Kalamazoo Rod and Gun Club
INFORMATION
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Kalamazoo Rod and Gun Club INFORMATION |
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KRGC, P.O. Box 19571, Kalamazoo, Michgian 49019
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The club was founded in 1934 as the Michigan Trout Club with ten members present at the first meeting. The purpose of the organization was to foster restocking of local streams and lakes to improve fishing. For many years before the State expanded its fish stocking program, the club was already active in planting fish, some furnished by the Department of Conservation and some raised by the club. When Pheasants were introduced, the club raised and released birds to bolster the State program in this area. In cooperation with farmers, the club planted hardwood and softwood trees on unused farm land to conserve soil and improve game habitat.
By 1953 the interests of the club had broadened out so that the original name, Michigan Trout Club, covered but a small part of the Club's activities. The name was then changed to the Kalamazoo Rod & Gun Club.
As membership grew over the years it became apparent that a central headquarters for the club was needed. This led to the purchase in 1955 of the old Brook Farm School on Douglas Avenue. The school house made a good meeting place but the one acre lot was too small for any outdoor activity. In 1956 the need for more land was recognized and the search began for a suitable parcel. In 1957 the site of the current clubhouse was purchased. Construction of the clubhouse was started early that summer. Having sold its Douglas Avenue property the club was forced to use temporary meeting quarters in the old
#4 firehouse at Burdick and Ransom Streets near downtown Kalamazoo. The first meeting in the new clubhouse was held early in 1959. Initially, the fireplace was the sole source of heat for the building. Construction was substantially complete in the spring of 1960. Regular use by archers, rifle, and pistol shooters started the following winter and continues to the present.
An expanding archery program demanded still more land, so some 50 acres north of the clubhouse was rented for archery use. The tenuous nature of the lease led to the purchase of an additional 40 acre parcel west of the original 10 acres, giving the club a total of 50 acres.
Through the 1960's the primary interest in the club seemed to be archery with a 56 target course and a 25 target broadhead course on the rear 40 acres. A one hundred yard rifle range was located where the pole barn is now. Also a manual trap machine was located where our electric trap is now.
During the early 1970's interest in archery seemed to wane and membership hit a low. New members who had an interest in rifle and pistol shooting began to join the club. This in turned led to the construction of a new 200 yard rifle range in 1976. The late 70's also saw construction of a new pistol range where the pole barn is now located.
The 1980's saw continued growth in the club membership. The rifle range was widened and a covered firing line constructed. In 1989 the lower pistol range was closed and the current 25-50 yard range was built to replace it.
The year 1992 marked a milestone in growth. Fifty acres of land adjacent to the north property line of the club came up for sale. The Board of Directors held an emergency meeting and determined it was essential to the future operation of the club that we purchase this land. The club treasuary didn't have the necessary funds for a sizeable down payment, so it was decided that we would appeal to the membership for donations. The membership responded through a mail-in fund raising campaign and we came up with a sizeable down-payment. Then with a generous land contract offered by the owner, the club was able to obtain this 50 acre parcel and double the size of the club's land holdings to the current 100 acres. Membership continued to rise during the 1990's.
The new millenium saw more changes. With the State of Michigan passing CCW reform, interest in short range pistol practice grew. The club responded with the construction of a new 15 yard pistol range. Membership continued to grow and the Board of Directors reluctantly passed a membership cap to avoid over-taxing the facility.
To secure the preservation/promotion of the shooting sports and conservation, the club has affiliated with the following state and national organizations. Members are encouraged to support these organizations. Complete information on each may be obtained by visiting their web-sites.
Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)
www.odcmp.com
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners (MCRGO)
www.mcrgo.org
Michigan Rifle & Pistol Association (MRPA)
www.michrpa.com
Michigan United Conservation clubs (MUCC)
www.mucc.org
National Rifle Association (NRA)
RANGE RULES KRGC is for members only! All guests MUST be accompanied by a current club member. Shooting hours are from 9:00 AM to dusk. Dusk varies with the time of the year. No night shooting. Ranges are open 7 days a week unless closed for events or by the Board of Directors. No alcoholic beverages will be consumed on the ranges. Use of hearing & eye protection is mandatory on all ranges while shooting is in progress. No shooting at glass of any kind. No machine guns or full-auto firing to include the use of any and all trigger assist/mechanical devices used to increase the rate of fire. Muzzleloaders: No open powder containers. No smoking while loading/shooting. Muzzleloaders are considered loaded when a powder charge is present in the barrel. The idea of "unloaded" being a firearm loaded with a powder charge but no cap in battery is unacceptable at our facility. DO NOT handle firearms while people are downrange! This includes taking them in and out of cases, adjusting scopes, etc. Do not shoot at objects on the ground. Bullets may ricochet. Do not shoot at targets closer than 50 yards on the 200 yard range. Please use the 25-50 yard or 15 yard pistol range for targets closer than 50 yards. The use of incendiary, armor piercing, and tracer ammunition is prohibited. Firearms shall not be taken downrange when pulling/changing targets. Properly holstered handguns are the exception. No hunting on KRGC property. This is for safety reasons to keep people form wandering behind ranges. Always point guns in a safe direction at all times. "Safe direction" means the gun is pointed so that if it were to discharge it would not cause injury or fire a bullet off the range. Do not use exploding targets. Use of slugs is permitted on the 25-50 yard range and the 200 yard range. Slugs are not to be used on any other range. To pattern shotguns: Permitted only on the 25-50 yard range. Bring your own backers that are self supporting. DO NOT use club backers. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. Always keep the action open and the firearm unloaded until ready to shoot. Know your target and what is beyond it. Be sure your gun is safe to operate.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Shoot only at authorized targets. Ground-level targets are not authorized without permission of the Board. Unload, open the action, remove detachable magazines, and ground/bench all firearms during "cease fire". No shooting while/or advancing on targets, with the exception of organized Board approved events. No shooting at steel targets closer than 25 yards. No "magazine dumping" of ammunition as fast as one can. This creates a negative stigma toward the shooting community and the club. The uninformed think that machine guns are being fired and that the shooter lacks the discipline required for accurate, aimed fire. This practice is unacceptable at KRGC. DO NOT place targets on or over target frames. Doing so will quickly destroy the frame. Attach targets on the backer, away from the frame. Remember when on all ranges. SAFETY FIRST!
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