Club Rules

Polk County Gun Club adheres stringently to a few key rules.  These are of primary importance to us.

  1. Safety is our #1 concern on all ranges.
  2. Every Member is trained as a Range Safety Officer (RSO) and is obligated to take immediate action if they observe any unsafe activity.
  3. NO round may leave the property! At all times, we strive to ensure all our shots stay on the berms.
  4. A Guest may stop by the Club at any time and may join in shooting with current members on the Skeet or Trap ranges only.
  5. Open Trap is on Mondays and Thursdays. Open Skeet is on Tuesdays and Fridays.  On Saturdays, usually both Trap and Skeet are in progress on separate ranges.  There are no set times for skeet or trap shooting.
  6. No Guest is allowed to shoot on the Pistol or Rifle ranges WITHOUT an accompanying current Club Member.
  7. There is no shooting on any range on Sunday and Wednesday mornings from dawn to noon.
  8. We own all of our property, and we have no debt. All Members do the work around the Club and we expect Members to help as they can.
  9. We like to take advantage of Members’ skills and expertise so we always ask new Members what they can contribute.

In addition, each range has specific rules governing safety and use of the range. See bellow for the range-specific rules.

Rifle Range
Pistol Range
Skeet and Trap Ranges

Rifle Range Rules

  1. At least one member of Polk County Gun Club must be present whenever the rifle range is in use.
  2. When a scheduled match is conducted, the range is closed to all activity other than the match.
  3. Except for scheduled matches, before shooting, all shooters must sign in in the designated place. This includes guests.
  4. When the range is in use other than for a match, any shooter that wishes to shoot from a mat forward of the benches must obtain the approval of all other shooters present.
  5. When shooting at any time other than during a match, shooters on the firing line will coordinate their own cease fires for target installation and shot marking.
  6. The primary responsibility of all persons on the rifle firing line is SAFETY, whether shooting or not. Anyone observing an unsafe condition or violation of the range rules must immediately order a cease fire.
  7. Rifles will NOT, repeat NOT be loaded unless and until located on the firing line.
  8. Shooters must always exercise muzzle discipline, particularly when rifles are being moved onto the firing line or removed from the firing line.
  9. There is NO handling or manipulating of any firearm during a cease fire when people are in front of the firing line. This includes setting up/ removing firearms from vehicles.
  10. During a cease fire/ cold range time, all firearms shall be grounded, with a magazine out, action open, and safety (if present) on. An Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) shall be inserted in the chamber of all firearms. “Grounded” means lying on a mat, lying on a bench, or inside a case.
  11. A shooter calling a cease fire/ cold range is responsible for checking to see that all other shooters hear and understand the request. All shooters on the range MUST comply immediately and go into cold range procedures as described in rule 9.
  12. All shooting will be controlled so as to impact paper targets mounted on the target frames on the 300, 200 or 100 target lines, or clay pigeons set up on the 300, 200 or 100 yard impact berms. Shooters are responsible for installing target backing onto the frames and removing it upon completion of firing (don’t be a slob and leave your target material for someone else to clean up).
  13. No, repeat no, firing is allowed at any target between the firing line and the impact berm, and shooters will insure that rounds do not impact the range short of the target berm or above the target berm. ANY PROJECTILE FIRED ON POLK COUNTY GUN CLUB MUST STOP ON POLK COUNTY GUN CLUB!
  14. Targets of any nature will NOT, repeat NOT be installed on the range short of the target line or impact berm,
  15. Hearing and eye protection is required during any shooting.
  16. Shooters are responsible for cleaning their shooting position after use. This includes policing the spent cartridge cases and putting them in the collection cans, removal of all eating, drinking and other waste material. (Let’s set a proper example

Cecil Race Pistol Range Rules

  1. The pistol range is run as a cold range.
  2. Eye and hearing protection is required during any shooting.
  3. ANY PROJECTILE FIRED ON POLK COUNTY GUN CLUB MUST STOP ON POLK COUNTY GUN CLUB!
  4. All procedures in the CLUB MEMBER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION are always in effect.
  5. Before shooting, all shooters must sign in in the designated place. All columns on the sheet must be filled out. This includes guests. All must sign out as you leave.
  6. Handguns, rifles, pistols, shotguns, and muzzleloaders may be fired on the pistol range.
  7. Centerfire Rifles may be fired only enough to obtain an acceptable and safe zero, then must move to the rifle range. The Board of Directors may permit exceptions to this rule.
  8. There is NO handling or manipulating of any firearm during a cease fire when people are in front of the firing line. This includes setting up/ removing firearms from vehicles.
  9. During a cease fire/ cold range time, all firearms shall be grounded, with a magazine out, cylinders open, and safety (if present) on. An Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) shall be inserted in the chamber of all firearms.. Grounded means lying on a mat, lying on a bench, or inside a case.
  10. A shooter calling a cease fire/ cold range is responsible for checking to see that all other shooters hear and understand the request. All shooters on the range MUST comply immediately and go into cold range procedures as described in rule 9.
  11. Cross firing is never permitted. Set up to shoot straight at your target into the backstop.
  12. All targets must be placed on a club design PVC/ PVC-wood target frame or hung on the wires at the backstop. ALL targets must be placed within 3 feet of the Backstop or hung on the wires at the backstop. Paper/ paper-corrugated backers only. Any configuration of paper target is OK, so long as it does not depict a particular individual. Humanoid silhouettes are OK.  Metal Targets must be INDIVIDUALLY pre- approved by the Board of Directors
  13. All shooters must use a common firing line. The first RSO member to arrive should establish the firing line. New shooters arriving may use the established firing line or wait until the range is freed to move the firing line. The newly arriving RSO/ Member can then establish a firing line of their choosing. Agreement between waiting members is beneficial. Be respectful of other members/shooters when establishing a common firing line.
  14. ALL ROUNDS FIRED MUST TRAVEL FROM THE ARM’S MUZZLE TO THE TARGET, PENETRATE THE BACKER, AND STOP IN THE PROPER PLACE IN THE BACKSTOP, WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY OTHER SURFACE, INCLUDING THE GROUND!!!
  15. The permissible area for projectiles to strike the face of the backstop is delineated by the paint on the posts at the backstop.
  16. Individuals, teams, etc. which have a designated RSO may use a designated firing line at any specified distance from the backstop, so long as the targets are at the berm. Unless this activity is scheduled with the Board of Directors, normal firing line activity takes precedence.
  17. IT IS NEVER PERMISSABLE TO SHOOT AT AN OBJECT LYING ON THE GROUND!
  18. Side berms may NOT be shot into.
  19. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR FIREARM’S MUZZLE!!!