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Creating a muzzleloader club

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Tanker,
I am the Director of the Muzzleloading Division of the Michigan City Rifle Club.
The MCRC was founded in 1935 and the Muzzleloading Division, “The Sand Dunes Longrifles”, was formally established as a Division in 1967.
The MCRC has several divisions in addition to Muzzleloading.
We have: Trap, Small Bore Rifle, Pistol, Cowboy Action, Rimfire Challenge & Women’s Defensive Pistol.
Each division generates income for the club by holding “shoots” that are open to the public.
As a “Division” within the MCRC, all divisional activities and shoots are covered by MCRC’s insurance.
I don’t know how your Sportsman’s Club is set up, but you might consider investigating the possibility of becoming an internal “Division” of the Club as we have done.
 
As a volunteer instructor for our 4H club shooting sports division, we teach muzzle loading as well as rim fire target competition and safety to a couple dozen youngsters every month at a private range. There are 4H clubs all over the country, county sponsored. Dive in!
 
Tanker,
I am the Director of the Muzzleloading Division of the Michigan City Rifle Club.
The MCRC was founded in 1935 and the Muzzleloading Division, “The Sand Dunes Longrifles”, was formally established as a Division in 1967.
The MCRC has several divisions in addition to Muzzleloading.
We have: Trap, Small Bore Rifle, Pistol, Cowboy Action, Rimfire Challenge & Women’s Defensive Pistol.
Each division generates income for the club by holding “shoots” that are open to the public.
As a “Division” within the MCRC, all divisional activities and shoots are covered by MCRC’s insurance.
I don’t know how your Sportsman’s Club is set up, but you might consider investigating the possibility of becoming an internal “Division” of the Club as we have done.
Thanks I will look in to that. I didn't think of that at all.
 
The meeting went well tonight with the members and the muzzleloader club is approved. We have our first official meeting on Oct 10th. I'm hoping to have some shoot dates after then.
 
Update on my quest for a muzzleloader club. Our first meeting went well. There were on 5 in attendance. We had 3 that called and said they would be at the next meeting. We discussed what we wanted from the club. Sounds as if we will be primarily a traditional club but all is welcome. Our next meeting we will do a shoot for all in attendance.
 
If you leave any any targets up after you have finished with them someone will shoot them just to see what it'll do to them. That will happen at the best of ranges. Take them down and store them securely or take them home with you. I might suggest you dismantle your woods walk at the close of the event to discourage other club members from trying it with high powered firearms, shotguns, etc., could prove to be quite a safety and liability issue.
 
If you leave any any targets up after you have finished with them someone will shoot them just to see what it'll do to them. That will happen at the best of ranges. Take them down and store them securely or take them home with you. I might suggest you dismantle your woods walk at the close of the event to discourage other club members from trying it with high powered firearms, shotguns, etc., could prove to be quite a safety and liability issue.
Thanks for the advice. We discussed that and we will be taking stuff down. One of the club guys was in a club before and he brought it up. We hope to have a woods walk up and running but the spring.
 
+1, great points given , do not make it a "club" just have "muzzleloader gatherings" or matches.

For example, my club is predominantly a Cowboy Action club and you have to be a vetted, card carrying member of the SASS to even shoot in a match

However, there are other shooting events that people just kind of meet up for, like for all intents and purposes the "Buffalo Rifle" is a club, they all meet up to practice and shoot , but on paper it's a match within the Club so you do not have to be a club member to shoot.
 
If you leave any any targets up after you have finished with them someone will shoot them just to see what it'll do to them.
Good advise. Unfortunately, targets of opportunity will get shot at. There is a reason you don’t want carpets in a bathroom if little boys live in the house.

Recently heard from a buddy whose club’s 3D archery target setup got shot full of holes with rifles. Turned out someone was ‘teaching’ their kids proper shot placement with rifles and didn’t think it would hurt the targets anymore than arrows. A dues paying club member who didn’t shoot archery.....

Lock stuff up or take it home.
 
"didn’t think it would hurt the targets anymore than arrows"

One cannot legislate or create enough rules to eliminate ignorance and stupidity.
And any rules created will hurt feelings and cause heartache and drama. Got to take away opportunities by removing or locking stuff up. One of the joys of running any kind of club.
 
Tanker: keep up your efforts..
Keep in mind - are you there for yourselves or introducing others as well or both?
The younger generations are not into ‘exclusion’ more so ‘inclusion’/open.. great opportunities can be had with the latter.
Keep it fun.
Best of luck..
 
Tanker: keep up your efforts..
Keep in mind - are you there for yourselves or introducing others as well or both?
The younger generations are not into ‘exclusion’ more so ‘inclusion’/open.. great opportunities can be had with the latter.
Keep it fun.
Best of luck..
My main goal is to bring more people into BP. That is why our club will be open to all BP weapons even the ones we don't talk about. I don't like them but there is a lot that does and maybe we can pull them over to the traditional side. Our main club is real big into youth in shooting/ hunting/ fishing sports so the plan is to try to do some kind of youth event. Thank for you input, I'm trying to start a good club for the right reason. Comments like yours keeps me in check, it's to easy to make a club that only benefit a few.
 
Our main club is real big into youth in shooting/ hunting/ fishing sports so the plan is to try to do some kind of youth event.
Does your ‘main’ club take part in the National Hunting and Fishing Day? Forth Saturday in September every year. Club I belong to makes it an all day event out of it every year with numerous activities for the kids to participate in an no cost to them. Had over 100 kids this year. Reason I bring it up is you almost have an entire year to plan a muzzleloading activity for the event. Grants are available to help with expenses. https://nhfday.org/
 
Does your ‘main’ club take part in the National Hunting and Fishing Day? Forth Saturday in September every year. Club I belong to makes it an all day event out of it every year with numerous activities for the kids to participate in an no cost to them. Had over 100 kids this year. Reason I bring it up is you almost have an entire year to plan a muzzleloading activity for the event. Grants are available to help with expenses. https://nhfday.org/
I pretty sure they do, ever year I help run a trap shooting for youths for a field day that 2 or 3 other clubs along with our club does. It's usually around that time of year and we sometimes do it in the spring also. We have about 10 events that kids can go through. One is for bp. I will ask to make sure if that is what it's for. Thanks.
 
I pretty sure they do, ever year I help run a trap shooting for youths for a field day that 2 or 3 other clubs along with our club does. It's usually around that time of year and we sometimes do it in the spring also. We have about 10 events that kids can go through. One is for bp. I will ask to make sure if that is what it's for. Thanks.
Not muzzloading related, but one of the more rewarding aspects of the NHFD activities I have seen or taken part in is when single mothers bring their child and a family gun and request assistance with how to shoot it. Better believe they get special attention. Along with offers for additional instructional shooting sessions.
 
I have been a member of our muzzleloading club since 1977 and the club was founded in 1972. Watched many clubs come and go. Some died as a result of power struggles and others died for a lack of growth and focus. One thing for sure, do not keep doing "the same 'ol same 'ol" at each shoot. Fun is good and so is friendly competition. Safety at the range is extremely important. Then there is the family friendly element, too. As previously stated, one does not need a club to simply get together and shoot. Have good reasons to exist and be a desirable organization for others to join. Active voting, discussion and participation. And yes, some rules will need to be established that everyone can live with. good luck as you move forward.
 
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