FACILITIES AND HOURS OF OPERATION

The Club operates an approved Shooting Club as well as approved rifle, handgun and shotgun ranges (Approvals #BC-223 through #BC-226,#BC-586R, and #BC-587R) approximately 5km west of Radium Hot Springs known as the Rauch Homestead Range.
See Map

Shotgun Sports

Our capabilities for shotgun sports include trap, Modified Skeet, Sporting Clays, Informal 5-Stand, and FITASC although not all disciplines can run concurrently.

For trap, we have a high-quality, voice-activated, automatic trap machine throwing official ATA 16 yard and handicap single targets as well as simultaneous doubles.

We have a modified skeet range which very closely conforms to official skeet dimensions and target presentations.

To accommodate the requirements of Sporting Clays, FITASC and 5-Stand, we have a number of configurable, automatic trap machines with remote activation as well as 6 high quality manual trap machines. These are capable of providing the following target presentations:

• Normal ATA trap
• Springing teal and chandelle targets
• Incoming, dropping targets
• Outgoing targets launched from behind the firing line
• Left-to-right and right-to-left crossers
• Quartering away targets
• Targets bouncing along the ground

Our Sporting Clays course is licensed for 30 shooting stations with a maximum of 16 being active at any one time. The course length is about 1.4 km and includes heavily wooded areas, open meadows and elevated terrain. The course is currently suitable for either walking or quads. For your walking pleasure it is “downhill in both directions”. The course is scheduled to be suitable for golf carts in 2010.

Our expansion plans include the construction of a 40 foot elevated tower to provide high incoming and crossing targets as well.

Also in 2009, we expect to complete implementation of “Trapmaster 07”. This is a Club designed trap machine controller project which commenced in 2007 and will combine state-of-the-art computer technology with our voice activation system to control the various trap machines in accordance with predefined or random sequences and with zero, fixed or random delays between calling for the bird and target release.

Rifle and Handgun

For rifle and handgun shooters, we have a covered firing line with approved backstops and targets at 25, 50, 100, 200 and 250 meters. There are 8 bench rest positions with vibration-free, concrete slabs and adjustable seating designed in accordance with requirements for international bench rest competitions. For handguns, there are 5 firing positions.

Archery

During the summer, archery is normally conducted on private land owned by one of our Club members, located approximately 6 km from Invermere on the road to Panorama Ski Resort just west of Lake Lillian. This outdoor archery range has one full 15 to 100 meter butts and two ranges 10 to 30 meters, beginner & youth.

During the winter, archery is conducted in the Invermere Community Hall.

Certain special archery events are held at the Rauch Homestead Range.

The club has equipment for beginners and youths to use for practice and for youth and group bookings. We have three qualified coaches and many experienced archers to assist

Children’s Air Rifle

This program normally runs from January through April and takes place at the Invermere Community Hall on Thursday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It is intended to provide firearm safety, handling and marksmanship and is provided at no cost to the participant. Using the Club’s 6 high quality air rifles, participants are taught to achieve consistency and continuous improvement in their scores as well as safe handling. See contacts for more information.

Hours of Operation

The rifle and handgun range is open during daylight hours except for organized events or when the range is reserved for exclusive use by others.

The trap range is open from April 1 to October 31 every Sunday and typically either Tuesday or Thursday evenings every second week dependant on the weather. During April, May and October, shooting on Sundays starts at 1PM. During the summer months, shooting on Sundays normally commences at 10:00 am. Evening shoots commence at 6:30 pm. Check with one of the contacts to be sure the range will be open. Special events may have their own specific start times.

Summer archery hours (April 1^st to September 1^st), regular practice and coaching, Wednesday evenings 7 to 9 pm

Fall archery hours (September 1^st to November 1^st), archery practice on your own time

Winter archery hours (November 1^st to April 1^st),regular practice and coaching, indoors at the Invermere Community Hall, Wednesday evenings, 7 to 9pm