Dear GMGC Shooters,
First, I would like to thank Brian Vogt and Carlton Neel for acting as co-chairs of the shooting committee for many years. The Club and shooting group are better off for all their services over the years.
Once again, we look forward to another successful shooting season, hoping to add some new events to bring our shooting community together more often. The ForeTees sign-up has been very helpful for staff planning and time efficiency for the members. However, ForeTees does remove some of the camaraderie among members, which some miss. So, we plan to use ForeTees for Altimus on Sundays but will have open shoots on Saturday for Wobble Trap. Wobble Trap is a much quicker game, so this will allow some downtime for members to watch others shoot or view a game on the new TVs in the Shooting Hut.
The Gulph Mills shooting program has a long and strong track record of safety. Experienced shooters have helped newer shooters improve their technique and demonstrate proper safety habits. The shooting program is not designed to accommodate new participants to the sport. There are several excellent facilities not far from the club where instructors are available. For parents who would like to get their children involved or members who are a little intimidated by the sport, I will offer my shooting simulator from time to time. The simulator uses a real gun but no ammunition. It’s a system that Olympic trap teams use to train in the off-season. Please reach out if you have interest. I can also choose a few times and invite those who want to try.
With the commitment to safety, please note the following rules and protocols:
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Only shotguns with an action that can open are allowed. No semi-automatic or pump shotguns are allowed on the range.
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Always ensure your gun is unloaded at all stations before leaving.
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At station 1 of Altimus, make sure you load your gun pointing toward the ground, away from the trap house in front of you.
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On the Wobble Trap field all participants must have their own gun. Walking between stations to share a gun will not be tolerated.
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On the Wobble Trap field, when leaving station 5, please turn to your right, away from other shooters, when walking to station 1.
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Do not leave your station on the Wobble Trap field until all participants have finished shooting at their assigned station.
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If your gun misfires, aim the gun to the ground and wait 30 seconds before breaking the barrel.
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Safety is paramount. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure safe gun handling by all shooters. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable from a safety perspective, immediately inform the Ranger Officer.
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All guests must be approved by a member of the Shooting Committee 24 hours in advance.
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Anyone participating in shooting activities must review the safety cards at the shooting hut and sign a waiver.
We know there are many rules, but these rules must be enforced to protect the staff, members and the program. The cost for a round will be $21 with ammo and $15 without ammo.
The Links, Lock & Load is the first event on the calendar, scheduled for October 26th. A separate announcement will go out via email, so if you are not currently receiving emails and would like to be on the not distribution list, please sign up here or contact Mason Flinn.
The first regular shoot will be on Sunday, October 27th.
We look forward to another successful shooting season and hope to see you all on the range.
Respectfully,
Mason Flinn
Chair, Shooting Committee