July 22nd, 2021
A variety of new field-style marksmanship contests have been created in response to the popularity of PRS shooting. These events combine hiking and rangefinding with shooting from improvised positions. The Hunter Games is the newest outdoor rifle competition in North America. It is a 3-Day event sponsored and organized by SIG Sauer, an optics- and gun-maker. The course was held on a private Wyoming ranch and covered a wide range of terrain and elevations. There were flats, rivers and high ridges. This was not a “lay down-and-shoot” rifle match.
Competitors had the challenge of navigating difficult terrain from one stage to another. There were many creek crossings and more than 1000 feet elevation on one stage during the event. The contestants were given only 30 minutes to travel between stages.
True Pearce, Editor at GunsAmerica Digest, and Hunt365, attended Hunter Games and shot many of 22 difficult stages, filling in for injured competitors. Pearce said: “The stages were designed for blind hunting scenarios where contestants had only fifteen minutes to find the targets and range them, determine a shooting position… and make their shots.” The targets were steel plates that were sized and shaped to match the vital zones of game animals. These plates were placed in front a life-sized illustration, but only hits on the plates mattered.
There were ten teams at the SIG SAUER Hunter Games’ first ever edition. Each team was made up of a professional hunter and two invited celebrities. A Range Officer kept track and enforced rules. The RO carried an extra rifle, radio and first aid kit.
This was a very different approach to a normal shooting match, where competitors sign up. SIG Sauer invited all the “celebrity” competitors, who provided SIG Cross Rifles and SIG optics as well as SIG hunting ammunition. We like the idea that everyone shoots the same rifles and ammunition in a hunting-focused match.
GunsAmerica publication Hunt365 has a long companion article that covers the gear used in the Hunter Games. Click HERE to read True Pearce’s review on the SIG Cross rifle and SIG Scopes.
Team Ramshorn won the first-ever SIG SAUER Hunter Games: Trent Fisher, Scotty Lego, and Justin Rackley. Each team member also won a SIG Legion Custom Works pistol P320 AXG.
True Pearce observed the unique outdoor event brought people together. “Complete strangers became lifetime friends” — Many contestants had never met and were from very different backgrounds. The camaraderie was amazing after two days of ‘hunting’ together. I am certain many lifelong friendships were formed. “Similar Posts”
Tags: Hunt365. Hunter Game. MTM Targets. Sig Sauer. True Pearce. Wyoming Ranch.
