The Mississippi Scholastic Shooting Program (MSSP) is a team-based, youth development program that uses the shotgun sport of Sporting Clays to instill life skills such as discipline, safety, teamwork, ethics, self-confidence, and other life values.  The program utilizes these disciplines to teach hunting skills through the safe use of hunting equipment, including firearms, and their relationship to hunting situations.  Team members can participate in team and individual events.

The MSSP is not designed to compete with 4-H or other youth-based organizations but to complement them in schools. The MSSP provides youth an opportunity to compete for their school in a scholastic shooting sports program.

Program History & Growth

The MSSP began in 2015 as a pilot program with four (4) participating schools with approximately 30 students, and the program has grown annually:

  • 2016 - 2017: seven (7) schools with 110 students.
  • 2017 - 2018: eight (8) schools with 157 students.
  • 2018 - 2019: sixteen (16) schools with 294 students.
  • 2019 - 2020: twenty-nine (29) schools with 498 students.
  • 2020 - 2021: fifty-four (54) schools with 898 students.
  • 2021-2022: sixty-four (64) schools with 1,074 students
  • 2022-2023: seventy-six (76) schools with 1,376 students
  • 2023-2024: ninety-six (96) schools with 934 students

Upcoming Tournaments: 

Qualifier Dates:

North-McIvor Shooting Facility:

  • September 23-28
  • November 4-7

Central-Turcotte Shooting Range:

  • October 7-10
  • November 11-14

South-McHenry Shooting Facility:

  • October 23-24
  • December 4-5

State Championship:

 McIvor Shooting Facility:

  •  February 26-27, 2027

Past Tournament Results:

2025 MSSP State Championship School: East Rankin Academy

MSSP participant lines up a shot on the range

Registration & Login

For Students/Participants

Student/Participant Registration & Login

For Head or Assistant Coaches/Volunteers

Head or Assistant Coach/Volunteer Registration & Login

  • Registration instructions for Head Coaches or Assistant Coaches who have an Hunter Education Instructor Number (have completed a MSSP Coach Class): Video
  • Registration instructions for Assistant Coaches or Volunteers who do not have a Hunter Education Instructor Number (have not completed a MSSP Coach Class): Video
MSSP participant reloads her gun

Coaching Training Classes

Registration is open for coaching training classes for the 2025-2026 season. To register for a class, email your request to MSSP@wfp.ms.gov and go to Hunter Education and Safety, click "Search All Courses" under "Find a Hunter Education Course", and click on "Enter Reserved Class Code". Codes are located below: 

North Region - McIvor Shooting Facility
  • Head Coach - July 16th: MSSP7/16/26
  • Assistant Coach - July 17th: MSSP7/17/26
Central Region - Turcotte Shooting Range
  • Head coach June 18th - MSSP6/18/26
  • Assistant coach June 19th - MSSP6/19/26
South Region - McHenry Shooting Facility
  • Head coach May 28th – MSSP5/28/26
  • Assistant coach May 29th -MSSP5/29/26

Contact Information

For additional information on MSSP, contact:

Gary Holcomb at gary.holcomb@wfp.ms.gov

Annette Whatley at betty.whatley@wfp.ms.gov

Email MSSP@wfp.ms.gov.