3-Day Beginner Long Range Hunter Course

This is a three-day, all-inclusive beginner course built for shooters who want a structured introduction to long range hunting and rifle work. Lead instruction is provided by Chad Schearer, with support from the Schearer family, and the program is taught in small classes with students working in two-man teams.

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The curriculum starts with safety, rifle design, marksmanship fundamentals, scope setup concepts, and the differences between mils and MOA, then moves into basic ballistics, wind effects, range estimation, and use of ballistics apps and electronics. Students shoot provided, pre-zeroed Bergara rifles and learn to build stable positions, run the bolt efficiently, confirm data, spot impacts, and engage steel at extended distance while applying the same process to realistic long range hunting scenarios.

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Key training areas include:

• Firearms safety, rifle design and construction, and basic marksmanship fundamentals
• Scope theory and adjustments, including understanding mils vs. MOA
• Positional shooting, rear support use, and realistic long range hunting positions
• Wind reading, range estimation with rangefinders and electronics, and basic ballistics
• Rapid bolt manipulation drills, spotting in two-man teams, and engaging targets out to 1,200 yards

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This course fits newer long range shooters and hunters who want a guided start without bringing a full rifle setup. Bergara supplies the rifle, ammunition, and support gear, and completion of this class is required before attending the academy's advanced course.