Welcome to the 2026 Best of the West Hunter.

We’re excited to host another fun and memorable event for hunters and marksmen alike! This year’s match is designed for enjoyment, skill-building, and friendly competition.

NRL RULES

All safety procedures will follow the official NRL Hunter Rules set for the 2026 season. It is the hunters' responsibility to know the NRL Hunter Rules and Regulations prior to a competition.

Chamber flags will be required!

MATCH DESIGN

Competitors will have 20 simulated hunting stages, with the round count of 80-160, depending on a first round impact or a second round impact, bring extra ammo for power factor, verifying zero and truing targets.

You will have a 500 yard walk from the parking area to stage 1 or 20. From stage 1 all the way around a horseshoe shaped course of fire to stage 20 will be a 1 mile light hike. The distance between stages is 50 to 100 yards. Officials will have a SxS available to those that may need a ride due to physical limitations. We will have a trailer available, if you would like a ride to your staging areas.

The range will be within a large horseshoe bend of Buck creek, giving us a 360∘ course of fire. Terrain is rolling, rocky bluffs, tall-grass hills, wooded draws, open valleys, and creek bottoms.

You’ll encounter 100% life-sized AR500 steel animal targets, including wolf, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, whitetail deer, hog, coyote, mountain lion, bobcat, turkey, elk, antelope, mule deer, otter, raccoon, rock chuck, squirrel, lynx, prairie dog, and jackrabbit. Each target will be placed in realistic environments.

Our Southeastern course of fire, will be highly visible target arrays, to help with your morning acquisition and engagement.

Average target distance will be approximately 400 yards, with all targets ranging from 200+- to 900+- yards. Arrays will be at manageable distances with realistic target sizes. Stages are designed for easy acquisitions, plenty of hits, low stress and plenty of fun. There will be a few challenging targets to separate the top competitors in the field.

ATV/UTV

Are not necessary for this match. If you have a physical limitation and need the assistance of your ATV/UTV, please contact the MD at Bruce@BestoftheWestOutfitters.com to discuss an exception. We will have a trailer available, if you would like a ride to your staging areas.

WEATHER

Be sure and bring your rain gear… looks like it’s going to be a wet one!

The average high temperature for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, around March 7th is approximately 61−63∘F, with average lows around 36−39∘F. This is part of the transition to spring, with increasing daily temperatures and a higher chance of wind and rain during the month. Please come prepared for everything Mother Nature could throw at us.

REFUND POLICY

NO REFUNDS will be available. If you can’t attend and need to sell your reservation, please let the MD at Bruce@BestoftheWestOutfitters.com know so I can coordinate the adjustment.

PROMOTIONS

Young Guns are limited to 20 competitors and will compete at no charge with a paid regular priced parent or guardian, please email MD at Bruce@BestoftheWestOutfitters.com to register. I will email you a complimentary Registration link to complete your Young Gun entry.

Best of the West Outfitters will once again make a 100% donation of a Wyoming Big or Trophy game hunt. Every competitor will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win this hunt (must be 12 years of age).

SUN HOODIE - DEADLINE - Thank you!

Will be Monday February 02 for our 2026 Best of the West Hunter sun hoodie order. If you have not registered for the match and/or not given us your shirt size, we may not have a hoodie reserved for you!

SKILLS

This event is skills-shooter friendly. Limited number of skills shooters, each will be paired with a Pro, for effective match training.

RANGE OFFICERS - FULL - Thank you!

We’re grateful for our Range Officers and want to reward their efforts. Qualified individuals will receive a complimentary match slot and the chance to complete all stages in a 1-day time frame (RO Shoot Day). Earn points and prize eligibility just like regular competitors. The RO shoot will take place on Competitor Check-in Day.

If you’d like to volunteer:
Submit your RO Application to the link above (space is limited). Those not selected will still have the option to purchase a competitor slot.

SQUADING

Self squad: You are able to self squad within this page. Any competitor that has not chosen a squad by March 1, will be placed in a squad by the MD.

Individual competitors: We will allow 5 per squad.

Team competitors: We will allow 2 Team’s per squad.

Skills competitors: We will allow 1 Skill per squad.

Young Gun competitors: Will compete in the same squad as their parent or guardian.

This is to help the flow of the match and allow us to complete the course of fire in a more timely fashion.

MD reserves the right to adjust the squads as deemed necessary.

TRAVEL

Tulsa International Airport

CAMPING

Onsite camping available (no RV hookups or clean-outs).

LODGING

Bartlesville has a whole host of motels, hotels, Airbnb and Vrbo available for your stay.

Osage Hills State Park cabins

SOCIAL MEDIA

Share your adventure and tag us!

Use hashtags:

#NRLHunter #EveryEthicalEdge #BestoftheWestHunter #BestoftheWestOutfitters #Bestofthewest

Follow us for updates on:

Facebook:

Best of the West Hunter

Instagram:

@BestoftheWestHunter

TV/Video

Giving Back TV

Will be onsite filming for a 2026 episode to be aired on Carbon TV.

Photographer

Ranch Reflections

Will be onsite photographing the match.

MAPS - Thank you OnX for sponsoring our prize table!

At check-in, we will provide you a onX Hunt link to all locations (complete with stages) associated with the Best of the West Hunter match.

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH

Water provided at stages.

RO SHOOT DAY

• 6:30 AM – RO competitor safety briefing (Mandatory)
• 7:30 AM – RO’s shoot for points & prizes amongst all hunters and are eligible for prizes (all stages)

Lunch provided and catered by: Smokey Joe’s BBQ
• 4:00 PM – Weigh-in and velocity check at check-in table immediately after completion

HUNTER CHECK-IN DAY

• 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Check-in, weigh-in, and velocity check
• 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – 100-yard zero and truing targets available if needed
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Informal gathering:

HIDEAWAY PIZZA

100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd, Bartlesville, OK

SATURDAY, MARCH 7Th

Water provided at stages.

• 6:30 AM – Competitor safety briefing (Mandatory) held at the match parking area

• 8:00 AM – Hunters report to assigned stages
• 8:30 AM – Intended time to begin hunting steel (12 stages)

Lunch provided and catered by: Smokey Joe’s BBQ
• 3:00 PM – Intended completion time for Day 1 (subject to variation)
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Informal gathering:

PAINTED HORSE BAR & GRILLE

110 SW Frank Phillips Blvd, Bartlesville, OK

SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH

Water provided at stages.

• 8:00 AM – Hunter arrival; proceed directly to assigned stage
• 8:30 AM – Intended time to begin hunting steel (8 stages)
• 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Estimated completion of match
• 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Estimated awards and dinner
• Awards Location:

BARTLESVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER

300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville, OK

Catered by: Melody’s Creative Cuisine

• 5:00 PM – 2026 Best of the West Hunter match, awards and dinner completed.