Rules
General Biathlon Rules:
The biathlon portion of this event will consist of four target shooting areas throughout a mile and a half course. The first three shooting areas will be in a wooded setting with participants loading and shooting two shots within each area from the standing position. In the last area, which will be in a field setting and open to spectators, participants will fire 3 final shots. All nine shots will be on the clock and fired at various sized square hanging steel targets at ranges 35 to 50 yards. A total of 5 minutes will be deducted from your overall running time for each target hit. The last target station will be in an open area where families of the participants or anyone interested can watch. This makes for a good winter family outing. Spectators are allowed to walk the course and must observe safety rules, and give right of way to participants. Please observe the instructions of the event officials at all times. All participants are to follow the marked trail. Think safety while traversing the course.
Other Contests:
Additional competitive shooting events, such as our “Absolute Marksman” competitions and the “5 Card Shoot and Draw” will also be taking place throughout the day. Inquire with event organizers the day of the event for specifics.
Weather:
Event will be held regardless of weather. In the event there is insufficient snow, please bring good walking boots. Competitors will NOT be required to carry their snowshoes if there is a lack of snow.
Prizes:
Awards will be presented to the top 3 competitors within each class within the biathlon and multiple door prizes will be raffled off each day to all entrants.
Prize eligibility is limited to entrants who observe all rules and regulations. A partial list of prizes will appear on our home page. All paid entrants will be automatically entered in a raffle and eligible to win a variety of prizes. Seperate tickets will be available for a grand prize drawing. Proceeds from the raffle go to benefit a non-profit organization or other worthy cause. To date, this event has contributed $3400 to Green Mountain Conservation Camps and $13,400 to the Manchester Rod and Gun Club's Green Mountain Conservation Camps Scholarship Fund.
Safety:
SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE FIREARM HANDLING AT ALL TIMES IS MANDATORY!!!!!!
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO TRAVERSE THE COURSE WITH THEIR FIREARM UNLOADED.
Under no circumstances will alcoholic beverages be permitted during the shooting portions of the event (9:00am- 3:00 pm Saturday and 9:00am-2:00pm on Sunday). The event organizers have the right to ask any intoxicated persons to leave the premises at any time.
Attire:
Period dress is definitely encouraged but not required.
Entry Fees:
- Competitor's entry fees for single run: $10 (pre-register) or $15 (at the gate)
- "Off-the-clock" Woods Walk: $10 (pre-register) or $15 (at the gate)
- Additional Runs or Walks: $10 each
- King of the Hill: FREE for all biathlon competitors. $10 donation for others.
- Absolute Marksman: $5
- 5 Card Shoot and Draw: $5 donation per hand or 3 hands for $10
- There is no admission fee for spectators.
Scoring:
In the spirit of the event, it's either hit or miss. Misfires are misses. All times will be adjusted based on shooting scores. 5 minutes per hit will be deducted from your overall running time. Multiple entries for the biathlon and Woods Walk portion of the event are accepted however you must pre-determine which score you would like to count before your second run begins. On any questions regarding rules, regulation, or results, the decision of the organizers is final.
Specific Class Rules:
There will be 7 separate biathlon classes to compete within:
- Smoothbore
- Rifle bore (flintlock or caplock)
- Open class (age 17-59)
- Women
- Elder (age 60 and over) [Note: revised on Feb. 1, 2006 - previously 65)
- Junior (age 16 and under, with parent or guardian consent)
- Inline
Smoothbore Rules:
- Single-barreled, primitive-styled smoothbore (no rear sight) flintlock or caplock ONLY.
- Muzzleloaders firing round ball only.
- Pre-measured powder is fine to use. You could even use the ball in the paper as well.
- No speed loaders. Ball blocks and paper cartridges are acceptable. Historically correct paper cartridges are not considered speed loaders. These are fine.
- All participants will run / walk a marked trail on traditional wood-framed snowshoes; unloaded and unprimed for safety with slings used only for carrying your weapon not for firing.
- All shooting will be from a standing position (off hand), unaided by shooting sticks, slings or other external aids. No speed loaders will be allowed, all loading will be from the bag.
- The testing of priming powder and / or snapping of caps will be done on the practice range only.
- Traditional wood-framed snowshoes ONLY.
Rifled Flintlock or Caplock Rules:
- Single-barrel primitive styled rifled bore reproduction firearms ONLY.
- No inline firing mechanisms or optical sights.
- Muzzleloaders firing round ball only.
- Pre-measured powder is fine to use. You could even use the ball in the paper as well.
- No speed loaders. Ball blocks and paper cartridges are acceptable. Historically-correct paper cartridges are not considered speed loaders. These are fine.
- All participants will run / walk a marked trail on traditional wood-framed snowshoes; unloaded and unprimed for safety with slings used only for carrying your weapon not for firing..
- All shooting will be from a standing position (off hand) unaided by shooting sticks, slings or other external aids. No speed loaders will be allowed, all loading will be from the bag.
- The testing of priming powder and / or snapping of caps will be done on the practice range only.
- Traditional wood-framed snowshoes ONLY.
Inline Rules:
- Single-barrel Inline rifles ONLY.
- Optical sights/scopes are allowed.
- Pellet charges and sabot bullets are allowed in this class only.
- Speed loaders are allowed in this class only.
- Modern snowshoes may be used in the inline class only.
- No center or rim fired rifles allowed.
- All participants will run/walk a marked trail on traditional or modern framed snowshoes; unloaded and unprimed for safety with slings used only for carrying your weapon not for firing.
- All shooting will be from a standing (off hand) position, unaided by shooting sticks, slings or other external aids.
- The snapping of caps will be done on the practice range only.
- Modern snowshoes may be used for the inline class only!
- SPECIAL REQUEST: IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PRIMITIVE PROTION OF THIS EVENT, WE ENCOURAGE WOOLIES OR TRADITIONAL VERMONT HUNTING ATTIRE BE WORN.
Off the Clock Woods Walk:
- This portion of the event will be an “off the clock” Woods Walk utilizing the 1.6 mile Biathlon course and targets.
- Entry Fees will be $10 (pre-register) or $15 (at the gate). Additional runs are $10 each.
- To keep it simple, all competitors regardless of age, gender, or muzzleloader type will compete against each other in this event.
- Targets at each station will be assigned points based on their distance. Each hit will accrue score toward your grand total.
- You will be allowed two shots at stations 1 thru 3, and three shots at station 4 totaling 9 shots.
- To help avoid ties, a 10th and final shot at “The Gong” (station 5) will be required by all Woods Walk participants however no points will be added to your final score for a hit or miss. By hitting the gong with your tenth shot, the shooter will be allowed to draw a card from the official SVTPB deck. This card value will be used to determine the winner in case of a Woods Walk tie. Highest card wins (Aces high). The face value of the card will not be added to the score of the nine previous shots nor will the hit of the gong have any value other than allowing for a card to be drawn if hit. In the unusual case of 2 competitors having the same grand total scores, yet both missing the gong, or both drawing the same card value, then a second gong shoot and draw will determine the winner.
- Misfires count as misses throughout the entire course including station 5.
- Snowshoes are not required, but may be used if entrant wishes.
- All Participants will walk a marked trail; unloaded and unprimed for safety with slings used only for carrying your weapon not for firing.
- All shooting will be from a standing position standing (off hand) unaided by shooting sticks, slings or other external aids.
- The snapping of caps will be done on the practice range only.
- In the event of congestion at the shooting stations, the “Walkers” are asked to please allow the runners the right of way so as to not delay their running time.
King of the Hill:
In an effort to offer competitive shooting opportunities to individuals who are either physically unable to traverse the course or for those who just want to do more shooting, we may be hosting a “King of the Hill” shooting competition. Due to possible congestion of shooters, King of the Hill shooting hours may be limited throughout the event and will be determined by the event coordinators, based on demand. REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST!
This portion of the event will consist of the following:
- Included in the registration of the Biathlon each competitor is elligable to compete in the King Of the Hill portion of the event at no additional charge.
- Once you are registered, the competitor can make his or her way to the top of “Top Knot Hill” where they will await their turn to shoot.
- King of the Hill shooting hours may be limited due to range congestion throughout certain portions of the day and will be determined by the event coordinators on an hourly basis.
- This King of the Hill shoot will be a timed event where each competitor will load and fire at a specified target attempting to hit the target 3 times in the shortest amount of time. The fastest time will be continually posted throughout the day.
- Once a competitor is registered for this event he or she can try as many times as they would like at beating the posted fastest time or just try to improve upon their own time.
- Each competitor will be allowed a maximum of 4 shots per attempt.
- To keep it simple, all competitors regardless of age, gender, or muzzleloader type will compete against each other in this event.
- Should an individual be interested in participating solely in this portion of the event then a $10.00 participation fee will be incurred at registration.
The Absolute Marksman:
This "off-the-clock" shooting event tests the marksmanship skills of all participants by shooting 5 rounds from the off-hand position at a paper target. Highest total score at the end of the event wins.
- Each competitor must provide a $5.00 donation to register for this portion of the event and sign the release form before participating in this shooting activity.
- Once you are registered, the competitor can make his or her way to the top of “Top Knot Hill” where they will await their turn to shoot.
- Once a competitor has registered and submitted their one time $5.00 donation for this specific event, he or she can try as many times as they would like at beating the posted highest score or just try to improve upon their own score.
- Each competitor will be allowed a maximum of 5 shots per attempt.
- To keep it simple, all competitors regardless of age will compete against each other in this event however there will have separate classes for rifled bore and smoothbore shooting.
- Should an individual be interested in participating solely in this portion of the event then a $10.00 participation fee will be incurred at registration allowing the shooter to participate as many times as he or she would like.
- Scoring will be based on NMLRA standard 50% rule.
5 Card Shoot and Draw
This new “off the clock” shooting event combines both skill of a marksman and “Luck of The Draw” by allowing 5 shots to be taken at a specified gong target with each hit allowing the shooter to draw a card from the official SVTPB deck. Best 5card poker hand at the end of the event wins.
- Each competitor must provide a $5.00 donation fee for each individual hand or $10.00 for 3 hands.
- Once you are registered, the competitor can make his or her way to the top of “Top Knot Hill” where they will await their turn to shoot.
- Each competitor will be allowed a maximum of 5 shots per attempt.
- One card will be drawn for each hit.
- Misfires do not count as shots, however missing the gong does count as a shot and minimize the number of cards that can be drawn for that particular hand.
- Standard poker rules apply.
- No cards will be considered “Wild” however numerous cards within the deck will be randomly marked as specified prize winners thereby increasing the shooters chance to win some of the many donated prizes. The face value of the marked card will continue to count as the card value within your 5 card hand.
- Draw a joker and receive a “Free 5 Shot Hand” at no charge. The joker card itself will be of no other value thereby allowing the shooter to draw a replacement card.
- To keep it simple, all competitors regardless of age, gender, or muzzleloader type will compete against each other in this event.
- Poker hand values will be based upon the standard poker rules as seen on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_rankings
- In the case of a tie, next highest card in the hand determines the winner.
