The Gamo Squirrel Master Classic is one the most exciting outdoor shooting sports events in the country. What started as a friendly end-of-hunting-season industry event by Jackie Bushman of Buckmasters has grown into much-anticipated annual “happening” with a serious mission—to raise awareness of the need for hunter recruitment and to promote the next generation of young hunters and shooting sports ambassadors. We are proud to announce that this 2024 event has been the 10nth edition and there will be more to come!
With hunting participation numbers continuing to decline along with the revenue hunting and shooting sports contribute to state habitat management and wildlife conservation, the need for reversing this historical trend has never been greater. Key to moving these outdoor sports toward positive-growth is by getting the youth into the woods so they can experience first-hand the fun and personal rewards of hunting.
For many young hunters and first-time shooters, air rifles provide the gateway to lifelong participation in hunting and shooting activities. This is why we are excited to be the co-sponsor of an event such as the Squirrel Master Classic 2024.
Held at the renowned Southern Sportsman Hunting Lodge located just outside of Montgomery, Alabama, each Squirrel Master Classic consists of several teams. These teams pair noted outdoor television personalities with kids who participate in the 4H Shooting Sports Program along with a national media writer, a squirrel dog, and the dog’s handler. The two-day event includes squirrel hunting and timed shooting competitions using GAMO air rifles. A point system charts each team’s performance, with the top-scoring team winning the event.
This year, participants shot the new GAMO Swarm Viper 10x GEN3i .22 air rifle. The Swarm Viper 10X GEN3i .22 is ideally suited for small game hunting thanks to its impressive 1000 FPS velocity when propelling alloy pellets and its Swarm 10X GEN3i Inertia Fed multi shot technology. This patent-pending 10X GEN3i technology features a sleek and stylish design combined with our horizontal inertia fed magazine integration. The magazine indexes using the inertia force from the recoil of the air rifle—creating a smoother and more precise breech loading process. Utilizing a single-cocking break-barrel charging system, two-stage Custom Action Trigger, and an ergonomically designed stock with rubber inserts, the Swarm Viper 10X GEN3i .22 offers balanced handling and a comfortable fit for precision target shooting and hunting applications.
Participating in the 2024 Squirrel Master Classic were teams comprised of several leading outdoor television programs, including Buckmasters, Archer’s Choice, Buck Commander, Bone Collector, AirgunWebTV and a Influencer Team! Archer’s Choice captured the coveted Squirrel Master Classic trophy.
The Squirrel Master Classic is an event everyone greatly enjoys, from the seasoned hunters to the 4H participants—most of whom have never before hunted. The reward is to see the excitement and the smiles of these youngsters and to know that their experience here will be a spark they’ll carry forward to ensure our hunting and shooting heritage will be around for future generations.