President’s Message
(December 2024)
The invoices for the 2025 membership dues will be mailed by December 15, 2024. Payment has to be received by February 1, 2025 in order to continue your membership. Payment received after February 1, 2025 will not be accepted. In order to be reinstated, a new membership application will be required with a check for $200.00.
The drilling of the well has started and is estimated to be completed by the end of December. The work should not interfere with any of our shooting venues but if they do, please yield to the workers.
It has been another busy and eventful year at the Rockford Skeet Club. The following are the major projects and events that were done during the year. Hand gun league, hosted high school trap team, 5-stand league, twi-light shooting, 2 fun days, tutorials for trap, skeet, and 5-stand, landfill lunch, installed card reader management system, cleanup day, annual meeting, relocated 5-stands, built new 5-stand parking lot and removed berm, drilled new well, and held youth sporting clays initiative event.
The Long Range trap voice calls are still in testing and probably will not be available until the spring time frame of 2025.
The club safety rules have been updated and are as follows. Please note that changes have also been made for youth shooters under the age of 18.
Safety Rules
(December 2024)
- Muzzle direction: point up, to the ground, down range.
- Breaches are to be open at all times when not shooting
- Load and unload guns on station only when it is your turn to shoot
- Absolutely no “Dry Firing/Pointing” of a firearm in the club house. Do not mount
or point guns towards the road
- Eye and ear protection is required while on a shooting field
- No shooting alone. A minimum of two people is required at all times on club
property when shooting
- Each shooter in a squad and on the field is required to have their own shotgun when on station and is responsible for the safe discharge and use of their shotgun. Transferring of shotguns between shooters while off of the shooting station is allowed.
- No shot larger than 8 is permitted
- Always unload your gun immediately if there is a hold up and/or malfunction. If you have a misfire or malfunction, keep your gun pointed down range until it can be safely unloaded. Always check for obstructions in the barrel before attempting to fire the gun
- All handguns are to be concealed at all times on club property.
- The only rifles allowed on club property are .22 caliber rifles and they can only be used on the handgun range.
- Rockford Skeet Club Members or Member’s Guest shall not use or be under the influence of any alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, or illegal drugs on club property
- Pick up shell casings when done shooting.
- Don’t walk in front of trap machines until the arm is released and the power is turned off
- Shut down the houses and machines when done shooting.
- Load machines with targets
- If a cord is used, roll it up and store in the high skeet house or in the storage building if using the trap fields.
- Club shooting hours must be adhered to strictly: 9:00 AM to ½ hour before dusk, except when shooting under the lights. All shooting must stop by 9:00 PM. Our special Use Permit is very clear on this issue. No violations!
- All guests must be logged into the guest book. All guests are required to sign a waiver upon each visit
- Only firearms manufactured by a federally licensed Manufacturer or Importer, and are fit for the intended use may be used on club property. Intended use for club purposes, and this safety rule, is clays target shooting with respect to Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays, (including 5-Stand), shooting norms. Additionally, fit for intended use includes proper fit for the individual shooter so that proper shooting and safety protocols are followed. Examples of proper fit for intended use of the individual shooter include guns that are of the appropriate weight, length, intended purpose, and size for the specific shooter.
Additionally, only firearms manufactured by a federally licensed Manufacturer or Importer and are fit for intended purpose may be used on the club handgun range. Intended use relative to the handgun range is for target shooting only and must comply with the rules for the handgun range. Due to the vast array and selection of all firearms, especially handguns, the RSC board will have full discretion as to the firearms that may be used on club property.
- Youth participants under the age of 18 must be supervised by a non-shooting adult, who has completed a recognized safety briefing, while the youth shooter is participating in shooting and shooting activities. The adult may be a parent, club member, safety officer, coach, mentor, or guardian. The supervising adult may not be a shooting member of the squad and is responsible to ensure the youth shooter follows club safety rules and established shooting safety protocols.
Youth shooters may be allowed to shoot on the same squad with their supervising adult if they have demonstrated a safety conscious attitude and skills to shoot unsupervised. This will be a special dispensation granted by a Safety Officer and must be requested by the parents or guardian of the youth shooter.
- Failure to follow these safety rules will result in additional training and/or supervision requirement(s), disciplinary action including membership termination, or other actions as determined by the Board of Directors.
Remember: Firearms safety is no accident. Safety is every one’s job.
BE SAFE, KEEP IT OPEN, AND HAVE FUN
WINTER SHOOT RULES
The following winter shooting rules are affective immediately:
- Trap and skeet fields and sidewalks are to be cleared of snow before shooting. Shovels are outside of the club house and in the storage barn. The snow blower is available for use and is located in the storage barn. Do not shoot on fields that have not been cleared of snow. Doing so will compact the snow and make it difficult to remove. It is everyone’s job to pitch in to remove snow from the sidewalks and shooting fields.
- As always, gun cases are not permitted in the club house. Guns will be permitted, but it is strongly suggested that they only be kept inside if it is raining or snowing.
Thanks for your cooperation.
If anyone is interested in getting certified for the handgun range, please contact Milt Schwanke at
815-988-2278, George Ketter at 815-631-9366, or Caleb Davis at 815-243-1483. You will need to bring a handgun, ammo, eye and ear protection and a $25.00 annual fee.
2024 Projects
- Repair skeet houses
- Purchase new trap voice calls
2024 Events – All events completed
Remember gun safety is our number 1 priority.
Rockford Skeet Club Mission Statement
The Rockford Skeet Club’s mission is to promote clay target shooting and complementary shooting sports. The objectives are to promote those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team-play, and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship. It is the duty of all members to contribute to the wellbeing, to protect, to grow, and to enhance the club and its membership.
Best Regards,
Sam Valenza
President, Rockford Skeet Club
