Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 29, 2025 — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is challenging students to show off their shooting and casting skills during the 2025 Marksmanship Challenge at the nature centers across the state, including the Jonesboro location.
During this free event, participants, 6 through 17 years old, will have the chance to put their skills to the test and compete to win regional and statewide prizes as they compete in a series of marksmanship challenges.
Participants will compete in BB guns, slingshots, 3D archery, target-style archery (NASP archery), and casting accuracy. They will be sorted into groups based on grade: first through third grades, fourth through sixth grades, seventh through ninth grades and tenth through twelfth grades.
AGFC assistant chief of education Eric Maynard said students do not have to pre-register to participate, just show up. However, while pre-registry is not required, it does give event coordinators an idea of the number of people to expect, and it is part of the online system to promote programs and events. To register, click here.
The statewide competition will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 2 at any of the Marksmanship Challenge locations, which include the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, located at 600 E. Lawson Road. Other competition locations can be found here.
However, Maynard suggested participants show up by 10:30 a.m. to be able to have time to get through all the activities. This will allow them time to sign in, get their scorecards and complete all five competitions by noon. Participants will turn in their cards to the scoring desk upon completion.
“The top three overall scores in each age group at each location will win medals. The top overall score in each age group will be sent in to determine the top score statewide and each winner in the statewide age group will win a prize,” Maynard said. “I highly encourage high school students to participate. There is usually less competition in those grades.”
The competition is being held at most AGFC nature centers, with only Little Rock and Cooks Lake not participating this year. Due to significant highway construction near the Little Rock site and the remote location of Cooks Lake, Maynard said it was not feasible to have a competition there this year.