Club Rules
Portage Rod and Gun Club Constitution
Definitions
Member:
Any member in good standing with the club.
Membership Card:
Identifies members in good standing.
Guest:
Any “Non-Member” on club property properly accompanied by a “Member."
Visitor:
Any unaccompanied “Non-Member” on club property.
Gun Rack:
Any fabricated structure designed to store/hold firearms when not in use in a safe orientation.
ECI (Empty Chamber Indicator):
Any flag (safety) device inserted into the action and or chamber of a firearm that is immediately identifiable by a bystander and indicates that the chamber does not contain a cartridge.
Range Safety Officer (RSO):
Portage Rod and Gun Club does not have full time RSO(s). In our case this could be a club officer, a law enforcement officer or DNR official who showed up to make sure everyone is safe, or a regular member who has taken charge of the situation in the absence of the above. The bottom line is, if someone is acting as an RSO, their commands are the law.
Firing Line:
The forward-most portion of the shooting area, where all firing takes place.
Impact Berm:
This is a raised earth hill and is the area where a fired projectile should always contact after passing through a target.
Protective Berm:
These are special barricades designed to protect people and equipment. The dividing walls on the pistol range qualify as protective berms. Shooters must take care to avoid hitting/shooting these berms. Under no circumstances should a target ever be attached to these walls.
Grounded Firearm:
This is a condition where the firearm is unloaded, made safe, and placed on a bench, gun rack, or cased. There should be no contact with the firearm when it is grounded.
Cold/Clear Range:
A cold range is when all shooters have grounded their firearms and cleared the firing line. Once the firing line is declared “Cold” it is safe or clear to go down range.
Hot Range:
When the range is declared “Hot”, firearms may be handled, loaded, and fired in a safe and controlled manner while at the firing line.
Hot Table:
A bench where you may load or unload your carry weapon.
Ceasefire:
When a “Ceasefire” is called, the range immediately goes “Cold." Immediately stop shooting, unload your firearm (magazine out, action open and empty chamber) and make it safe. Ground your firearm and do not handle it. A cease fire is usually called mutually when targets need to be put up, changed, or checked. A ceasefire should be called immediately, whenever safety is in question.
Sky Drawing:
The practice of drawing a bow back while the arrow is aimed above the target, before lowering the aim point down onto the target.
Membership
Membership can be purchased or renewed at the gun club or at DW sports in downtown Portage.
DW sports sells memberships but does not provide the gate code. Memberships purchased at DW sports will need to pick up the code for the gate at the gun club during hours of operation.
Portage Rod and Gun Club is a members-only gun club.
The facilities are designed for the use of active club members in good standing. In order to secure the club from misuse, theft, and/or vandalism the gun club has installed a security gate at the entrance to the gun club.
Member information is listed below.
Active club members in good standing will receive a combination for the lock on the gate. Members should not give the combination to any non-member, doing so will result in immediate revocation of membership and loss of all privileges at the gun club. Upon entering the club grounds, members are required to lock the gate behind them.
The gate securing the entrance to the gun club is to remain locked with the following exceptions:
The club is hosting an event where non-members will use club facilities.
The following list provides examples where the club may decide to leave the gate open:
IDPA Shoots
ATA Shoots
Hunter Safety Education
Snowmobile Safety Education
Business hours for the gun club
Membership Rules
Active Military Personnel on leave, may use the ranges at PRaGC without holding an active membership and do not need to be accompanied by an active member.
PRaGC requests such personnel possess credentials and leave pass on your person. (Range rules must still be observed.)
Only members in good standing may use the Archery, Rifle, and Pistol ranges, or hunt on club property with the following exceptions:
Members using the club to hunt may use portable stands only. No permanent stands allowed. Portable stands may be set up 1 month prior to bow season and must be removed by January 15th.
Guest privileges are extended to the spouse, children and grandchildren up to age 18; unless he/she is continuing their education. In no case will a parent or guardian's membership be valid for a dependent when they reach the age of 23. Please inform club officials if you have a dependent between the ages of 18 and 23 that meets this criterion Only members issued a card may vote on any club issue. The member issued the card must remain with family members.
Members may escort a non-member (guest/companion) on club property.
The guest may use the ranges when all the following conditions have been met:
The active member must be in good standing (no exceptions).
Guests must purchase a one-day membership. Cost of the one-day membership will be $10.00 and must be purchased in advance.
Guests using the club under a one-day membership are not allowed hunting privilege on club property (no exceptions).
Non-Members may use the trap fields, skeet fields, participate in sporting clays, or any other event where rounds are charged and paid per event.
These are scheduled events and the club must be open for business.
Annual club membership is from January 1st through December 31st.
Portage Rod and Gun Club does not pro-rate memberships. Members should have their membership card on their person and be prepared to present it, along with picture ID, when asked to do so.
Each member is required to contribute at least four (4) hours per calendar year to the gun club.
These hours are tracked on the back of each members card and the Work Hours Log Book. When a member completes a work activity at the gun club, he or she should have the director present to sign the back of their membership card with following information: Date, hours worked, signature.
The director should also update the hours worked in the Work Log Book that is kept behind the bar and record the following:
Date and hours worked
Event or activity
Director signature.
It is the responsibility of each member to ensure work hours are tracked appropriately.
The work hours program runs from January 1st through December 31st of a given membership year.
The club has determined that work hours are valued at $12.50 per hour and that each member is required to work a minimum of four (4) hours. Members are not required to work all four hours at one time, they may separate their work hours in one-hour increments.
Members may choose to work all or none of their hours. Each member is required to produce their previous years membership card at renewal to validate the number of hours worked and pay out any remaining work hours if required.
If four hours are not completed during the work year or before renewal the member will be assessed a $50 fee at the next renewal.
Any member may be expelled from the club, have their membership revoked, or be brought before the board of directors for the following:
Destruction of club property (by any means)
Poor Sportsmanship
Unbecoming Conduct
Violation of Club Regulations
Any Action Considered by the Board of Directors to be Detrimental to the Welfare of the Portage Rod and Gun Club.
Absolutely no pets are allowed inside the clubhouse.
Archery Range Rules
Sky Drawing is not allowed.
Only field points or target arrows may be shot at club targets.
Archers sharing a target shall designate a common firing line.
All relevant range rules are applicable to the archery range, by substituting archery terminology.
Range Rules
The first rule and priority of the range is safety.
Shooting hours are from 8:00AM until dusk.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Membership rules apply to all ranges.
All Federal, State, and Local firearms laws must be obeyed.
All universal/fundamental firearms safety rules should be practiced at all times.
All ranges are to remain “Cold," until by mutual and unanimous consent of all shooters or RSO. Handling, loading, and firing cannot commence until the range is declared “Hot".
Portage Rod and Gun Club does not utilize any full time Range Safety Officers (RSO).
We expect every member to police themselves and to control the environment around them. “Ceasefires" may be called by mutual consent of all shooters on the line, by an RSO, or immediately by anyone if safety warrants it. Any command of “Ceasefire” needs to be immediately obeyed by all shooters. No one is allowed down range until the range is declared “Cold” and “Clear” by mutual and unanimous consent of all shooters or an acting RSO.
It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure the firing line is safe before anyone goes forward of the firing line. Tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, and steel core ammunition are strictly prohibited. Portage Rod and Gun Club reserves the right to inspect any firearm or ammunition being used on the ranges. Cross firing of targets is not allowed.
All firing needs to be aimed fire.
Rapid Fire or Bump Fire is allowed, but only to the extent that all shots remain controlled and aimed. You will be asked to leave if someone sees you spraying bullets outside of your target zone and dispensary action may be explored by the Board of Directors.
All fired projectiles must come to rest in the “Impact Berm” immediately after passing through the target.
Target holders should be adjusted to ensure this. No projectiles should contact the ground prior to entering the berm. Skipping or ricocheting projectiles into the berm is not allowed. No targets are to be placed on top of or near the top of the berm. Pistol range divider walls are not to be shot at or into. They are designed to be a safe barrier between separate ranges only.
All targets should be constructed to allow projectiles to pass straight through to the berm.
No glass, plastic containers, or metal objects are to be used as targets. Explosive targets are not allowed. Metal targets expressly constructed for shooting sports may be used. Examples include spinners, silhouettes, gongs, and poppers. Targets must be made of metal appropriate for the firearm, such as AR400 steel, AR500 steel, or appropriate steel targets for rimfire calibers.
All metal targets must be in good condition with a smooth surface to reduce the risk of lead debris being deflected back toward the shooter. Metal targets for pistol caliber firearms must be placed a minimum of 15 yards (45 feet) or further away from the firing point and be engaged ONLY with pistol calibers. Ammunition used to engage metal pistol targets must not exceed a muzzle velocity of 1,500 feet per second. Metal targets for rifle caliber firearms must be placed a minimum of 100 yards (300 feet) from the firing point. Any metal targets engaged by a centerfire rifle must have a velocity of less than 3,000 feet per second at impact. Steel targets must be mounted on a stand and oriented at 90 degrees to the ground or angled so that debris and spatter deflected are directed downward towards the ground. They are not allowed to be laid directly on the ground or berm or propped such that any debris is deflected upward.
Alcoholic beverages and other controlled substances are not permitted on the range. Use of alcohol and or controlled substances before or while shooting is prohibited and will result in dispensary action by the Board of Directors.
Safety Glasses and Hearing Protection (“Eyes and Ears”) are mandatory on all ranges. This includes spectators. Please remember to bring these items with you.
Practice proper range etiquette and be courteous to other shooters. Watch where your empty cases go. The shooter next to you will not like your hot cases bouncing off him/her or their equipment.
You are responsible for picking up your empty cases. You may keep any brass that you bring. Cases on the range, or in collection containers are the property of the Portage Rod and Gun Club and are not to be taken. Containers will be provided for shotgun hulls, brass cases, steel cases, and aluminum cases. Please sort your cases into the correct container. These containers are for cases only, not general trash. All members are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. If you brought it with you, take it with you when you leave. Paper or cardboard only, may be placed in the burn barrel located between trap two and trap three. Only club officers may burn this trash.
The Portage Rod and Gun Club's Board of Directors reserves the right to modify or make exceptions (on a case-by-case basis) to these rules at any time. It is each member's responsibility to know and review the current rules.