Think you have what it takes to set a new Illinois State Record or Illowa Irregulars Club Record? At this year’s Illinois State Championship, you’ll get your chance.

We haven’t made a lot of noise about it this year, but one of the unique features of our State Championship match is the State Record Stage. It is shot as part of the regular match, and it gives every shooter one official opportunity to put their name in the record book.

The stage is shot during the match just like any other stage. There are no extra attempts, no practice runs, and no second chances. You get one chance, and one chance only — when you shoot the stage as part of the match.

That is what makes it fun. That is what makes it fair. And that is what makes it count.

How Fast Do You Need to Be?

Want to know what you’re chasing? Click here to see the current Illinois State and Illowa Irregulars Club Record times.

Some of those records are fast, others are very fast. But every record on that list started the same way — one shooter, one stage, one clean run, and one clock.

Maybe your category record looks untouchable. Maybe it looks reachable. Or, maybe it has your name written all over it. There’s only one way to find out – come to the 2026 Illinois State Championship scheduled from July 15-19, 2026.

How the Records Work

Records are kept for each shooting category, for both men and ladies. A shooter must reside in Illinois to hold the Illinois State Record, but any shooter may hold the Illowa Irregulars Club Record.

Everyone who sets a new record by the end of the match will receive a record pin, and all records will be memorialized on the Illowa Irregulars website.

So whether you are chasing a State Record, a Club Record, or just want to see how you stack up, here is your chance to leave your mark.

The State Record Stage

The State Record Stage is designed to be fast, straightforward, and exciting.

Target distances:

• Pistol targets: 12 feet
• Rifle targets: 27 feet
• Shotgun targets: 18 feet

Stage instructions:

• Stand and deliver.
• Gun order is shooter’s choice, RMNBL.
• Single tap sweep both the rifle and pistol targets twice from the same direction — no, you can’t reverse direction.
• Shotgun targets may be engaged in any order.
• Hands are at SASS default.

Are You Coming to Shoot — or Coming to Win?

The Illinois State Championship already promises a full weekend of great shooting, side matches, Wild Bunch, warm-up stages, camping, evening activities, awards, and plenty of time with friends. Click Here for more information about the match, including how to register.

How many times do you have an opportunity to set a new Record? Maybe you already know you can do it. Maybe you want to find out. Either way, bring your best, but don’t miss this RARE opportunity to set a record!

Kudos to Count Sandor, Cowboy Rick, Wicker Nash, Chancy Shot, Logsplitter Chris, and Popcorn Kelly for getting Stage 5’s rebuild started. Here’s a few pictures. Roof is gone a and the deck is extended two feet. We’ll keep you updated on the progress. Will be done by the State Match.

Not registered? Let’s fix that!

Click here to complete the Online Cowboy Registration Form.
Click here to complete the Online Wild Bunch Registration Form.

Click here to download the Paper Registration Forms for both Cowboy and Wild Bunch.

Check out the Who’s Coming List.

The official countdown has started – T-Minus and counting. We’re getting closer to the SASS 2026 Illinois State Cowboy Action and Wild Bunch Championships with each passing day.

• Click here to complete the Online Cowboy Registration Form.
• Click here to complete the Online Wild Bunch Registration Form.
• Click here to download both Paper Registration Forms

If you’re planning to attend, you might as well pull that trigger and get your registration in.

Want to see who’s coming? Check out the Who’s Coming List.

———————- GENERAL MATCH INFORMATION —————————–

• Wednesday: Day 1 Wild Bunch Match
• Thursday: Day 2 Wild Bunch Match followed by WB Awards
• Friday: Side & 3-stage Warm-Up matches;
• Saturday: 6 Main Match Stages;
• Sunday: 4 Main Match Stages followed immediately by an Awards Luncheon at the air-conditioned Milan Community Center.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: We are also excited to announce two (optional) Special Activities during the SASS 2026 Illinois State Cowboy Action Shooting Championship:

1. Free Friday night Pizza Party
2. A Saturday evening Mississippi Riverboat Dinner Cruise aboard the Celebration Belle;
   • This will be an enjoyable evening of camaraderie, dinner, and a few tall tales
   • Cowboy attire encouraged; see the information packet for reservation information; and,
3. Illinois Record Stage to be scored for State and Club Records
4. A Costume Contest for Best Dressed Woman and Man – details to be announced

CAMPING: We are offering on-site dry camping, but there are also several full-service camping options in the area. See our Registration Form for more information or click here.

OUR FACILITIES: Our cowboy town, Camden Mills, has 10 bays all with covered loading and unloading tables, and every bay has a carport to protect those waiting and watching from the sun and rain. Six of the bays have cowboy building facades. Also, the entire range is well-shaded, contained in a reasonably small area (short walks between stages), and the central pathway through the competition range is 100% paved.

On April 18, 2026 the Wildbunch match had 7 shooters. The order of finish was:

Mountainman Champ
Lightning McQueen
Boyd Pearsall
Daisy Ann
Graybeard Ironrider
Lead Poison Lars
Shady Books

On April 19, 2026 the cowboy match hosted 31 shooters. Popcorn Kelly was the match director. The results are below.
Clean Report.pdf

Category Results.pdf
Combined Results.pdf

What do printing your airline boarding pass at home before you leave for the airport and registering for the Illinois State Championship have in common?  

More than you might think.  

We work hard to honor Posse With Requests, and 90+% of the time we’re able to do so. But as the match gets closer, groups of like-minded shooters begin to form.  

Cowboy 1 wants to posse with Cowboys 2 and 3.
Cowboy 6 wants to posse with Cowboy 2.
Then Cowboy 84 wants to posse with Cowboy 6, who is now connected to Cowboy 2.  

See how that works?  

Before long, a single request can become a large interconnected group. We track those connections beginning with the earliest registered shooter.  

So what do boarding passes and match registration have in common?  

Answer: The earlier you register, the better your chances that we’ll be able to honor your posse requests—just like checking in early for a flight improves the odds that you’ll keep your seat and not get bumped.  Right now, we already have one connected group of 12 and two connected groups of 10 based solely on cross-linked posse requests. We don’t yet know the final posse size, but it will likely end up in the 16–18 shooter range.  

Once a posse reaches that limit, a new registrant who wants to posse with someone in that group may not be able to be accommodated. We handle these requests on a strict first come, first served basis, with preference going to those who registered earliest.  

Moral of the story:
If posse requests matter to you, get your registration in soon.  

——–  

ONLINE REGISTRATION: Our online forms allow up to 2 registrants per form. However, please note that if you’re planning to shoot both Cowboy and Wild Bunch you’ll need to complete both forms.  

• Click here to complete the Cowboy Registration Form.
• Click here to complete the Wild Bunch Registration Form.
  • Please note, you can also download event specific information like Event Schedules, Camping, Dinner Cruise, and Host Hotel information by clicking on the appropriate links below.  

PAPER REGISTRATION: Click here to download the Paper Registration Forms for both Cowboy and Wild Bunch, as well as the required waiver, and camping information. Follow instructions on the forms.