ADDITIONAL RANGE USE INFORMATION: 2020 - Selkirk Game and ...
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ADDITIONAL RANGE USE INFORMATION: 2020
ALL MEMBERS – PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY. This past Autumn our Club
went through a very stringent range re-approval licensing process. Some new features at the
range members may have noticed are: a) the Range Open/Closed signs at the entrance of the
200yd/Clubhouse facility and at Range 4; b) the Red Flags at each shooting range of our
facility; c) The “Signing In Box” located at the south side entrance of the clubhouse at the
200yd range and on the north wall of the clubhouse at Range 4; d) new signs that were
posted throughout our 200yd facility and Range 4; e) The collection of Firearm License
Nos., (PAL Nos.), on the membership application.
RANGE OPEN and/or RANGE CLOSED SIGNS:
Members may have noticed a set of large wood frame signs adjacent to the entry gates of the
200yd facility and at Range 4. The parts of the sign can be flipped to read “Range Open” or
“Range Closed”. The sign is meant to work like this: The “last person” leaving the range should
flip the sign from the “range open position” to the “range closed position”. When the next
member drives up to use the range and they see the “range closed” sign, all they have to do is
enter thru the gate, walk up to the sign and flip it to the “range open” position and then continue
to where they wish to shoot. Seeing these signs in the “range closed” position does not mean you
cannot use the range. It simply means no personnel are on the range.
If by chance one part of our facility actually was closed to all shooting, that part of the range
would be fenced off with yellow warning tape and posted with signs reading “Positively No
Shooting”. A good example of this was the 200yd rifle range this past July of 2019 when that
range was closed to all shooting during the re-construction of the concrete shooting pad. If you
recall that range was fenced off with yellow warning tape with posted signs reading “Positively
No Shooting”. During the construction period the rest of the range was open for use by the
membership.
RED FLAGS AT EACH RANGE:
Members using the various shooting areas of our facility may have noticed a series Red Flags
mounted six or seven feet above the ground on wood posts. The flags signify whether a particular
range is active or not. When a red flag is in the up position at a particular part of our shooting
range it means that part of the range is “active” and persons walking up to that range should
expect the firing line to be live with shooting going on. When a red flag at a particular range is in
the down position it means that range is currently “not active” and no shooting is taking place at
that time. A range may be temporarily deemed “not active” for things like grass cutting, garbage
pickup etc.
For example: At the 200yd range facility we have red flags at the 200yd Rifle range, the adjacent
Handgun range and the Shotgun Trap Shooting field. The Shotgun Trap Shooting field is located
between the rifle range and handgun range. The shotgun trap shooting field was not approved by
the Chief Provincial Firearms Officer to be “active” when the 200yd rifle range and the handgun
range are “active”. Therefore when the 200yd rifle range and handgun range have their Red Flags
in the up position, the Red Flag at the trap shooting field is in the down position and the trap
shooting field is “not active”.
cont.Conversely, during the Spring and Fall when the Trap Shooting League is operating Wednesday evenings, the Red Flags at the 200yd rifle range and adjacent Handgun range are turned to the down position and those ranges are deemed “not active”. The Red Flag at the trap shooting field is raised to the up position and the trap field is now deemed “active”. Members shooting at the 200yd rifle range have surely noticed a set of RED and GREEN flags situated on a pole six or so feet above the ground about six metres in front of the firing line. The purpose of these flags is to control when it is safe for shooters to step off the firing line concrete pad and go down range to check or set up targets. When the firing line is active and shooting is going on, the RED flag will be in the up position signaling it is not safe to go down range. When shooting on the firing line ceases and all firearms have been made safe, before anyone goes down range, one person will step forward and rotate the GREEN flag to the up position signaling it is now safe to go down range. When everyone has done what they needed to do down range and they are back at the firing line, one person will step up to the flag pole, and before raising the RED flag, everyone will verify that there is no one left down range. With no one left down range the RED flag is raised and the firing line once again becomes active. In order to help get everyone’s attention when a cease fire is getting ready to be called, a “Cow Bell” has been installed on the roof frame work midway along the firing line. All one has to do is walk up to the bell and pull on the cord that’s hanging down several times to get everyone’s attention. Upon hearing the bell shooters take their last one or two shots before the person calling the line declares a cease fire and calls all firearms to be unloaded and made safe. Each shooter verbally declares their firearm has been made safe before the GREEN flag is raised permitting shooters to go down range. THE SIGNING IN BOX: It is now mandatory for all members when coming to the range to “Sign In” before shooting. Brown coloured sign in boxes are located on the front door main entrance of the clubhouse at the 200yd rifle range and on the north wall of the clubhouse at Range 4. The sign in sheet requires the date and time the member arrives and their signature or membership number. Your membership number can be found on the upper right corner of your Manitoba Wildlife Membership paper/receipt you receive with your membership package. This isn’t something totally new. Other gun Clubs in Manitoba have been required to sign in for some time now. It’s simply that this requirement has finally caught up to our Club with our most recent shooting range licensing re-approval application. NEW OVERHEAD INFORMATION SIGNS: In the latter part of August and throughout September 2019, the Selkirk Game & Fish Assoc. did a significant upgrade in the mounting of information signage throughout all of our various shooting ranges. This was one of the requirements of our range re-approval license. The various signs reinforce some of the more important range rules, like for example: a) no shotgun or handgun shooting at the 200yd rifle range; b) absolutely no handling of firearms when a cease fire has been called and there are people down range, etc. cont.
Two signs in particular that all members should make themselves aware of are: a) the large sign
listing our range rules located on the north wall of the clubhouse in front of the 200yd rifle range
shooting pad, and; b) in case of any kind of emergency, members should dial 911, and report the
emergency location is Rural Address 29115, Road 80 North. One of these emergency signs is
located next to the range rules sign just mentioned in (a) above.
COLLECTION OF FIREARM LICENSE NUMBERS:
Members will now have to provide their Firearm License Number, (PAL No.), each year they
renew their membership with our Club. In May of 2019, our Membership Application Form was
revised to provide an area for this information. Members who do not provide their PAL number
will have their applications returned un-processed.
This is not something new. According to the Shooting Range Regulations of Manitoba, all
shooting clubs approved for the use of restricted firearms are required to maintain a current
membership list with the members address and contact information – including Firearm License
Numbers. Other gun clubs in Manitoba approved for restricted firearm use have been collecting
PAL numbers for quite some time. It’s only with our recent Range Re-Approval License
Application that the Chief Provincial Firearms Officer insisted our Club start doing the same.
Club members can rest assured the info they provide on their application form is not shared with
anyone except the RCMP/Chief Provincial Firearms Office. The same goes with any membership
list. At the end of each year, I, (the Secretary), shred all expired application forms.
SHOOTING HOURS:
On June 12, 2012 the Rural Municipality of St. Clements passed a “Nuisance Noise” By-Law prohibiting
loud annoying noise being made from 11:00pm to 7:00am the following morning.
The sound of shooting at our facility falls into the “Nuisance Noise” category. Members are asked to
respect this By-Law and not start shooting until 7:00am**.
**However, depending on the time of year, 7:00am is not a firm start time to begin shooting at this range.
At times during the year it may still be dark well after 7:00am and get dark well before 11:00pm.
THE CLUB POLICY IS AS FOLLOWS: NO SHOOTING IN THE DARK
“SHOOTING IS TO BEGIN IN THE MORNING AT 7:00AM OR AT SUCH A TIME AFTER WHEN
THERE IS FINALLY ENOUGH DAYLIGHT TO PLAINLY SEE AND SAFELY IDENTIFY
EVERTHING THAT IS DOWN RANGE”…..AND LIKEWISE…
“SHOOTING IS TO CEASE IN THE EVENINGS WHEN DAYLIGHT DETERIORATES TO THE
POINT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND SAFELY IDENTIFY EVERTHING THAT IS DOWN
RANGE”.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS:
Members are required to have proof of membership with them each time they come to the Selkirk Game &
Fish shooting facility. At times you will be asked to show your membership. It is up to the individual to
prove they are a current member of our club. If you cannot show proof of membership then you will be
asked to pack up and leave.
The laminated name tag that you received with your first membership and with the current year
sticker you receive is NOT your membership card. The membership card is a paper about 6 inches
square with the letters MWF in the upper left corner. Below these letters will be a box with the name
SELKIRK written in.
cont.The main body of the membership has the person’s name and address info with family membership info
written in the right hand portion of the membership card. This is what we want to see as proof of
membership at the range. Also, only members may shoot at our range, non-members and guests are
‘observers’ only.
BUMP FIRING:
Bump firing is a term used to make a “semi-auto” firearm seemingly go ‘full auto” by manipulation of the
firearms trigger and recoil. Bump Firing is prohibited anywhere on the Selkirk Game & Fish property.
Our facility is not approved for full auto fire. Individuals caught bump firing will have their memberships
revoked.
EXPLOSIVE TARGETS:
Targets have become available that explode and burn upon impact with a bullet. These targets are a fire
hazard. Explosive Targets are prohibited anywhere on the Selkirk Game & Fish property.
SHOOTING ON RANGE #2 - HANDGUN / OVERFLOW RANGE:
Range #2 is located adjacent, (to the east of), the main 200yd shooting range. Shotgun, handgun and rifle
shooting is allowed on range #2 with the following stipulations.
SHOTGUN SHOOTING:
The shooting of shotgun pellet or slug loads must be done from the firing line 50 metres from the end
berm. No ground shooting at targets. Targets must be set up such that pellets or slugs will pass thru the
target and impact into the face of the end berm. ABSOLUTLY NO SHOOTING OVER TOP OF THE
END BERM. ALSO, ABSOLUTLY NO HAND THROWN OR MECHANICALLY THROWN
“CLAY PIGEON” TARGETS ALLOWED ON THIS RANGE. Shotgun and handgun shooting is
permitted to be done at the same time at the 50 metre firing line from the end berm.
HANDGUN SHOOTING:
All handgun shooting on Range #2 must be done from the firing line located 50 metres from the face of the
end berm. No ground shooting at targets. Targets must be set up such that bullets will pass thru the target
and impact into the face of the end berm. Targets must not be closer than 10 yards/metres from the
shooter. Steel targets are used at your own risk. Do not shoot steel targets closer than 10 yards/metres
with a handgun. Please also read the “Holster Use” and “Range Restriction” sections of this handout.
RIFLE SHOOTING:
Rifle shooting is permitted on range #2. Rifle shooting is permitted from the shooting tables 100 metres
from the end berm and from the 50 metre handgun firing line. No ground shooting at targets. Targets
must be set up in front of the end berm such that bullets will pass thru the target and impact into the face of
the end berm. Only .22 cal. rimfire rifle shooting allowed on steel targets. Steel targets are shot at your
own risk. Steel targets should not be closer than 10 yards/metres from the shooter. ABSOLUTLY NO
STEEL TARGET SHOOTING WITH CENTREFIRE RIFLES.
NOTE: Handgun shooters have priority on the use of Range #2.
Rifle shooting from the shooting tables 100 metres from the end berm is permitted until handgun shooters
show up to shoot at the range. When this occurs, 100 metre rifle shooting MUST CEASE with the rifle
shooters having the option of moving forward and shooting from the 50 metre line with the handgun
shooters or ceasing to shoot altogether. CONFRONTATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN
RIFLE AND HANDGUN SHOOTERS. The club policy is: HANDGUN SHOOTERS HAVE
PRIORITY ON RANGE #2 AT ALL TIMES.
cont.SHOTGUN AND TRAP SHOOTING:
Our shotgun/trap shooting field is located between the main 200yd rifle range and the adjacent handgun
shooting range. Shooting of shotguns at our facility is allowed under the following conditions:
Firstly: Trap shooting is only allowed at our facility when the Selkirk Game & Fish ‘Spring’ or ‘Fall’ Trap
Leagues are in progress. The trap leagues normally operate Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:00pm.
The dates for the start and end of the trap leagues are posted on our website Event Calendar. When the
trap field is in operation both the 200yd rifle range and the adjacent handgun range are closed to all
shooting.
Shotgun shooting is not allowed on the trap field at any other time except for when the trap leagues are in
progress or a special trap event is scheduled. DO NOT throw your own clay targets or bring your own
clay target thrower to the trap field when the 200yd rifle range and adjacent handgun range are in use. The
reason for this is “Safety”. Shooters on the trap field will be standing ahead of the rifle range firing line
located on their left and any targets shot with shotguns will cause broken pieces of target and deflected
shot to rain down on handgun shooters shooting on the adjacent handgun range.
Secondly: Those wishing to sight in their shotguns for ‘Buckshot’ and ‘Slugs’ may do so at the handgun
range adjacent to the 200yd rifle range. Shotgun shooting is done at the 50m line from the end berm just
like handgun shooting. Targets must be set up such that the projectiles from the shotgun go thru the target
and into the face of the end berm. DO NOT THROW TARGETS OR SHOOT OVER TOP OF THE END
BERM.
HOLSTER USE:
Holsters may be used to carry ‘empty/unloaded’ guns only. The procedure on the firing line should be as
follows: a) an empty gun is drawn from a holster and loaded; b) the gun is fired at the target; c) when
firing is complete, the gun is unloaded, visually inspected to be ‘empty’ and only then put back into the
holster. (Of course, at all times the gun is out of the holster, the muzzle is pointed safely down range for
all shooting and loading procedures).
Drawing a loaded gun from a holster is reserved for those with special training. During certain handgun
competitions that are held at our shooting facility, competitors are allowed to carry and draw a loaded
handgun from their holster and engage a series targets as set out in the competition. In order for a
competitor to qualify to draw a loaded gun from their holster, they must first complete a ‘Holster’ safety
course which is put on by several competitive handgun shooting organizations. Competition shooters
accredited with a holster safety course are allowed to draw a loaded firearm from their holster while
practicing at our facility. However, upon leaving the practice area firing line, the guns are to be unloaded
and made safe while holstered.
Please be aware, rapid drawing of a loaded gun from a holster, ‘western style’, is very dangerous.
Shooting through the arteries in your thigh will cause you to bleed to death within a few minutes!!!
BRINGING FAMILY MEMBERS AND CHILDREN TO THE RANGE:
Several complaints were lodged with the club this year with regard to some shooters bringing family
members and young children to the range. It is not against the rules for family members to come to the
range since many of our members have “Family Memberships”. The names of the main member along
with his or her spouse and any children 12 to 17 years of age are listed on their family membership card.
The main complaint was some young children were up at the firing line picking up their mother or fathers
fired casings as they were shooting. In some instances the children were picking up casings around the
legs of other shooters thereby distracting them and causing a safety hazard.
cont.The Selkirk Game & Fish Associations policy for bringing children to the range is this:
- All children brought to the range must be under the supervision and control of an adult at all times
- All children must be under the supervision and control of an adult while that person’s partner or
spouse is shooting.
- All children must have adequate hearing protection OR BE FAR ENOUGH FROM THE
SHOOTING SO AS NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE LOUD NOISE. THE SAFE DISTANCE
WITHOUT HEARING PROTECTION IS 50 METRES.
- All children must be kept well back of the firing line when shooting is going on so as not to cause
a distraction to people handling loaded firearms or in the process of shooting.
- Children are not allowed to go forward to the firing line until ALL SHOOTING HAS CEASED
AND THE FIRING LINE HAS BEEN MADE SAFE. ADULT SUPERVISION IS STILL
REQUIRED.
- During the cease fire, children may go downrange with their parents to view or reset targets etc.,
however they must be under the full supervision of an adult.
RANGE RESTRICTIONS:
Each of our shooting ranges is approved for certain types of firearms. Our 200yd main range is approved
for rifle shooting only. We even have a sign mounted on the truss of the roofing stating - “NO
SHOTGUNS OR HANDUNS”. Yet we still find the odd accumulation of shotgun hulls and handgun
brass casing on the rifle range firing line. PLEASE – NO SHOTGUN OR HANDGUN SHOOTING ON
THE MAIN 200YD RANGE!!!
FACILITY EVENTS:
Our facility is used by many government agencies and shooting organizations for training, testing and
competitive shooting. We have an ‘Event Calendar’ on our website that is kept up to date throughout the
year informing members as to when special events are scheduled at our facility. Please get into the habit
of checking the event calendar regularly.
FIRING LINE CEASE FIRE:
When a group of people are shooting on the same firing line and it is decided to ‘cease fire’ to check or
change targets, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that: a) everyone on the firing line understands
that a ‘cease fire’ is coming up. b) all guns are laid down with muzzles pointed down range, receiver
actions locked open and all clips or magazines and cartridges removed from the gun. c) absolutely no
handling of firearms for any reason while people are down range checking or resetting targets!!!
Before declaring the range ‘live’ to start shooting again, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that:
a) everyone is back from downrange. b) take a good look downrange for any person that may be hard to
see because they are kneeling down or wearing camouflage jackets or may be physically handicapped and
can’t move as quickly as others. d) ensure everyone on the firing line is aware the firing line is becoming
‘live’ again and shooting is about to begin.
And also…..
Please pickup and place all garbage in or beside the 45 gallon drums provided. Do Not Start Fires To
Burn Garbage. Removal or burning of garbage will be looked after by Game & Fish grounds people.
Our website is: www.selkirkgameandfish.ca Emails may be sent to: info@selkirkgameandfish.ca
REVISED FOR 2020 on Dec 18/19 – EK, SecretaryYou can also read
