Alaska NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge
State Championship - June 4-6, 2021 (Fri-Sun)
COVID-19 Announcement related to the Alaska YHEC: UPDATE APRIL 20, 2020, 8:30 PM: AIM-COMM's Alaska NRA YHEC committee met, via teleconference, this evening, to discuss this year's planned Alaska NRA YHEC State Championship, which was scheduled for June 5-7, 2020. The committee has, in light of the COVID-19 public health situation, decided to cancel this year's (2020) YHEC and to focus efforts on next year's event which is scheduled for June 4-6, 2021. We are disappointed to not be moving forward with volunteer efforts to conduct YHEC this year but believe the decision is the prudent one to make, especially considering large gatherings, like YHEC, will likely not be permitted six weeks from now, when YHEC was scheduled. Thank you for your understanding. We will be communicating with those already registered to discuss rollover or refund of registration fees and we are discussing ways to involve youth, who may be "aging out" of YHEC eligibility this year, with next year's YHEC. Please feel free to email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any Alaska YHEC related questions or to let us know if you wish to help with next year's event. This event is all about hunting, wildlife conservation, the safe and responsible participation in the shooting sports and most importantly, about our youth and the future. Thank you all for your support. Alaska Interior Marksmanship Committee
YHEC IS FOR KIDS! (under age 19, or 19 and enrolled in high school for part of the year) who have completed Basic Hunter Education. Youth often compete as part of a team of five (plus one adult coach), but compete as individuals, as well. There are two age categories, Junior (ages 14 and younger) and Senior (ages 15-19).
Fun, friendly, competition with eight challenge events (four shooting and four hunter responsibility) related to hunter education! Lunch (on Saturday), BBQ lunch on Sunday, Awards, and participation certificate included.
- Archery
- Rifle Shooting
- Muzzleloader Shooting
- Shotgun Shooting
- Hunter Responsibility Exam
- Hunter Safety Trail
- Orienteering
- Wildlife Identification
Visit the NRA's website with more information about the YHEC program.
Check out folder YHEC Documents (scores, results from past YHEC events and current year as available)
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.
Alaska YHEC - Challenge Event Information
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Hunter Responsibility Exam - Alaska YHEC +
Test your knowledge of hunter safety, ethics, responsibility, and laws. To study for this exam, review your hunter education class material and the State of Alaska hunting regulations. -
Wildlife Identification - Alaska YHEC +
Test your wildlife identification skills. This challenge may ask you to identify tracks, hides, skulls, bones, feathers, and signs of North American wildlife. To study, check out wildlife guides and books from your local library. Make flash cards and quiz your teammates. Visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (offices throughout the state) and look at the wildlife displays to gain more knowledge. If you can, visit the Museum at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to learn more! -
Rifle Shooting - Alaska YHEC +
Fire a .22 light rifle to shoot at metal clanger targets placed downrange. Bring your own rifle or arrange to use the equipment we will have available. Juniors and Seniors will shoot at different distances and a tie breaker shot will be sure to challenge your skills! Want to practice? Visit the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range during walk-in public hours! -
Muzzleloader Shooting - Alaska YHEC +
At this event, you will fire at targets using a muzzleloading rifle. The targets will be ASSRA 50 yard standing targets, placed downrange, at 25 yards. You will be allowed one sighting shot in the top left hand target bull. Then, you will fire one shot each at the other five target bulls, for score. The winner will be the highest score, X’s will be used as tie breakers. Incase of an exact tie, competitors' age will be used as a tie breaker, with the tie going to the youngest competitor. You may bring your own rifle and equipment or use one we will supply. -
Shotgun Shooting - Alaska YHEC +
Demonstrate your shotgun shooting skills across multiple clay target stations. 12 and 20 gauge shotguns and ammo provided. To practice, visit the Fairbanks Trap Club (or another range for shotgun shooting), during open hours. For Fairbanks Trap Club hours of operation, please call 907-457-6116. Tell the head honchos out there you are practicing for YHEC and they will help you out! -
Archery - Alaska YHEC +
Walk across our open field course shooting at life size animal targets. Seniors and Juniors will shoot from different, various distances. Only three practice shots are allowed before beginning the competition course. Archery equipment and arrows provided if needed. To practice, visit a local archery shop and range, or in a safe place near your home! (Make sure you have an adequate backstop and arrows won't go where they should not go!) -
Hunter Safety Trail - Alaska YHEC +
Demonstrate your knowledge of safe hunting practices in various hunting situations. Challenge your first aid and preparedness skills. Showcase your sportsmanship attitude. Answer "shoot or don't shoot" situations with hunting logic and by applying Alaska's regulations, ethics, and common sense. To prepare, study your hunter education material and the State of Alaska hunting regulations. Don't forget your "Hunter Orange," bug repellent, and water! What else would you bring with you, if you were out hunting (on foot)? -
Orienteering - Alaska YHEC +
NO COMMUNICATION DEVICES ARE ALLOWED AT THIS STATION. At this station you will be required to: Identify the five (5) major terrain features on a map. Know the four (4) cardinal directions. Read the scale of a map. Determine a Grid azimuth on a map. Determine field elevation using contour lines. Compute distance either straight line, or along a trail. Find your location using intersection. Convert a grid azimuth to a magnetic azimuth, or the other way around. Compute a back azimuth. Follow a magnetic azimuth for a given distance and locate a target. Add intersection and resection. -
Tie-Breaking - Alaska YHEC +
For the purpose of breaking tie scores in the final results for the Alaska NRA YHEC State Championship, the scoring database we use is designed to implement the following tie breaking criteria, as established by the national YHEC program: In the event of a tie, the individual/team with the highest level of achievement in the Hunter Responsibility Exam will be declared the winner(s). If a tie remains, the individual/team with the highest level of achievement on the Hunter Safety Trail Challenge will be declared the winner(s). Should a tie remain, the individual/team with the highest combined level of achievement in the four (4) responsibility events (Hunter Responsibility Exam, Hunting Orienteering Skills Challenge, Hunting Wildlife Identification Challenge, Hunter Safety Trail Challenge), will be declared the winner(s). The final tiebreaker will be based on a combined score of the four (4) shooting events (Hunting Shotgun Challenge, the Light Hunting Rifle Challenge, Hunting Archery Challenge and the Hunting Muzzleloader Challenge).Should individuals/teams tie in the Hunter Responsibility Exam, the tie breaking formula will start at the second criteria (Hunter Safety Trail Challenge).
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AIM-COMM is a proud supporter of many of the valuable educational programs of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the NRA's defense of our Second Amendment rights. We thank the NRA, the NRA Foundation, and the Friends of NRA, for helping us with our mission to foster the development of marksmanship, the safe and ethical use of firearms and to support and promote use of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range, in Fairbanks, Alaska. AIM-COMM is Alaska's first NRA Gold Medal Club, and is an NRA Recruiter.
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AIM-COMM's purpose is to foster the development of marksmanship, the safe and ethical use of firearms and to support and promote use of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range. AIM-COMM is a volunteer-based, IRS 501(c)(3) Non-profit, and Alaska's first NRA Gold Medal Club.