

Yes

 

[sveltri]

I shot most of the matches last year beginning in March. They are a lot of fun and provide plenty of opportunity to make mistakes and provide "under pressure" practice. Most of the guys rely heavily on a bipod, not necessarily prone. I hate not being able to shoot suppressed but really appreciate the lack of a gear race they created. When I looked through my scope when it was time to shoot my ram this year I had never felt so present and prepared for any shot I've ever taken at game. I attribute that the Ultimate Hunter competitions and a ton more trigger time leading up to the hunt. It's about a 4 hr one way trip for me and I make every one I can. The cost is $25 per match for the monthly matches, if you can make it out to one its worth trying out.

 

[Megalodon]

Don't say anything bad about this competition or Frank Galli will get super mad.

I hear the argument that this competition does away with the gear race... but it also artificially limits advancement of hunting tactics.

No shooting from a tripod? No specifically designed support bags? IDK where y'all hunt, but it's been few and far between that I've been able to cozy up prone and shoot an animal off a bipod.

 

[sveltri]

Don't say anything bad about this competition or Frank Galli will get super mad.

I hear the argument that this competition does away with the gear race... but it also artificially limits advancement of hunting tactics.

No shooting from a tripod? No specifically designed support bags? IDK where y'all hunt, but it's been few and far between that I've been able to cozy up prone and shoot an animal off a bipod.

I think you'd be surprised how "cozy" you can get with a bipod/no rear bag. The furthest shot distances are only 500 yds. You can use rear support, but it has to something that can be dual purposed like a rolled up coat, game bags, bino harness, etc.

 

[Bluumoon]

Don't say anything bad about this competition or Frank Galli will get super mad.

I hear the argument that this competition does away with the gear race... but it also artificially limits advancement of hunting tactics.

No shooting from a tripod? No specifically designed support bags? IDK where y'all hunt, but it's been few and far between that I've been able to cozy up prone and shoot an animal off a bipod.

Overall, I think it's a huge step in the right direction, their stated goal is to keep things to what most guys are carrying in the field currently and can in fact show up with what they have and compete. I don't carry a bipod, so as long as the stages aren't designed to force use of one I'm game. I do carry a tripod and it was the only good option from where I was shooting this last year, but I bet 80% of western hunters don't carry one set up for shooting.

 

[Bluumoon]

I think you'd be surprised how "cozy" you can get with a bipod/no rear bag. The furthest shot distances are only 500 yds. You can use rear support, but it has to something that can be dual purposed like a rolled up coat, game bags, bino harness, etc.

I was curious about game bags inside pullouts for front and or rear rests. Shooting off a backpack out to 500 on those size plates would be my game.

 

[WKR]

No suppressors= no Bueno
Everything else looks good though.

 

[Bluumoon]

No suppressors= no Bueno
Everything else looks good though.

Looking at their previous match scores, no one is really that tight in times/scores, seems like a couple stopwatches would solve this (I'd even have a phone set up filming, just to be able to double check times if needed), ditch the shot timers. People might get hinky though if things were close.

 

[TxLite]

No suppressors= no Bueno
Everything else looks good though.

So dumb. Get a better shot timer if that is the concern. Way too many hunters out there shooting suppressed to not allow suppressors for a hunting style match. I haven’t shot unsuppressed in years and have no intentions to start now

 

[WKR]

Looking at their previous match scores, no one is really that tight in times/scores, seems like a couple stopwatches would solve this (I'd even have a phone set up filming, just to be able to double check times if needed), ditch the shot timers. People might get hinky though if things were close.

There has to be a better way, then to just exclude suppressors. I understand that time is a key component to their scoring criteria, but prohibiting suppressor use is also going to turn people like me away.

So dumb. Get a better shot timer if that is the concern. Way too many hunters out there shooting suppressed to not allow suppressors for a hunting style match. I haven’t shot unsuppressed in years and have no intentions to start now

Agreed, I guess they are saying the better shot timers are too sensitive and pic up errant noises.
Personally, I wouldn't shoot one of their matches because of that rule. But maybe I'm in the minority.
Like you, I avoid shooting center-fire rifles unsuppressed like the plague.
Brakes and concussive blast are a thing of the past for me.

 

[Megalodon]

Let me say it differently. I have yet to shoot an animal prone off a bipod. I'm more than familiar with improvised shooting positions and rolling shit up to put under a gun.

I now carry a compact tripod and a lightweight fill shooting bag with me hunting now. That technology is absolutely driven by matches like NRL Hunter that allow it to be used. Ultimate Hunter allows you to use a tripod for spotting and ranging, but not shooting?? Someone explain how that makes sense.


I think this match is a good idea, but executed poorly. I think NRLH has probably gone a bit too far to the gamer side, but really at the end of the day "gear races" drive innovation. The rules for this match just feel like chest thumping bravado by guys who couldn't keep up with the podium but are now saying they are more macho because they don't need all the gear. When in reality the gear is becoming realistic to carry into the field and would help them become better hunters.

 

[BLJ]

Another one that won’t make it to the east coast. Awesome.

 

[BLJ]

So max distance for rimfire is 100 yards? And they’re 6” diamonds? Am I reading this right?

 

[sveltri]

Let me say it differently. I have yet to shoot an animal prone off a bipod. I'm more than familiar with improvised shooting positions and rolling shit up to put under a gun.

I now carry a compact tripod and a lightweight fill shooting bag with me hunting now. That technology is absolutely driven by matches like NRL Hunter that allow it to be used. Ultimate Hunter allows you to use a tripod for spotting and ranging, but not shooting?? Someone explain how that makes sense.


I think this match is a good idea, but executed poorly. I think NRLH has probably gone a bit too far to the gamer side, but really at the end of the day "gear races" drive innovation. The rules for this match just feel like chest thumping bravado by guys who couldn't keep up with the podium but are now saying they are more macho because they don't need all the gear. When in reality the gear is becoming realistic to carry into the field and would help them become better hunters.

You do not have to have a bipod, one stage last month I unclipped my coat from my pack half assed balled it up and placed it on the rock as a front rest. Every shot is setup such that you really only need a pack to shoot off of. I have not seen anyone range/spot with a tripod at a comp, it would be a hinderance as everything you come to the start line with has to be inside the boundaries established for each shot location. No one there is chest thumping because of the lack of use of certain gear items, everyone is actually pretty cool. I too carry a similar setup to yours while hunting, when I dropped my pack for the final stalk this year I only had my gun and binos. I was able to shoot off a tree branch without issue. I do believe we are becoming highly dependant on gear in the field and its fun to go out and see that you don't need it for the distances shot at these matches. I get the apprehension, but you should really try it before determining you don't like it.

 

[Bluumoon]

I like the idea of bring what you hunt with, you can cheat the spirit of it, but would only be cheating yourself. The larger vital size targets mean speed>precision usually, but I'd bet guys can get really fast at setting up tripods even from collapsed strapped to a pack. Too heavy of a gun or setup, we can make you pay with hiking off trail carrying all you stuff for the day and shooting off hand.

They allow hiking poles for hiking/shooting aids?

 

[sveltri]

I like the idea of bring what you hunt with, you can cheat the spirit of it, but would only be cheating yourself. The larger vital size targets mean speed>precision usually, but I'd bet guys can get really fast at setting up tripods even from collapsed strapped to a pack. Too heavy of a gun or setup, we can make you pay with hiking off trail carrying all you stuff for the day and shooting off hand.

They allow hiking poles for hiking/shooting aids?

I believe so, but I assume they'd have to be compressed/broke down at the start.