Shooting Sports

The Boy Scouts of America adheres to its longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, air rifles, BB guns, and archery equipment in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs.

Except for law enforcement officers required to carry firearms within their jurisdiction, firearms shall not be brought on camping, hiking, backpacking, or other Scouting activities except those specifically planned for target shooting under the supervision of a currently certified BSA national shooting sports director or National Rifle Association firearms instructor.

Cub Scouting Standards

Cub Scouts are permitted to participate only in the following shooting activities.

Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or for council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.

Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cub Scouts, and Bear Cub Scouts are not permitted to use any other type of pistol or firearm, including pellet guns.

Webelos Scouts are permitted to use air rifles at Webelos resident camp in accordance to BSA national standards for resident camp.

Boy Scouting Standards

Boy Scouts may participate in all activities previously listed for Cub Scouts and in the activities listed here.

Rifles

  1. Boy Scouts may shoot single-shot, bolt-action, .22-caliber rifles with removable magazines only. Tubular magazines are not permitted.
  2. All rifle-shooting activities must have a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School shooting sports director certified as an NRA Rifle Instructor, or an NRA-certified Rifle Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Rifle Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
  3. Shooting safety glasses and ear protection must be worn on rifle ranges.
  4. Care must be taken to comply with federal, state, and local laws.

A rifle safety briefing PowerPoint can be downloaded at this link.

Shotguns

  1. For range shooting, shot size is determined by the range rules.
  2. All shotgun shooting activities must have a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School shooting sports director certified as an NRA Shotgun Instructor, or an NRA-certified Shotgun Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Shotgun Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
  3. Shooting safety glasses and ear protection must be worn on shotgun ranges.
  4. Include semi-automatic, double-barrel, and pump shotguns for older Scouts. Multiple-round firing is limited to older Boy Scouts and Venturers.
  5. Care must be taken to comply with federal, state, and local laws.

A shotgun safety briefing PowerPoint can be downloaded at this link.

Muzzleloaders

  1. Muzzleloading firearms must be of modern manufacturing. Firearms made from kits must be certified safe by a licensed gunsmith.
  2. All muzzleloader range shooting activities must have a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School shooting sports director certified as an NRA Muzzleloading Instructor, or an NRA-certified Muzzleloading Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Muzzleloading Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
  3. For range firing, each participant must have one instructor or adult coach under the supervision of a currently trained NRA-certified Range Safety Officer.
  4. Shooting safety glasses and ear protection must be worn on muzzleloader shooting ranges.
  5. Care must be taken to comply with federal, state, and local laws.

Venturing Standards

Venturers may participate in all activities previously listed for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and may participate in the activities listed below:

Pistols

  1. Pistol use is limited to the Venturing program.
  2. All pistol-shooting activities must have a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School shooting sports director certified as an NRA Pistol Instructor, or an NRA-certified Pistol Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Pistol Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
  3. When on the range, there must be a ratio of no more than two shooters per adult coach or instructor. The adult coaches or instructors must be near the shooters for close supervision. The adult coaches or instructors must be supervised by the Range Safety Officer.
  4. Prior to pistol use, Venturers must complete one of the following:
    • Experiential shooting: BSA Pistol Briefing PowerPoint is required. Click here to download the briefing.
    • Instruction/training: NRA Pistol FIRST Steps program is required.
    • With the approval of the local council, pistol shooting may be conducted on BSA camp ranges, provided there is a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School hooting Sports Director certified as an NRA Pistol Instructor, or an NRA-certified Pistol Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Pistol Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
    • Shooting safety glasses and ear protection must be worn on pistol ranges.
    • Care must be taken to comply with federal, state, and local laws.

    Rifles

    1. Venturers may shoot all rifles, except fully automatic.
    2. All rifle-shooting activities must have a certified NRA Range Safety Officer directly supervising all live fire on the range. Additionally, the instruction offered must be done by a currently certified National Camping School shooting sports director certified as an NRA Rifle Instructor, or an NRA-certified Rifle Instructor or an NRA/USA Shooting/CMP-certified Rifle Coach. These must be two separate individuals.
    3. Shooting safety glasses and ear protection must be worn on rifle ranges.
    4. Care must be taken to comply with federal, state, and local laws.
    Reference: Venturing Leader Manual, No. 34655

    Cannons and Large-Bore Artillery

    Units are not authorized, under any circumstances, to use a cannon or any other large-bore artillery device.

    Archery and Knife and Tomahawk Throwing

    These are approved activities for Boy Scouts and Venturers following the Sweet 16 of BSA Safety.