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Contact the Club Caretaker at 406-259-0006.        

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGES

March 2024

Spring is just around the corner, and that means the return of construction season to Montana.  This year, Billings area construction will likely include finishing the inner belt loop connecting Zimmerman Trail with Wicks Lane.  This new road runs close to the BRGC property on the north and may result in significant development over the next decade or so.  We, as members of BRGC, need to do what we can to make sure that we are good neighbors going forward.  One of the reasons for the improvements to the rifle and pistol range berms over the last few years is to minimize the chance of an errant round leaving our range.  One thing that is important for everyone using those ranges to understand is that targets must be placed against a suitable backstop.  This means a backer board on those ranges where they are available or placing your target against an end or side berm in the field bays.  Doing so will help prevent bullets from ricocheting off the bay floor and leaving our property.  We, as shooters, are responsible for every bullet that leaves the barrel and we need to take measures that none of them land where we don’t want them to.

February 2024

As we wait to learn whether the groundhog sees his shadow, our thoughts turn to warmer weather. For most Rod and Gun Club members, this means spending more time on the range. That might be trying out a new toy that we got over the winter, or taking out an old friend that hasn’t been out of the safe for a while. For other members, it means looking forward to the spring and summer leagues and other competitive opportunities available at the Club. If you have not participated in one of the competition events, I’d encourage you to give it a try. Competition is an excellent way to hone your skills and to try new ones. There are a couple of excellent upcoming opportunities for new shooters: the action pistol program is offering a new competitor clinic on March 2 and the sporting clays program is hosting a tutorial for new shooters on March 30. The skeet and archery programs have regular events throughout the year as well and would be happy to teach someone the ropes. The competitive programs at BRGC are extremely helpful and are always looking for new shooters. Watch the upcoming newsletters for more information or reach out to the division contacts.

January 2024

Greetings and Happy New Year, Rod & Gun Club Members!  As we begin a new year, it is common to reflect on the past year and I find myself thinking back over the last year at BRGC.  What a great year 2023 was!  BRGC was home to several large competitions in 2023 that brought well over a thousand people to our Club.  The people that I talked to who had not been to our range before were amazed at the terrific facilities we have, and 2023 saw numerous improvements to those facilities.  Work continues on the Sporting Clays North Course and saw the completion of the first phase of the new Five Stand.  Improvements at the pistol range included the addition of sunshades on the bays and the expansion of the parking area.  The Skeet and Archery groups continue with their efforts to maintain and improve the ranges.  The new year promises to bring even more improvements with continuing work on the new Five Stand and planned improvements at the big bore range bench area.  It is a relatively small group of volunteers that spearheads all the work done at the range; please join me in thanking these members for the generous donation of their time to improve this club for all of us. 

Please remember also that the rules posted on each range are there for your safety and it is important that we all read and follow them.  When on the range, we are all safety officers and if you see someone committing an unsafe act, a polite reminder of the rules is appropriate.  If you are on the receiving end of such a reminder, please be polite in return and take it as it is intended – firearm safety is for everyone’s benefit.

Matt Waite, President

December 2023

Season’s greetings fellow members. John Collins, a long-time board member, and tireless worker on the Archery range and all other parts of our club called and brought important information to our attention: The Rod and Gun Club is 125 years old this year! 

Amazing! Originally our clubhouse sat at the foot of Black Otter Trail next to Boot Hill Cemetery, close to where Applebee’s is now. In 1953, Sherm Cowen bought the property where the Billings Trap Club is from the Rod and Gun Club and he and other members split off and formed the Billings Trap Club by Lake Elmo. Shortly after that in 1966, the remaining members moved the clubhouse from Boot Hill to the present location. Your outgoing President took hunter education in our clubhouse when it was still on Boot Hill, the benches we sit on were the same benches then, and that mountain lion was up there too! We owe our gratitude to those long-gone founders who started BRGC and the Trap Club. We also need to pay a little back by pitching in and volunteering to help maintain and improve our club. We are always looking for young guys and gals to help and keep us old guys from becoming grumpy old (fellows)! 

In closing, a safety note, while on the Bench Rest Range, keep those muzzles pointed down range, do not allow your muzzle to point west, anywhere near the vicinity of our neighbors. If you do see someone committing an unsafe act, please gather the information concerning the unsafe act and bring it to the attention of the Board of Directors. We will take it from there. Follow our safety rules, they are there for a good reason. The fun ends when an accident occurs, don’t end the fun!  As always, stay safe, be kind, and shoot straight.        

is complete without at least one firearm, bow, or fishing rod! What better way to celebrate Christmas Day than a family trip to the range to test out the new bow or firearm. A quick trip to the range is a good excuse to get outside in the crisp air and enjoy family time doing the things we love. And last but not least, maybe there is someone who would appreciate a gift membership in our club, what better way to create a new shooting buddy or help a friend make the jump to being a member. In all things holiday, pause, reflect, take a moment savor every minute, it all goes very fast. Stay safe, be kind, and shoot straight. 

Mac Clark, President



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