Rules

RULES FOR NEW 50 YARD RANGE – Gopher Campfire Club

January 7, 2009

From the beginning over two years ago, the intent of this range has been two-fold; to improve safety while also providing members increased access to the various ranges. The Rifle League held those two important objectives at the top of our minds while generating the following rules:

• All shooting will be from the concrete pad. No firing will be allowed either in front of or behind the concrete pad.
• All shooting will be directed at the backstop. No firing may be directed toward the side berms.
• All firing will be directed through an area between 2 feet and 6 feet above the ground level. This is to prevent potential “skips” out of the range. No targets on the ground.
• No firing at targets closer than 25 yards (there are concrete markers imbedded along the sides of the range).
• No firing is permitted at target frames. Do not place target material in front of the metal posts. Be certain that your line of fire is between the metal uprights.
• Do not attach targets to the wooden cross members. Use the supplied cardboard backers.
• No glass target material is permitted.
• No alcohol is permitted to be consumed either before or during firing.
• No jacketed bullets are permitted. The 3” steel, if hit with a jacketed round will be damaged or destroyed.
• All targets and other trash are to be picked up from the range & pad and deposited in one of the supplied garbage containers. If you brought it, take it back home, or dispose of it.
• Pick up and dispose of your used brass.

The above list is meant to supplement the general safety rules established for the Gopher Range as a whole and were approved at the January 6, 2009 Gopher Campfire Club Board of Director’s meeting.

Club Rules
Rules are very important to keeping our club safe. Please follow these rules at all times.

- The club gate IS to be locked at all times!
- Club grounds shall be open to members and their families 24 hours a day.
- Gopher Campfire grounds shall be a wildlife refuge.
- No one shall hunt on the club grounds, or use the club grounds for access to other areas
   for hunting.
- Each member shall at all times conduct themselves as true sportsmen.
- Conservation of wildlife is a priority, Game Hogs and poachers shall not be tolerated.
- We as members are equally responsible for the care and keeping of our club grounds.
   Litterbugs will destroy our grounds.

 

Range Rules (copy of the letter sent out this fall)
I would like to address the rifle and slug shooters of Gopher Campfire. The majority of Gopher Campfire members are courteous shooters that obey the club rules and gun safety, but there are a few out there that do not.

Once you enter Gopher Campfire property, you, the member, are responsible for your actions and the actions of those with you. I would like to remind all members that the rifle shooting rules are posted at the shooting benches and I would like each of you to read them before you shoot the next time.

In the past we have had holes shot through the building, garbage such as TV sets, microwave ovens, computers, and paint cans shot and left on the range, even the lights have been shot out of the trap range. These actions will no longer be tolerated.

Gopher Campfire is requiring the following:

• Only shoot paper targets properly posted on the cardboard pieces between the 2x4’s.
• Do NOT shoot at the 2x4’s.
• Do not post your targets on the 4x4 uprights. Last spring there was nothing left to post targets on so the club had to replace all the wood structure for shooting.
• Do not shoot at spinner targets, milk jugs or anything else setting on the ground. This type of activity can result in ricochets.
• The garbage barrels are not targets. Please do NOT shoot them.
• Also refrain from shooting full metal jacketed bullets. These bullets do not mushroom and have the tendency to carry further for possible ricochets.

Anyone that is shooting at the range if over 18 years of age MUST be a member, it is everyone’s duty to ensure that all shooters are members, so ask them! If they aren’t members explain to them that they must be and they can pick up membership cards from any of the officers, the gun shop, or Schmeling Oil. If they refuse to leave just call the sheriff or one of the clubs’s officers and we will deal with the individual. If you observe an individual or a group of individuals not following the shooting rules talk to them. If they are causing damage get their license number and call the sheriff or club officer do not try deal with them yourself they do have guns and live ammunition.

I am asking each of you to help police the range. Again no one should be shooting at anything other then paper targets, but if you see items on the range or garbage barrels full please help the club and empty them this also includes your brass. If each of us takes pride in our club we should have a long future of shooting fun at Gopher Campfire. If we can’t curb the misuse of the range, it will force us to close the range to all shooting except for designated shooting times with a range officer present to police the shooters. Shooters, it is up to you! The next few months will prove to us that ALL our shooters are mature enough to leave the range open without a range officer having to parent you!

McLeod County Sheriff – 320-864-3134
Meeker County Sheriff – 320-693-5400
Happy Shooting! Keith Berwald, President of the Gopher Campfire Club.

Last Updated: 5-2-2009