The hunting derived target-shooting sport.
(Check out the videos at the bottom of this page)
Hunting Rifle Sport Shooting
This sport originated in the South African city of Bloemfontein during the early 1990’s. The unique concept of shooting competitions in field conditions soon attracted interest from all over the country and saw it develop into a full-fledged national sport.
There are thousands of active and aspiring hunters in the country who already own hunting rifles. Most other shooting sports are under pressure due to less support from government structures and some specialist target equipment may be required. Participation in Hunting Rifle Shooting requires only a hunting rifle in any centrefire calibre. It offers excellent opportunity to hone natural practical shooting skills since natural conditions are simulated thereby contributing in creating top marksman and increasing the natural capabilities of the hunting rifle owner. Distances are unknown and targets are life size pictures of popular hunting species, as well as steel discs where the terrain does not allow scoring of paper targets. A variety of shooting positions and natural rests representing hunting conditions are used.
The SA Hunting Rifle Shooting Association is a registered member of the SA Shooting Sport Confederation (SASSCo) and is recognized as the official hunting rifle shooting sport in the country. The SAHRSA has several affiliations practising this format of sport shooting. The thousands of individual members across the hunting rifle owner’s spectrum belonging to a variety of shooting organizations are mostly the source of our participants. Participants of all ages and genders from fourteen different province/districts, from novice to expert level, finds opportunity to participate and compete in a hunting rifle sporting league that gives them opportunity to actively participate for recreation or to attain national recognition for shooting excellence. This is a sport where rifle owners of all ages, genders, families and friends can enjoy the outdoors.
The SAHRSA is accredited by the SA Police Service (FAR nr. 1300039) as a shooting sport organization and therefore authorized to issue Dedicated Sport Person Status to its active members.
This sport has expand internationally and the International Hunting Rifle Shooting Association (IHRSA) was established as umbrella body for all member countries to affiliate to. In 2014 the first World competition took place in Bloemfontein and is now held biannually in different hosting countries.
Several European, Australasian and African countries are shooting under the same rules. Interested Huntingrifle Shooting organizations in the above or other countries are welcome to contact us for possible international competition.
SAHRSA has more than 380 registered league participants and more than four hundred novice participants annually. It has 14 branches countrywide, represented in all nine official provinces with an estimated total of thirty competitions on different levels annually including inter-provincial competitions, inter-association competitions and national trials.
This sport is very challenging and extremely satisfying. Every single competition has a unique range set up requiring a variety of skills from the marksman. Rifle owners now have an opportunity to get more utilization out of the costly investment they have made in the purchase of a hunting rifle. The ultimate shooting sport indeed.
Check out the videos below:
SA OPEN 2017 Promo
View Video Day 1 - World Championship 2014
View Video Day 2 - World Championship 2014
View Video Day 3 - World Championship 2014
View Video Day 4 - World Championship 2014
South African Open Championship 2012
** Videos with compliments of Jan van Niekerk and Phil Mansell
