Cmsa

The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is the national sanctioning body for one of the fastest-growing action shooting sports: shooting pistols from horseback while navigating a course. CMSA coordinates events, establishes rules, recognizes championships, and connects shooters with local clubs.

CMSA operates as a network of affiliated clubs scattered across the country. Each club hosts matches—typically Day-Specific Qualifying (DWPQ), Western Performance Qualifying (WPQ), regional championships, and state championships. Competitors register through the club hosting the event, pay entry fees, and compete against shooters of all experience levels.

The competition calendar runs year-round: - Winter Championship (February) - Regional qualifiers throughout spring and summer - State championships (February through July depending on region) - National Championship in May

With 70+ affiliated clubs nationwide, CMSA maintains a searchable event calendar covering:

CMSA doesn't host events directly—member clubs do. Some of the most active include:

• •Colorado Regulators (Winter Buckle Series, indoor shoots)
• •Double L Bar Shooters (NC State Championship, Stampede events)
• •1st Ohio CMSA (Year-round Ohio events)
• •ACMSA (Arizona State Championship, SW Spectacular Regional)
• •East Coast Outlaws (PA-based, Back the Paws fundraiser)
• •Colorado Mounted Thunder (Winter and spring series)
• •Bay State Bandits (Massachusetts State Championship)
• •Lonestar Productions LLC (Fort Worth Stock Show Classic)
• •Northern Illinois Outlaws, Sin City Mounted Shooters (Nevada), Kentucky Sharp Shooters

Each club sets its own schedule, entry fees, and added money (prize pools). Clubs typically limit entries (ranging from 30 to 233 competitors per event) to keep matches manageable.

• •CMSA Winter Championship - Held in February at Horseshoe Park in Queen Creek, Arizona. This is one of the year's largest events.

• •CMSA National Championship - The main event, held in May at Sandhills Global Event Center near Lincoln, Nebraska. This is where year-long points accumulate and national titles are decided.

• •State Championships - Held throughout the season in states with active CMSA presence (Arizona, Florida, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Virginia, etc.)

• •Regional Qualifying Events - CMSA designates certain matches as regional championships or shoot-outs with elevated competition and added prize money.

You'll need: - A horse (calm, responsive to gunfire) - Firearms (typically revolvers, .22 or .45 caliber) - Membership with a participating club - Entry fee for matches ($140–$300+ depending on event)

"Straight Shootin'—Hard Ridin'—Raw Horse Power" — CMSA motto

The sport combines horsemanship, marksmanship, and speed. Competitors navigate courses while drawing and firing at targets from the saddle. Scoring factors in accuracy, speed, and missed targets.

CMSA maintains a full event calendar filterable by: - Month (January through December) - Club name - State - Event type (DWPQ, WPQ, Regional, State, National, Classic)

Each listing shows dates, location, entry limits, and links to registration and event details.

Start by finding a club near you through the CMSA directory, attend a local match, and join that club. Most clubs welcome newcomers and offer beginner-friendly events. The community is active year-round with shoots scheduled nearly every weekend somewhere across the country.