SECTION 1, NRL ORGANIZATION AND RESPOSIBILITES

A. Executive Staff

NRL HUNTER SOUTH AFRICA is a private company, owned and operated in South Africa by Ben Richardson, who established the series in South Africa in 2021. The NRL HUNTER brand is owned and operated by Travis Ishida and his team from within the USA.

NRL Hunter South Africa will appoint executive staff whose responsibilities include day to day operations, media, match operations, logistics, marketing and finances. The executive staff  together with the director undertakes to prioritise safety, ethical hunting and sportsmanship between competitors. The Director will appoint the executive staff every season.

For the 2025 Season, the Executive staff will be as follows:

  • Ben Richardson - Director
  • Niel Bekker
  • Norbert Hellberg

Members of the executive staff  responsibilities include forming and adjusting the rules and regulations, planning the format of the season, ruling on disciplinary matters and inclusion of additional matches for the following year.

 

B. Advisors

The NRL Hunter has a group of Advisors consisting of the current season Match Directors and Shooters.  The only way to serve on the NRL Hunter Advisors is to be a Match Director in the current season, or by appointment of the Executive Staff. When the need to vote on an issue arises, each member is allowed one vote. The Director shall preside over any meetings and be responsible for moving the meeting along and presenting issues as they arise.

The advisors for Season 4 of NRL Hunter is:

  • Match Directors
    • Norbert Helberg
    • Niel Bekker
    • Richard Gowar
    • Hardus Botha
    • Christiaan Lötz
    • Tiaan Lötz
    • Tiaan Coen
    • Louis Cronje
  • NRLH SA advisory staff undertakes the following:

    1. Remain neutral in their decision making, thereby providing no potential benefit to one shooter over the other.
    2. As far as possible maintain a relaxed state of affairs at all matches, hereby ensuring that new shooters feel comfortable and welcome
    3. Value and consistency across the brand.
    4. As far as reasonably possible ensure that stages and formats are not repeated and thereby remove any potential unfair advantage to any individual, and in doing so maintain the integrity of the sport. 

SECTION 2, NRL HUNTER SERIES SAFETY

With an addition that the rifle will remain unloaded until the competitor is in the shooting area and is ready to engage the first target (this is a safety measure in order to reduce the threat of an AD or ND)

A. General Rifle Safety

  1. Always point your rifle in a safe direction. Never point a rifle at anything you don’t intend to kill or destroy.
  2. Always keep your rifle unloaded until ready to use. Treat all rifles as though they are loaded even if you believe otherwise.
  3. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire.
  4. Know your target and what is beyond.
  5. Always wear proper eye and ear protection and ensure others have the same before firing.
  6. Never use alcohol or drugs while shooting.
  7. Individual Range safety rules always supersede NRL HUNTER rules.

B. Rifle Safety While at an NRL HUNTER Match

  1. NRL HUNTER competitions are always cold ranges. All rifles are to be unloaded, with magazines out and bolts to the rearward position. Chamber flags are always to be utilized so that anyone can identify an unloaded rifle. The rifle may only be loaded, and chamber flag removed at the discretion of the Range Officer. Once the stage is complete, the magazine shall be removed, bolt in the rearward position and chamber flag inserted before the rifle is removed from the firing line.
  2. Only ground rifles in a proper rifle rack, or wherever the Range Officer designates as a safe location and direction.
  3. When moving to another shooting location, always ensure the rifle is pointed in a safe direction.

C. Rifle Safety During Your Stage

  1. Always wait for the Range Officers command of load and make ready until you remove your chamber flag and insert magazine.
  2. Stages always begin with magazine in and bolt to the rear unless specifically directed by the match booklet and the Range Officer.
  3. Any movement or transition must be done with the bolt to the rear and an empty chamber. The only exception to this rule will be with the use of semi-automatic rifles but only at the approval of the Match Director. If the MD allows this, the shooter must engage the safety, and yell safe loud enough for the RO to hear with ear protection.
  4. During movement, the 180 rule must always be adhered to. The 180 rule refers to only pointing the rifle within 90 degrees of straight forward. There may be stages when a Range Officer reduces the 180 rule even more. Always follow directions and be aware of where you are pointing your rifle.

D. Safety Violations and Penalties

  1. Violation of the cold range rule: Any shooter who has violated the cold range rule shall be issued a warning. A second violation will result in a stage zero. Next violation will result in a match DQ and removal from competition. This includes a live round in the chamber, magazine inserted, a closed bolt, or chamber flag not being used. The only violation that will be issued to having a live round in the chamber while not shooting shall be a match DQ.
  2. Muzzling and/or violating the 180 degree rule. Muzzling is pointing or sweeping another person’s body with the muzzle of a rifle while the rifle is in possession of a person. There will be no warnings of this unsafe act. If any shooter muzzles any other person, that action shall result in match DQ and removal from competition. It will be the duty of the RO to inform the MD of the infraction, and the MDs call to issue the match DQ. Flagging can only occur when the rifle is in hand. Walking in front of a rifle muzzle that is on the ground in the holding area does not constitute a safety violation. All efforts should be made to avoid flagging yourself even if the weapon is deemed “safe”
  3. Unsafe transitioning: Transitioning, or movement without having the bolt to the rear will result in the Range Officer having the shooter correct the situation, then move back to the previous firing position before resuming the course of fire. A second violation will result in a zero for the stage. A third will result in the shooter getting a match DQ and removal from competition. If the match allows for Semi-Automatic rifles to move with a closed bolt with the safety engaged, the same rule applies if the shooter does not either engage the safety and/or yell safe.
  4. Negligent Discharge (ND). A Negligent Discharge is defined as any round unintentionally discharged from a firearm during a transition, movement, and/or weapons manipulation; or a round intentionally discharged during a cease fire period. The competitor shall receive a match DQ and removal from competition.
  5. Accidental Discharge/Mechanical Failure (AD). An Accidental Discharge is defined as any round unintentionally discharged from a firearm due to a mechanical failure. The participant will be removed from the event until he or she can repair the rifle to safe working order. The shooter will receive a zero for that stage, and all follow up stages will be forfeited during this down time.
  6. False Starts: Firing before the start signal will result in a zero for the stage.
  7. If a Match Director judges a shooter to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during competition, the shooter will receive a match DQ and be removed from competition. The shooter will not be allowed to drive from the competition while still intoxicated.

E. Match safety briefing

The following shall be read prior to the start of the competition. This briefing will also be at the top of the rules for easy access.

A. Safety briefing

  1. Always point your rifle in a safe direction. Never point a rifle at anything you don’t intend to kill or destroy. Only ground your rifle where you are instructed to by a Range Officer. If your point your rifle at anyone else, you shall be disqualified.
  2. Always keep your rifle unloaded until ready to use. Only load the rifle when instructed to by a Range Officer. With the exception of when it is your turn to shoot, rifles are always cold at NRL HUNTER events.
  3. This means the magazine is out and bolt back with chamber flags inserted. Violation for breaking this rule will be a warning on the first offence. A second violation will be a stage disqualification. A third violation will be a match disqualification
  4. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire. If you have a negligent discharge, you will be disqualified. If you have an accidental discharge / mechanical failure, you will receive a zero for that stage and all follow up stages until the rifle is repaired.
  5. In the event of an emergency, the Range Officer shall immediately declare cease fire which will be echoed down the firing line. The Range Officer shall then size up the situation and relay by radio the situation to the Match Director. 
  6. Is there any questions?

SECTION 3, NRL HUNTER MATCH FORMAT

A. NRL Hunter’s Responsibilities

  1. The NRL HUNTER will provide an NRL HUNTER Executive staff member for assistance in administration of the match. This role is subservient to the Match Director and can be utilized in any capacity that the Match Director needs. Further, the Match Director should utilize the Staff member as a witness anytime he or she needs to make a punitive action.
  2. Provide media support through web sites.
  3. Provide optional logistical support to include t-shirts (where possible), printing match booklets, trophies, and a sign up and match fee collection web site. These services are optional and designed to ease the burden of administering the match and to create buying power through volume. All service costs will be transparent.
  4. Shop for and promote sponsors through media efforts. Equally distribute sponsors products to all NRL HUNTER matches and Championship match.

B. Shooters Responsibilities

  1. Shooters should always treat Match Directors and Range Officers with respect. From time to time, disagreements arise between shooters and match officials. This is fine, so long as mutual respect and calm communication occurs. The Match Directors ruling is always final.
  2. Shooters in the Precision Rifle discipline are regarded as the most professional and highly educated in any discipline. All participants in NRL HUNTER matches are looked upon as Safety Officers. Any participant that witnesses an unsafe act is to call for a cease fire and stop the unsafe act. The participant should then inform the closest Range Officer of the act.
  3. It is the shooters responsibility to know the NRL HUNTER Rules and Regulations prior to a competition.
  4. Shooters should actively participate in any stage briefing to move the shoot along smoothly.
  5. Shooters shall understand that at the beginning of the stage, when asked by the Range Officer “Shooter do you understand the course of fire?” If they give an affirmative answer, that will be their last opportunity to get clarification. Because of this, arguments that they did not understand anything about the stage, or its targets are invalid.
  6. Sponsors are very important to the NRL HUNTER Series. It is encouraged that the shooter writes emails thanking the sponsors that supported the competition.
  7. If a shooter finishes high enough (first to third place) to receive a check from the NRL HUNTER, the shooter must be a member before the event starts to be awarded the check.

C. Match Directors Responsibilities

  1. Match Directors are responsible for the overall direction of a match. He or she is the person in charge at that event.
  2. Match Directors also serve on the team of Advisors for the NRL HUNTER Series.
  3. Match Directors shall provide enough Range Officers to ensure administration of the match is top quality. It is encouraged that at least 1 Range Officer be provided per stage. Match Directors are responsible for utilizing enough spotters, reactive targets, and/or electronic flashers when putting targets at longer ranges.
  4. Match Directors must have a scoring system that allows for quick tabulation of points and must allow shooters to see their scores after the stage. Using a system that makes the shooter sign or acknowledge their score is encouraged. If utilizing paper scoring, rain should be accounted for. If using electronic scoring, failure of equipment and battery life should be accounted for and paper backup should be available.
  5. Match Directors must utilize targets that ensure a quality, challenging course of fire. It is the goal of the NRL HUNTER Series to ensure that Match Directors maintain the ability to be creative in their design.
  6. Match Directors shall provide a 20-minute arbitration period for shooters to review scores and issue grievances if necessary. Once the arbitration period is complete, scores are then final. At no time and for no reason will scores or results be altered after this period. If individuals come forward any time after the arbitration period has ended, the reasons will be noted and followed up with the Match Director, but scores, placements, prizes and checks will not be recalled.
  7. Match Directors must provide match scores within 3 days of the completion of their match to the NRL HUNTER executive team. Included in the scores will be one shooter who stood out to the Match Director as a good sportsman, names of any poor sportsmen, and any individual found to have cheated.
  8. Sponsors are very important to the NRL HUNTER Series. Match Directors are encouraged to pass along a source to all competitors after the competition with the ability to reach the sponsor company. 
  9. Match Directors shall be members of the NRL HUNTER Series at the time registration opens for their match.

D. Range Officers Responsibilities

  1. Range Officers are any person assisting in running a competition, not including the Match Director. They can be the person running a stage, a spotter, the sign in person, or anyone that the Match Director acknowledged, as working the match.
  2. Range Officers should understand all Rules and Regulations prior to the start of the competition to ensure the safety off all participants. Any Range Officer witnessing unsafe acts shall call cease fire and correct the unsafe act as soon as possible.
  3. Range Officers that are running a stage shall have complete knowledge of the stage that they are responsible for. Once the stage begins, the Range Officer shall run every shooter though that stage as close to the same as humanly possible. Match Directors shall ensure that Range Officers utilize standard commands at their competition. (Encouraged standard commands are as follows. “Shooter do you understand the course of fire?” If no questions are asked, then “Shooter clear to load and make ready”. Once the shooter makes his or her rifle ready, “Shooter Ready?” Once an affirmative is obtained, the start tone should follow.
  4. Range Officers that are serving as spotters are responsible for calling hits or misses. Utilization of standard calls is encouraged. Standard calls are “impact” or “impact left target” or “reengage”. Spotters should use loud clear voices when calling stages. Calling corrections during the stage is not allowed but encouraged AFTER the stage is complete.
  5. Anytime a Range Officer is not able to settle a grievance presented by a shooter, he or she shall request the Match Director to make the final judgment.
  6. The role of Range Officer is essential to the competition and the NRL HUNTER community.

E. Specific Competition Rules

  1. A NRLH competition shall consist of at least 8 individual stages. Having a sight in period is mandatory and having at least a few targets out at distance is encouraged.
  2. Scoring will be 2/1 dead target scoring. 1st round hit is worth 2 points, 2nd round hit is worth 1 point. 
  3. Once the target is hit, the target is neutralized.
  4. For example: A competitor hits the first target with their 1st shot, they will get 2 points, and move on to the next target or position. The competitor misses the 1st shot but connects with the 2nd attempt, they get 1 point and will move on to the next target. If the competitor misses both the 1st and 2nd shot, they will move to the next target with no points.
  5. It is understood that many ranges operate for profit and shutting a range down is not possible. Also, that train ups assist in profits for the range. Therefore, shooting at the range prior to a competition is allowed. Shooting on the ranges props is also allowed. However, shooting specific stages before the competition must not be allowed for any reason. For these reasons, it is important that the Match Director be involved or at least has knowledge of events taking place at the range prior to his or her competition so having common stages and /or course of fire does not occur.
  6. No competitor may be allowed to assist in forming the stages or course of fire.
  7. If there is a tiebreaker stage at the match. The tiebreaker stage will be designated as such in the shooter booklet. The tiebreaker will go off of the shooters score on that stage first, and time to the hundredths of a second if the stage score is the same. If the shooter does not fire all of the rounds in the course of fire the time will be based off of the last shot fired. In the rare event that both score and time are the same, the Match Director shall have the shooters repeat the tie breaker until the tie is broken. 
  8. Competitors must carry all equipment through the entire course of fire and must take all gear with them to the observation box, witch signals the start of the stage.
  9. The match will consist of Blind Stages. 
  10. Stage briefings will be available in each staging area. All the relevant information will be available for competitors to read, including the number of targets, number of positions along with a visual reference of what targets competitors will be engaging.
  11. The stage RO will call the shooter to the holding area where the shooter will be allowed to prepare his rifle (insert mag or ammo, bolt open, muzzle in a safe direction?
  12. When completed the RO will ask the shooter if he or she understands the COF after which the shooters time will be started.
  13. No distances,  will be provided unless a shooter is competing in the ELEMENTAL Division
  14. Hunters and RO's who are assisting Skills or Elemental division hunters, on the clock, will talk in a low voice when giving wind calls, target locations and corrections. Any “communications” that are intended to aid hunters in the holding area will result in notification of the match director and punitive action.
  15. Shooters are not allowed to discuss the layout of stages, ranges or any other aspect of the match with any individual other than the MD or RO during a match. This includes discussions off-site during the evening between days. Doing so and sharing information either verbally or electronically with other shooters will be regarded as cheating and will result in a Match Disqualification.
  16. Competitors will be required to find, range, and engage all targets on the clock as an individual as per the stage briefing and specific competition rules. 
  17. All competitors must start in the observation box and identify their targets and distances from the box. Once completed they may move to the indicated shooting position. Shooters may proceed back to the observation box if they need to reacquire a target.
  18. Competitors will be put on the clock, with all gear in the carry position, pack on the back, rifle may be carried by hand.
  19. Binoculars may be carried by hand.
  20. Tripods, if used must be carried in the stowed and collapsed position.
  21. Time Limit.
    • Competitors will have 4 minutes of time to complete each stage which should be plenty if they are organized and have practiced their priorities of work. Each stage will have 1,2 or 4 targets.
    • Hunters competing in the SKILLS category will have 2 minutes to engage the targets on each stage.
    • Shots taken up to .25 seconds after the clock are still eligible for points.
  22. Shooting Areas and Positions
    • Each shooting area will be large enough to allow the appropriate shooting positions for the distance of the target.
    • If there are multiple positions, the positions may be selected by the competitor, while on the clock.
    • Any position can be selected within the designated shooting box, but not forward of the shooting area designation marker. A new position can be prone, sitting, kneeling, or standing using any natural terrain, or any of the shooter’s equipment. Any new position must be at least one arms distance from the previous position.
    • Expect Realistic use of terrain, trees, rocks and prone (there will not be any circus stages.
  23. Targets.
    • The initial target in any array will have a bright hunters orange or yellow A4 or larger placard within a 5 meter radius of target 1.
    • An aiming aid like a stick or piece of PVC tube pointed at the target array will aide in guiding the shooter onto the correct target array.
    • Targets will be mostly engages from near to far or from left to right just to keep it simple, however this can alter from MD to MD, so ensure you listen to the stage briefing.
    • The goal is to have targets animal themed for the area and a recommended size would be the vital size for the themed animal. 18”x12” for a mule deer as an example. Which is the usable vital zone size for a large mule deer. Observation posts will assist the shooter in finding his targets.
  24. Distances. 
    • Expect distances from 100 to 800 Meters.
    • Targets will not be hidden or too difficult to find. Some observation skills will be required.

SECTION 4, DIVISIONS, SCORING, AND CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION

Divisions - Season 3

OPEN HEAVY 

Any Manually operated rifle with a maximum weight not exceeding 7.25kg. 

  • No restrictions on gear, equipment attached, build, or configuration, as long as it is under the prescribed weigh (7.25kg) t for this class 
  • Minimum Power Factor (PF) is 380,000 (2.5% variation allowance for external factors)
  • The Bullet Weight in (gr) multiplied by Muzzle Velocity in (fps).
  • For example, 143 gr @ 2670 fps = 381,810 and makes the minimum. Even with a Muzzle Velocity maximum of 3275 fps a 6mm firing a 115gr bullet will not be able to make the minimum PF.
  • Trophies will be awarded to the Top Hunters at each match.
  • Hunters in OPEN HEAVY scores will count towards the season log.

OPEN MINOR

Any Manually operated rifle with NO restriction on weight and NO restriction on caliber. 

  • Example - 223 Rem, 243, 6mm CM, Any rifle exceeding 7.25kg

  • No restrictions on gear, equipment attached, build, or configuration, as long as it is under the prescribed weight for this class (* Please see addendum #1 below)
  • Minimum Power Factor (PF) of 380,000 is NOT applicable.
  • Trophies will be awarded to the Top Hunters at each match.
  • Hunters in OPEN MINOR scores will count towards the season log.

SKILLS (Season 4 Changes)

Any Manually operated rifle with NO restriction on weight and NO restriction on caliber. 

  • Designed for the novice shooter or first time competitor. 
  • If a shooter enters a competition under the SKILLS Division, he or she will be partnered with an experienced shooter for the entire course of fire. 
  • The shooter will be assisted by his shooting partner during each stage who will provide assistance in terms of scanning, ranging, position building and shot corrections.
  • IN ESSENCE - You get an experienced coach for the day along with 1 on 1 assistance.

ELEMENTAL 

Any Manually operated rifle with NO restriction on weight and NO restriction on caliber. 

  • Designed for the more competent shooter who does not want to invest in expensive gear.
  • A tripod or similar observation platform will be provided on each stage.
  • The Hunter will be briefed as normal, however once the hunter's time starts, he will be provided with a range target card. Negating the need for a Range Finder
  • Hunters therefore only require a rifle and a pair of normal binoculars
  • Hunters will compete individually and may not share any data with another shooter.

Seniors Division - is for a competitor who is 55 years of age or older. If a competitor turns 55 in the middel of a season. He or She may compete as a senior in the entire season should they choose. Seniors may abide by Open Heavy, Open Minor, Skills or Elemental Division rules.

Ladies Classification - is for a competitor who is female. Ladies may abide by Open Heavy, Open Minor, Skills or Elemental Division rules.

Young Guns Classification - is for the youth competitor between the ages of 8-16 years of age, and the youth competitor may abide by Open Heavy, Open Minor, Skills or Elemental Division rules.

Age requirement is allowable as soon as a child turns 8, and no older than 16 at the time of the first match of the season. A parent or guardian must be present with the shooter, who will take responsibility for the actions of the Young Gun. Young Guns must be able to operate their firearm safely by themselves with no hands-on assistance from the parent or guardian. However, verbal coaching is acceptable and encouraged.

****Please refer to addendum 1 on page 17****

B. Equipment

  • The only gear restrictions are within the Weight of the rifle, and Minimum Power Factor.
  • Weight of the rifle is with all equipment attached. A Rifle consists of barrel, trigger, action, stock, scope, sling and any permanent or semi-permanent accessory that the shooter will commonly make use of to make long range shots with which includes but are not limited to bipods, sling, bubble level, dope cards, cosine indicators or ammo storage devices. Rifles may be weighed randomly at any time by R/O, MDs or NRL Staff. Tripods are most commonly used for observation but may be used during the stage and will not count against the weight of the rifle.      
  • All Tripods must be deployed from the complete "stowed" position on time, with the exception of the Match Director making a concession. All Shooters may use the ARCA attachment or HOG Type saddle to attach their rifles to the tripod during a stage if they choose. 
  • "TAC Plates" if used on a tripod may not be removed from the tripod and attached to a rifle during a stage or the match, unless it was included in the weigh in.
  • Any other gear or equipment attached to the rifle at any stage in the match must be included in the rifle weight. 
  • If a competitor disregards this rule or re-attaches any gear excluded from his weigh in sheet, he will receive a stage zero or possible Match DQ.
  • The Tripod must be in the collapsed or stowed position or in the shooters backpack prior to the beginning of the stage, unless otherwise briefed by the Match Director 
  • Ammo and external magazines are not included in the weight. Any electronics like triggercam, go pro's ect will also be excluded from the weight calculation. MD’s will provide wristband colors or some form of indication that indicate the class in which the shooter is competing.

C. Scoring

  1. Match points may only be obtained by NRLSA members. If a competitor is not a member, they have 7 days after the match event to obtain membership and the points be counted.
  2. Match points will be acquired by shooting any of the sanctioned NRL South Africa Hunter competitions.
  3. Scores shall be awarded by a combination of percentage and placement for a total possible score of 100.
    • Percentage is described as follows: The match’s winner will be awarded 100 points. Other match points will be based off of the percentage of the winning shooter. (For example, if the winning shooter scores 175 points, and the second placed shooter scores 163 you would divide 163 by 175 to end up with 93.14 points. 
    • Placement (not applicable to SA) is described as follows: The match winner will be awarded 100 points. All others will be awarded points in relation to the number of shooters at the match and the placement of the shooter. (For example, if the shoot has 100 attendees and the shooter finishes in 4th place, the shooter would earn 96 points)
    • In the above examples if that shooter obtained 93.14% of the winner’s score at a 100 person shoot in which he or she finished 4th, the score would be 189.14. This score will then be divided by 2 for the final score of 94.57
  4. Once a competitor has begun the COF all points acquired will be maintained regardless of shooter status at the conclusion of the match.

D. Championship Qualification

  1. Hunters may compete in as many competitions as they like. However, only the competitors best two (2) single best match scores will count towards the season point’s race and Championship qualification.
  2. Season points will be tallied by the NRL HUNTER Series and displayed on the NRLSA website. Rankings will be determined by the best score.
  3. At the end of the season, the top 3 competitors on the log will be invited to partake at the NRLH Championship Match in the USA. Please note in order for a shooter to be eligible for consideration the competitors must comply 100% with the rules as set out in the divisions in section 4 above regarding Power Factor and Weight.
  4. All Championship competitors must be NRLSA members. 
  5. The management of NRLSA may at their own discretion provide invitations to South African Shooters

E. Championship Match and Scoring

  • The NRL HUNTER Series will be responsible for conducting a Championship match at the end of the season. Championship match points will be calculated as any other match as a percentage of 100%
  • The Season Champion and the rest of the overall rankings will be determined as follows:
    • Competitors Season Score 40%
    • Championship Match Score 60%
  • Competitors will be recognized and walk the prize table according to that combined division and score.
  • Open Heavy and will be eligible to walk the prize table in sequence of final positions on the log.
  • Based on performance Open Minor may also walk the prize table.

SECTION 5, NRL SPORTSMANSHIP

A. Good Sportsmanship

  1. Good Sportsmanship is one of the founding principles of the NRL HUNTER Series and is highly regarded by the NRLH as a whole. Good sportsmanship helps grow the sport, creates positive role models, and is impressive to the sponsors. It is not something that can be quantified but is easy to recognize by all participants.
  2. The NRLH will have a special recognition presented to a shooter at the GRAND SLAM Championship match whom the NRL HUNTER Advisors Board votes as deserving.

B. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct is taken very seriously by the NRLH.
  2. Examples of bad sportsmanship include cheating, treating participants or range staff with disrespect, lying, unwarranted complaining, throwing tantrums, or being unpleasant.

C. Cheating

  1. The NRLH defines cheating as: acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage in competition. Examples of cheating are:
    • Sabotaging another competitor’s equipment.
    • Changing pre-approved equipment in the middle of the match.
    • Scouting targets when it is not your turn to compete.
    • Discussing stages, targets or distances with other competitors between the beginning and completion of the course of fire. This includes off-site discussions during the evening between days.
    • Assisting in writing any course of fire or obtaining the course of fire prior to the match.
    • Exceeding the velocity of 3275 FPS 
    • Altering or destruction of score sheets.
    • Any other act as deemed unfair/cheating by a Range Officer or Match Director.
    • Disturbing another competitor while shooting

D. Penalties for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Cheating

  1. Any shooter whom is deemed as acting in an unsportsmanlike fashion or accused of cheating will be subject to a disciplinary investigation by a committee.
  2. The committee shall consist of the MD, the current Chairman of the NRL or if not available a sitting member of the EXCO, the shooter in question and a shooters representative, which has to be a fellow shooter.
  3. Subject to the disciplinary hearing depending on the seriousness of the incident, the shooter in question can be penalized in any of the following manners which includes a warning; stage DQ; stage zero; match DQ; being removed from competition. If a shooter is removed from a competition he or she will receive zero match points.
  4. As far as reasonably possible the committee must try and resolve any disciplinary issues there and then unless the situation does not allow for it. Failing that the issue has to be resolved within 7 days of the match.
  5. Any shooter whom is deemed as acting in an unsportsmanlike fashion or accused of cheating will be subject to a disciplinary investigation by a committee.
  6. The committee shall consist of the MD, the current Chairman of the NRL or if not available a sitting member of the EXCO, the shooter in question and a shooters representative, which has to be a fellow shooter.
  7. Subject to the disciplinary hearing depending on the seriousness of the incident, the shooter in question can be penalized in any of the following manners which includes a warning; stage DQ; stage zero; match DQ; being removed from competition. If a shooter is removed from a competition he or she will receive zero match points.
  8. As far as reasonably possible the committee must try and resolve any disciplinary issues there and then unless the situation does not allow for it. Failing that the issue has to be resolved within 7 days of the match.

E. Reports to the Board of Advisors

  1. Upon completion of an NRLH competition, the Match Director shall issue a report to his or her fellow Board of Advisors which will include scores, who was the standout sportsman, and who if any shooters showed unsportsmanlike conduct or cheated along with any other pertinent information.
  2. If any shooter was deemed as displaying unsportsmanlike conduct, the fellow Board of Advisors will be informed and can choose if they will allow that shooter into their shoots. The Director of Match Operations will inform these competitor(s) of the report by a phone call.
  3. If any shooter was deemed as cheating, the Board of Advisors will conduct a vote in which it will be determined the discipline of the competitor. Regardless of the decision, the Director of Match Operations will inform that competitor(s) of the Boards decision by phone call.

ADDENDUM

1. Section 4A – POWER FACTOR and RIFLE WEIGHT (07/07/2024)

For the NRLHSA matches taking place across South Africa, bearing in mind the current difficulties, challenges and extreme delays shooters face with the Central Firearms Register and South African Police Services along with component shortages:

 NRL Hunter SA will consist of 4 divisions for the 2025 season

  • Note - Shooters must understand the concept behind NRL Hunter is to promote hunting in a real-world environment where shooters make use of calibers that have enough energy to ethically take down an animal at the distance the shooter is comfortable with. Therefore, the Power Factor is designed not to limit the shooter, but to make them grow accustomed to their rifle setup in a hunting scenario, to become a better hunter.