So, you want to hold a shooting sports activity in your Troop, Team

So, you want to hold a shooting sports

activity in your Troop, Team, Crew, Ship,

Post or District

NCAC Shooting Sports Committee

April 2017

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

1

So, you want to hold a shooting sports activity in your Troop, Team, Crew, Ship,

Post or District. Here is how to do it.

1. BSA Policy: All shooting activities must be done in accordance with the BSA safety

regulations. These are defined by the following documents:

a. The Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416A which may be downloaded from the

National BSA website safety page

http://www.scouting.org/Home/OutdoorProgram/Safety/AdultsGuidetosafesco

uting.aspx. You should download the latest version each year. (it is updated

quarterly on the site.)

The Boy Scouts of America’s general liability policy provides coverage for a

bodily injury or property damage claim that is made and arises out of an official

Scouting activity. The Guide to Safe Scouting contains a listing of unauthorized

and restricted activities. Unauthorized activities are not considered official

Scouting activities.

Volunteers (registered and unregistered), units, chartered organizations, and

local councils are jeopardizing insurance coverage for themselves and their

organization by engaging in unauthorized activities.

Please do not put yourself at risk.

b. Boy Scouts of America National Shooting Sports Manual, No. 430-938. This is

available from the National BSA website shooting sports page

http://www.scouting.org/Home/OutdoorProgram/ShootingSports.aspx You

should download the manual and any supplement updates. As of December

2016, the current manual is dated 2015 and there is a 2016 supplement.

c. Cub Scouts Shooting Sports Guide, No. 510-322. This document may also be

downloaded from the National BSA shooting sports page

http://www.scouting.org/Home/OutdoorProgram/ShootingSports.aspx, along

with Cub Scout Shooting Sports award requirements flyer and record sheet.

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

2

The following shooting activities are currently banned in all BSA

programs:

• Flint Lock Rifles and Pistols

• Reloading and using reloaded ammunition

• Crossbows

• Bottle rockets

• Exploding targets

• Firearms included in the National Firearms Act (Class III)

• Cannons

• Ballista’s

• Boomerangs

• Blow Guns

• Anvil Shooting

• Ninja weapons (stars, spikes, torpedoes, nunchucks, etc.}

• Spears

• Spear Guns

• Potato Guns

2. What shooting Sports Activities can the youth members of my unit participate in?

The following chart defines who can shoot what in the BSA program.

Program

BB Gun

Archery

Slingshots

Small bore Rife

Small Bore Pistol

Air Rifle

Air Pistol

Shotgun

Muzzle loading

Rifle

Muzzle Loading

Pistol

Lion Cubs

1

NO

Cub Scouts

2

YES

NO

Webelos

2

YES

NO

YES

NO

Varsity

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

Boy Scouts

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

VENTURING

3

YES

SEA SCOUTS

3

YES

EXPLORERS

3,4

YES

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

3

Notes: 1 Lion Cubs are not permitted to participate in any shooting sports activities in

the BSA program (See Cub Scouts Shooting Sports Guide}

2 All Cub Scout Shooting Sports activities must be done in Council resident

camp or district sponsored activities. No shooting sports activities are authorized at

the unit level for Packs or Dens.

3 Venturers, Sea Scouts and Explorers may shoot semi-automatic and centerfire

firearms with signed permission from parents or guardians. In addition, members of

these units may participate in hunting activities. They are required to completed a

Hunter Safety Course and comply with Federal and State hunting laws.

4 Learning for Life – Explorers also operate a national law enforcement Explorer

pistol competition. See Safety First Learning for Life Guidelines which may be

downloaded from http://www.exploring.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/LFL-safety-

first-guidelines_final-copy_-28229.pdf

3. Where can my unit or district conduct Shooting Sports Activities?

Typical locations for shooting sports activities are Boy Scout or 4H camp ranges, private

gun or archery clubs, private association ranges (such as Isaac Walton League),

government ranges or private property. The NCAC Shooting Sports Committee

maintains a list of shooting ranges, and their locations and contact points, within the

boundaries of the council and nearby States. This document Where to Shoot – NCAC

BSA may be downloaded from the shooting sports page on the council website at

www.ncacbsa.gov.

Shooting on Private Property. If your unit or district plans to shoot on property that is

not on BSA or does not have an established shooting range you must receive prior

permission to use the property from the council shooting sports committee. To do so,

fill out form 430-065 Private Property Approval for Shooting Sports and request, to

have the property inspection by a NRA Chief RSO from shooting sports committee. The

email contact point and the 430-065 form may be found on the shooting sport section

of the NCAS website.

Form 430-065 will require the following information be gathered prior to submitting the

form for range inspection and approval:

• Signed permission from the property owner to use property and have it

inspected

• Description of shooting sport activity

• Drawing showing range layout and safety features

• Copy of range rules to be used during your activity

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

4

• Names and certificate numbers for personnel performing range safety and

instruction during the activity (NRA or USA Archery). Submitting a copy of their

certificate is preferable.

The range, in the configuration you will use during the shooting activity, will then be

physically inspected by the Chief RSO prior to use for your activity.

To facilitate the gathering and submittal of this information you may use the NCAC

Shooting Sports Request for Specific Event form and submit it to the NCAC Shooting

Sports Committee for support.

4. What personnel does my unit or district need to operate a shooting sports activity?

For district activities involving Cub Scouts BB Gun ranges must be operated by one or

more currently certified BB Range Masters (or a currently certified NRA Rifle Instructor).

Similarly, a Cub Scout Archery range must be operated by one or more currently

certified Archery Range Masters (or currently certified USA Archery Level 1 Instructor).

You should verify the expiration date and certification for all instructors. The NCAC

Shooting Sports Committee maintains a list of currently certified instructors.

Cub Scout Packs and Dens are not authorized to operate unit shooting sports activities.

In no case, may they hold any firearm activities. (See Cub Scouts Shooting Sports

Guide).

Council and District shooting sports summer camp and day camp activities are operated

in accordance with the BSA National Shooting Sports Manual and the BSA National

Camp Accreditation Program (See National Camp Accreditation Program, No. 430-056

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/outdoor%20program/pdf/430-056(15)_WEB.pdf ).

These activities require trained National Camping School Shooting Sports Directors.

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

5

Boy Scouts of America Shooting Sports Range Personnel Requirements

The basic personnel requirement for staffing the range are indicated in the following table:

Using shooting sports Merit Badge Counselors for rifle shotgun or muzzle loading

instructors is problematical. There is only a suggestion that the merit badge counselors

hold proper credentials to operate a range or instruct Scouts or Venturers in the

shooting sport. In fact, many counselors in the council do not hold the certifications

needed to teach their merit badge or run a range. If they do not hold proper

credentials, they may not provide shooting sports training or run ranges involving youth

members of the BSA.

Always check the RSOs and Instructors that you plan to use for current certification and

expiration date. Both NRA and USA Archery certified instructors can provide their

credentials indication what certifications they have completed and their expiration

dates. The council shooting sports committee can help you verify credentials if

necessary.

Is one RSO and one Instructor sufficient to run my activity? Usually a single RSO and a

single instructor is sufficient. Depending on the number of youth that are

simultaneously shooting or the relative safety danger of the shooting sport additional

instructors and/or RSO will be needed. The following chart indicates what additional

range staff will be needed.

Venturing

Shooting Sport

4

BB PG Archery Rifle

2

Shotgun Muzzle Loading Archery Pistol

3

RM RM RM SSD/NRA SSD/NRA SSD/NMLRA SSD/USA SSD/NRA

NCAS Standard

5

PS213,PS214,

SQ407,RP456

NSSM P85 P99 P75 P11-P15 P16-P20 P26-P40 P73 P21-P25

Notes 1: For all resident camp shooting activites on BSA property the SSD or CI running range also serves as RSO

2: Rifle includes both Airguns and Small Bore

3: Pistol includes Muzzle Loading and Small Bore

4: Shooting sports activities not using BSA Council Camp Ranges or established private or public range require prior approval of the shooting location

using form 430-065 Private Property Approval for Shooting Sports and an inspection by a Council approved NRA Chief Range Safety Officer.

5: Applies to Counci resident camp shooting sports activities only.

Acronyms AI Assistant Qualified Instructor (18 years old)

BB BB Gun

CI Qualified Instructor (21 years old)

NCAS 430-056 National Camp Accreditation Standards

NMLRA National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association

NRA National Rifle Association

NSSM 430-938 BSA National Shooting Sports Manual 2015 printing with 2016 supplement

PG Pellet Gun

RM Range Master

RSO Range Safety Officer

SSD National Camping School Currently Certified Shooting Sports Director

Certified By

SSD - NCS SSD COURSE CERTIFICATION

NRA - NRA DISCIPLINE BASIC INSTRUCTOR

NRA NMLRA- NMLRA Muzzel Loading only

USA - USA Archery/NFAA Level 1 Archery only

Cub Scouts

Boy Scouts/Varsity/Venturing

Trained by SSD

All Ranges require a NRA certified RSO

1

Range Personnel

Requirement

SQ407, SQ408

PS213,PS214,SQ407,SQ408,RP456

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

6

What parent/guardian permission is needed for shooting sports? Normally your

standard unit permission slip will be sufficient, if it identifies that shooting sports

activities will be part of their son or daughters program.

Venue

NSSM

6

Program

1

Instructors

5

Ratio Range Shooter Training

2

Archery P73

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 USA Archery

Level 1 Instructor

1 Instructor/8 shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

Safety and use

orientation

AIR Rifle P11

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Rifle

Instructor

1/8 shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

Safety and use

orientation

Small Bore Rifle P12-P13

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Rifle

Instructor

1/8 shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

30 minute Rifle

Orientation

Small Bore Rifle

Competition

P14

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Rifle

Instructor

1/8 shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

NRA First Steps

Rifle

Shotgun

P17-P18

Boy Scouts /Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Shotgun

Instructor

1 RSO/6 shooters

1 Instructor/shooter

BSA or Approved

Range

30 minute Shotgun

Orientation

Shotgun

Competition

P19

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Shotgun

Instructor

1 RSO/5 shooters

1 Instructor/shooter

BSA or Approved

Range

NRA First Steps

Shotgun

Pistol P21-P23 Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Pistol

Instructor

1 RSO

1 Instructor/Shooter

BSA or Approved

Range

30 minute Pistol

Orientation

Pistol

Competition

P24 Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA Pistol

Instructor

1 RSO

1 Instructor/3 Shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

NRA First Steps

Pistol

Muzzle Loading

Rifle

P26-P29

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA/NMLRA

Instructor

1 RSO/8 Shooters

1 Instructor/3 Shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

Shooting Safety

and ML

loading/unloading

Muzzle Loading

Shotgun

P31-P34

Boy Scouts/Varsity

Venturing

1 RSO

1 NCS SSD

1 RSO/8 Shooters

1 Instructor/Shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

Shooting Safety

and ML

loading/unloading

Muzzle Loading

Pistol

P36-P39 Venturing

1 RSO

1 NRA/NMLRA

Instructor

1 RSO/8 Shooters

1 Instructor/3 Shooters

BSA or Approved

Range

Shooting Safety

and ML

loading/unloading

Archery P73

Cub Scouts

3

1 RM 1RM/8 shooters

Council Only

3

Safety training by

RM

BB Gun P83

Cub Scouts

3

1 RM 1 RM/8 shooters

Council Only

3

Safety training by

RM

Sling Shots/Wrist

Rockets

P95

Cub Scouts

3

1 RM 1 RM/8 shooters

Council Only

3

Safety training by

RM

Pellet Guns P95

Webelos

4

1 RM

1 RM/8 shooters

Council Only

3

Safety training by

RM

Catapults P96

Cub Scouts

3

1 RM

1 RM/8 shooters

Council Only

3

Safety training by

RM

Paintball

Laser Tag

Tomahawk 2013 Update P40

Boy Scouts

Venturing

1 RSO/Instructor 1 RSO/shooter

Council Only

Safety and

Throwing

Notes: 1. Sea Scouting and Exploring follow the rules for Venturing. Varsity follow the rules for Boy Scouts

2. Training indicated must be delivered by a certified instructor before youth members may shoot on the range

3. Cub Scouts may ony shoot at Council/District resident camp or activities. No Pack or Den shooting sports activities permitted.

Lions may not participate in any shooting sport activity.

4. In the Cub Scout program only WEBELOS may shoot Pellet Air Rifles

5. A NCS Shooting Sports Director is cetified as an RSO, NRA Rifle, NRA Shotgun and NRA Muzzleloading Rifle Instructor and may operate

BSA shooting activities indicated.

6. BSA National Shooting Sports Manual No. 430-938 2015 printing with 2016 supplemental

Acronyms

CMP Civiliam Markmanship Program

GTSS

Guide to Safe Scouting

NMLRA Namtional Muzzle Loading Rifle Association

NRA National Rifle Association

RM Range Master

RSO Range Safety Officer

Banned Activity -Targets only - requires detailed tour permit describing activity - see GTSS

Banned Activity - Targets only - requires detailed tour permit describing activity- see GTSS

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

7

There is one exception to this rule: Pistol shooting. The Federal Youth Handgun Act

requires a special parental/guardian permission slip specifically stating that the minor

has permission to possess and use a handgun as part of their youth program. In

addition, this form must be in the youth’s possession at all time while participating in

the activity. NCAC has developed a suitable form NCAC Youth Permission Form which

may be downloaded from the shooting sports page on the NCAC

websitehttp://www.ncacbsa.org/council-committees/outdoor-adventuring/shooting-

sports/. Note: this only applies to Venturers, Sea Scouts and Explorers, since the other

programs my not shoot pistols. However, it may be used for all firearm related scouting

activities.

Hunting Activities: Only Venturers, Sea Scouts or Explorers may participate in hunting

activities. They must complete a hunter safety course from the state they will be

hunting in, and follow all the state and federal hunting regulations for the state where

they will be hunting.

5. Shooting Sports Equipment Restrictions

• Cub Scouts-Webelos

Archery – Recurve Bows with 25# or less pull

Genesis standard or mini bow adjusted to 20# or less pull

Arrows of safe length for archer (29” or longer)

Arm guards and finger tabs for all archers

BB guns – Bolt action with muzzle velocity less than 350 feet/second and greater

than 2.5-pound trigger pull.

Pellet guns - Bolt action with muzzle velocity less than 350 feet/second and greater

than 2.5-pound trigger pull (WEBELOS only)

Safety glasses must be used by all shooters

• Boy Scouts, Varsity

Archery – Recurve Bows with 25# or less pull

Genesis youth standard or mini bow adjusted to 20# or less pull

Arrows of safe length for archer (29” or longer)

Arm guards and finger tabs for all archers

Pellet guns - Bolt action with muzzle velocity less than 550 feet/second and 2.5

pound or greater trigger pull

Small Bore Rifles – Bolt action (may use up to 5 round maximum magazine)

Muzzle Loading Rifles – Percussion 50 caliber maximum suggested (No Flint locks)

Shotgun – 20 or 12ga pump or semiauto action

Safety glasses and ear protection must be used by all shooters

• Venturing, Sea Scouts, Explorers

Archery – Recurve Bows with 25# or less pull

Genesis youth standard or mini bow adjusted to 20# or less pull

Shooting Sports Activities for Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships, Posts and Districts

8

Arrows of safe length for archer (29” or longer)

Arm guards and finger tabs for all archers

Pellet guns - Bolt action with muzzle velocity less than 550 feet/second and greater

than 2.5-pound trigger pull

Small Bore Rifles – Bolt action 5 round maximum magazine load

Small Bore or Centerfire Semiauto Pistols – Magazine compatible with local laws

Small Bore or Centerfire Revolvers Single or Double action

Muzzle Loading Rifles – Percussion 50 caliber maximum suggested (No Flint locks)

Muzzle Loading Pistols - Percussion 50 caliber maximum suggested (No Flint locks)

Muzzle Loading Shotgun – Percussion 12ga or 20ga (No Flint Locks)

Shotgun – 20 or 12ga pump or semiauto action

Safety glasses and ear protection must be used by all shooters

6. Range Operating Procedures

You will need to have range operating procedures for use by the RSO’s during your

shooting activity. The NCAC Shooting Sports Committee has developed a standard set

of operating procedures for all ranges in council camps and for use by districts or units

for their shooting sports activities. For ease of use, these procedures are sectioned by

shooting sport. The NCA SOP may be downloaded from the shooting sports page on the

NCAC website at http://www.ncacbsa.org/council-committees/outdoor-

adventuring/shooting-sports/.

NO CLASS III (FULL AUTO) FIREARMS ALLOWED

Boy Scouts of America

National Capital Area Council

YOUTH PERMISSION FORM

Firearms, Treat, Activity, Release of Minor, Photo

The following signatures are required for Scouts\Varsity\Sea Scouts\Venturers\

Explorers to fully participate.

One form per youth participant required.

MINOR'S NAME (Please print):

Unit#:

_

PERMISSION TO TREAT

In case of emergency, I understand every effort will be made to contact me (if participant is an adult, my

spouse or next of kin). In the event I cannot be reached, I hereby give my permission to the licensed healthcare

practitioner selected by the adult leader in charge to secure proper treatment, including hospitalization,

anesthesia, surgery, or injections of medication for my child (or for me, if participant is an adult).

Signature of parent/guardian or adult: Date:

_

PARENTAL FIREARMS PERMISSION AND RELEASE

U.S. Federal Law prohibits any person from furnishing, loaning or otherwise providing a minor any firearm

or live ammunition without the express permission of their parent or guardian. Your son/daughter will not

be allowed on the shooting range without the following signed release. If you do not wish your

son/daughter to participate in shooting activities please write "NO PERMISSION".

MINOR'S NAME (Please print):

I

(Please

print)

The

Parent

Legal Guardian

of the

above named minor do hereby give permission as required by Federal Code 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, et. seq.

to the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council, and to instructors certified by the National

Capital Area Council meeting the requirements for instructors established by the Boy Scouts of America

(National), to furnish a firearm, BB Gun, .22 Rifle, 20 gauge shotgun, 12-gauge shotgun, .22 handgun

(Venturers\Sea Scouts\Explorers only), and ammunition to said minor for the purpose of instructing him/her

in the safe handling of firearms, safe shooting and marksmanship.

I do further agree to indemnify and save harmless the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area

Council and all officers, members, employees, and volunteers thereof, from all suits or actions brought

for, or on account of, any injuries or damages received or sustained by any person or persons by or from

the consequences of any negligence or any act or omission of the above named minor occurring during

the course of said instruction.

Date Permission Granted: From To

_

Signed: The Parent\Legal Guardian _

Print full name: Date:

_

Please turn the page over for more permission signatures

Boy Scouts of America

National Capital Area Council

RELEASE OF MINOR

I, the parent or guardian of

troop/crew/team/post number

(Name of Minor

Reason for Departure:

Signature of Parent or Guardian:__________________________________

Date:

PHOTO (TALENT) RELEASE

I hereby assign and grant to the Boy Scouts of America the right and permission to use and publish the

photographs/film/video/electronic representations and/or sound recordings made during my Scouts visit to

any NCAC, BSA activity. I hereby release the Boy Scouts of America, and the National Capital Area Council

from any and all liability from such use and promotion. I hereby authorize the reproduction,

sale, copyright, exhibit, broadcast, electronic storage and/or distribution of said photographs/

film/video tapes/electronic representations and/or sound recordings without limitation at the discretion

of the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council. I specifically waive any right to any

compensation I may have for any of the foregoing.

Signature of Parent or Guardian:

Date:

_

CONSENT TO FULL PROGRAM

National Capital Area Council Camp programs may include some or all of the following activities: horseback

riding, archery, swimming, boating (rowboat, canoe, kayak), hiking, mountain biking, crafts, use of knife and ax,

rock climbing, rappelling, Project COPE, team sports, and other activities. Your signature below will grant

consent for the above named youth. This consent does not include firearms. The consent specific to firearms

must also be completed for participation in shooting sports.

Please check one of the options and state any limitations:

[ ] Consent to full program

[ ] Consent to program with the following limitations/exclusions:

Signature of parent/guardian

Date:

_

NCAC December 10, 2016

NCAC Shooting Sports Request for Specific Event

All requests to allow or support a shooting sport at any event held in NCAC must be submitted in a timely

manner using the form below. The event is not authorized for shooting sports unless event approval is

received from the NCAC Shooting Sports Committee. Please follow these guidelines for submission:

- For large events (50+ expected participants) a minimum of six (6) months notice to the NCAC Shooting

Sports Committee is required to allow time to arrange for scheduling instructor staff and equipment.

- For other events (under 50 expected participants) a minimum of three (3) months notice to the NCAC

Shooting Sports Committee is required to allow time to arrange for scheduling instructor staff and

equipment.

- All shooting sports events must comply with BSA Guide to Safe Scouting and BSA Shooting

Sports Manual guidelines.

Event Name:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Event Date(s) and Planned Rain Date(s):

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Event Location:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Participant Age, Rank or Program Range (Cub, Boy Scout, Venturing):

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Estimated Participant Count by Range:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Event POC:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Requested Shooting Sport(s):

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Facilities Available On Site:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Staffing Event:

Event Staff Names, BSA ID#, NRA ID#, and Shooting Sport Certifications (if any):

_____________________________________________________________________________________

NCAC Tour Permit: Date filed:______________ Reference No: ______________________________

Notes:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

NCAC Shooting Sports Committee Approval: (Yes) Date: ____________

(No) Date: ____________

Reviewed By (Name): ___________________________________

Equipment required to support event:

_____________________________________________________________________________________