Argyle Rod and Gun Club Safety Rules
Revised October 2024
The Board of Argyle Rod and Gun Club, Inc. has approved this document as its list of Safety Rules to be followed at all times while on the Club’s property.
All American Trap Shooter’s Association (ATA), National Skeet Shooters Association (NSSA) and National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) rules also apply at all times while on ARGC property, including but not limited to those listed below: (ATA, NSSA and NSCA rules are available on their respective websites.)
Safety Rules
These rules apply, as applicable, to the discharge of any other weapon on ARGC property. (Rifles and pistols on the Rifle Range, Air Guns, Bows and Crossbows to name a few.)
Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand and Sporting Clays fields are Shotgun Only, with ammunition limited to target loads with shot size of 7 ½ or smaller. Other weapons may only be discharged at the Rifle / Pistol range. The rifle / pistol range is open to members only when shotgun shooting or other events are not in progress.
Shooters and spectators must check in at the club house before proceeding to the Sporting Clays Course or Skeet / Trap field(s).
Ear and eye protection are required to be worn by shooters, score keepers and close proximity spectators at all times.
When not on a shooting station, guns must be empty and the action left open at all times. Over/unders must be carried broken open. Shooters must unload and keep action open when moving between shooting stands.
Gun muzzle must always be pointed in a safe direction or down the firing range when ready to shoot. Sooters must never turn around in a shooting station until their gun is empty and the action is open. (Be especially cautious in the event of a malfunction of your gun or others.)
Shooting is restricted to shooting from a marked shooting station. (The only exception being Trap Games such as Follow-the-Leader, Shoot-Offs and the like. This may only occur under the supervision of shoot management. Absolutely no shooting from beyond appropriate field including but not limited to behind the sidewalks, in the parking lot, driveways or any area that could be occupied by non-shooters.) Load only when on the designated shooting station and only after the shooting area is secure. If you are not in a station, your gun must not be loaded. Unload before leaving the shooting station. Never travel with a loaded gun.
Only one person shoots at a time at the designated shooting station. Backup shooting is not allowed.
Do not load more than two shells in the gun at any one time (one for singles Trap and station 8 Skeet).
Use of any shot size larger than 7.5 is prohibited. Shells with more than 1 1/8 oz. of shot are prohibited. ARGC reserves the right to ban reloads that, at its sole discretion, appear to violate this standard.
upon entering a station, shooters must always check to make sure that the traps are clear and there are no workers in the area. Shooters must always unload and yield to workers filling or repairing the traps in the field area. All guns must be unloaded and muzzles pointed up or away from persons. Never push the pull cord buttons that release the targets until the worker has left the field area.
Notify management of trap problems. Do not approach trap machines.
No one under the age of 17 is allowed on any of the shooting facilities unless under the close supervision by adult over the age of 21. (Member Exception: Members under 17 years of age are restricted from participating unattended in shooting activities unless they are: at least 12 years of age, have successfully completed a State Hunter Safety Course and have been approved to be unaccompanied by the Range Officer.)
Novice shooters are required to inform the sign-up desk of that fact. ARGC will then appoint a qualified person to accompany them on the course / field to assist with them becoming familiar with safety, equipment and shooting techniques with the intent of facilitating safety and providing a positive experience for novice shooters.
No shooter is ever to enter or remain in shooting areas if they are under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs or medications, both for their own safety and that of the other shooters. Absolutely no alcohol or drugs are allowed in the shooting areas. ARGC reserves the right to ask any person who has consumed alcohol or appears to be impaired to refrain from shooting and leave the shooting areas.
Firearms must be in good working condition.
Always be sure of your target and what is behind it before firing.
Never carry different gauges of ammunition. (i.e. 12 gauge and 20 gauge)
Never tighten choke tubes when your gun is loaded.
Shooting from the hip or any other place other than from the shoulder is strictly prohibited.
Never handle another shooter’s gun without permission.
Should you experience an ammunition or gun malfunction, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction until the firearm is rendered safe. If the previous shot did not sound normal, then safety check your chamber and bore for blockage. Rods are provided at the gun racks to unplug barrels that may have an obstruction after a” dud” or “blooper” load.
While waiting your turn to shoot, always ensure your position does not infringe upon other shooter’s line of fire or field of view. Observe the NSCA 3’ safety rule.
Practice swings and/or dry pointing at clays, other targets or objects is not permitted unless you are in your designated shooting station.
The shooting of any wildlife and/or other inanimate objects other than clay targets is strictly forbidden.
Always stay on the designated pathways. No one allowed in restricted areas or off pathways at any time.
No one without a valid driver’s license is allowed to operate any kind of motor vehicle including but not limited to cars, trucks, golf or clay carts, and any ATV’s. An exception is made for golf carts, clay carts and ATV/UTV vehicles. Persons over 12 may operate these vehicles if they have been approved by the Board to do so. Any observation of unsafe operation, excessive speed, operation too close to pedestrians or in unapproved areas will result in revocation of this privilege.
Please no littering. Please extinguish smoking materials in containers provided.
Please no soliciting.
No pets allowed without prior permission. If given permission, all pets must be kept on a leash and cleaned up after.
Please report any unsafe conditions to management immediately.
All shooters must unload and step out of the shooting station when requested to do so by ARGC staff.
ARGC reserves the right to deny shooting privileges or access for any unsafe and/or unsportsmanlike conduct. Failure to follow posted rules will result in the shooters removal from the shooting grounds. These rules are a general guide. ARGC reserves the right to remove shooters, who at its discretion are committing unsafe acts whether listed in the Safety Rules or not.
Harold Marzolf is the Range Officer should questions arise. (608-558-5807).
If Harold Marzolf is not available, any other Board Member may be consulted. They are:
Lance Flannery – President (608-214-1456)
Tom Larson – Board Member (608-574-2638)
Bart Briggs – Board Member (608-293-2829)
Rob Driver – Board Member (608-329-7777)
Greg Stamm – Board Member (608-214-0765)
Brian Mundt – Board Member (608-214-3526)
Dan Borhart – Vice President (608-558-4550)
Todd Lincicum – Board Member (608-293-1585)
Above all, THINK “SAFETY FIRST AND ALWAYS”! Safety is everyone’s responsibility