At the Moose-Willow Sportsman Club Gun Range, we feel that it is the job of everyone on the ranges and fields to keep our sport safe. Please review the Basic Gun Safety Rules and the Trap Safety Rules below to be sure you understand what is expected of Moose-Willow Sportsman Club members and theirs guests.

Moose-Willow Sportsman Club Range Rules

Basic Gun Safety Rules

Always keep the muzzle of a gun pointed in a safe direction.

Don't touch the trigger until you have the gun pointed at a safe target and you are ready to fire.

Treat every gun as if it is loaded.

Use the safety, but never rely on it.

Never load a gun until you are in a safe place where you can use it.

Unload a gun immediately after you use it.

Only use ammunition, which exactly matches the markings on your gun.

Always read a gun's manual and follow the manual's instructions exactly.

At a shooting range, always keep a gun pointed downrange.

Always obey a range officer's commands immediately.

Always wear adequate eye and ear protection when shooting.

Be certain of your target and what is beyond it before you pull the trigger.

If a gun doesn't shoot when you pull the trigger: keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and take your finger off the trigger; wait thirty seconds in case of a delayed firing; unload the gun carefully, hold up your free arm while facing down range to ask the range officer for help if you need it.

Keep the barrel and action clear of obstructions.

Store guns with the action open.

Store ammunition and guns separately out of reach of children and careless adults.

Never horseplay with a gun or use it as a toy.

Never handle a gun belonging to anyone else or before you have read the gun's manual.

Practice operating a gun empty before you attempt to load and shoot it.

When you transport a gun in a vehicle, make sure it is unloaded and safely contained in a gun case.

Never lean a firearm where it may slip and fall.

Do not use alcohol or mood-altering drugs, including medication, when you are handling guns.

When loading or unloading a gun, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

When you are cleaning a gun, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

When unloading semi-automatic guns by removing the magazine a live round, ready to fire, may still be in the chamber. Always rack the slide after removing the magazine and look for an empty chamber.

If you need corrective lenses, always wearing them when handling a gun.

Know the effective range and the maximum range of a firearm and the ammunition you have.

When cleaning a gun, make sure it is unloaded and all ammunition is in a different room or in a closed container away from the cleaning area.

Clean firearms every time they have been used.


Additional Rules Specifically Related to Trap

Keep the action open at all times, until you are on the line, ready to shoot (the Safety is not used, generally, in Trap, to prevent lost birds)

Keep your eyes trained on EVERY bird, even when you are not shooting. Fragments of a clay pigeon can be extremely sharp, and can cause severe bodily harm if they hit you!

NEVER walk in front of the house when the throwers are still turned on! When in doubt about the state of the thrower, assume that it is turned on, and do not step in front of the house. Be sure that, even if the machine is turned off, the pigeon that is already on the arm, ready to be thrown, has been removed, as well.

Be sure that nobody is in the house before you begin a round of trap.

Always stay behind the current shooter (firing line) during a round of trap. Do not lean over to pick up empties until the round is complete.

Reloaded shotshells don't always shoot as expected, due to a number of variables, including, but not limited to, wet powder, spent primer, etc. If a shotshell does not fire as expected, unload the gun, per instructions listed above, and check to make sure that the wad is not lodged in your barrel. A plugged barrel can explode if another round is fired through the gun, causing bodily harm to the shooter and to those around him/her.

Noloaded guns in the clubhouse! Keep your action open at all times, except when it is your turn to shoot during a round of trap.

If something does not seem right at ANY point while you are shooting, or if you have questions, PLEASE ask somebody!!! In a sport that revolves around operating firearms, being informed and in control at all times is key!

About Us   Calendar / Activities   Membership   Range Rules   Range Facilities   Minutes   For Sale   Scholarship   How We Help   Home   Directions