THE RANGE RULES PROHIBIT PARKING IN THE AREA NEXT TO THE PISTOL RANGE. THIS POLICY WAS MADE AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE PLATE RACK ON THE RANGE.
“OUTDOOR PISTOL RANGE:
All SOPs apply.
NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED PAST THE SIGN AT THE TOP OF THE RANGE ENTRANCE. Parking along the driveway is allowed, if you can do so without impeding traffic.
EYE AND EAR PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TIMES, FOR EVERYONE ENTERING PAST THE WARNING SIGN. BECAUSE OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE PLATE RACK, EYE AND EAR PROTECTION MUST BE WORN BY EVERYONE, INCLUDING SPECTATORS, ANYWHERE PAST THE WARNING SIGN, DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BULLET SPLATTER. DON’T JEOPARDIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP. THIS RULE IS ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY!“
This is a SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE for the club. People have been hit with bullet and jacket fragments in the former parking area. The majority of the parking area is FORWARD OF THE RANGE FIRING LINE, and cannot be occupied during range use. The consequences of a serious injury could be disastrous for the club.
A new parking area was created along the side of the driveway for pistol range users.
Removal of the chain to access the restricted area, and parking in the area is ONLY allowed during large events, when additional parking is needed. ONLY staff for the event are allowed to park there, and cannot access the area until the pistol range is declared SAFE during a cease fire. ANY OTHER USE IS A VIOLATION OF RANGE RULES AND WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP.
DEC decides to offer totally online hunter, bowhunter safety courses ‘indefinitely’
Updated Jan 28, 2021; Posted Jan 27, 2021
The number of junior licenses sold in 2020 increased 26 percent in 2020, according to DEC. Emma Denkenberger, 15,of Cuyler N.Y., shot this 7-point buck on her birthday during the 2020 Columbus Day Weekend Youth Firearms Big Game Hunt. The deer was taken in Cuyler in Cortland County. She was hunting with her father, Steve Denkenberger.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation this week confirmed it will continue to offer completely online hunter and bowhunter safety courses.
“Based on 2020′s success, DEC’s online hunter education programs will continue indefinitely.” DEC said.
In addition, DEC is currently putting together a completely online trapper’s education course.
DEC’s decision last year to offer completely online hunter and bowhunter safety courses for the first time was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In-person classes, which had been the norm, began getting cancelled just prior to the spring turkey hunting season.
The online hunting course was offered to get aspiring turkey hunters their hunter education certifications before the May 1 turkey hunting season opener. By the time regular hunting licenses for the fall seasons went on sale August 10, the online bowhunting safety course was also offered by DEC. Successfully completing a safety courses is requirement for purchasing a hunting license.
The result was that 2020 saw a significant increase in hunter, bowhunter and bowhunting license sales for last year’s hunting seasons.
DEC said a total of 351,274 resident hunting licenses were sold last year. During 2019, there were 315,634 licenses sold. The additional 35,640 licenses sold reflected an increase of more than 11 percent.
Resident bowhunting license jumped by nearly 14 percent, from 151,221 in 2019 to 172,154 in 2020. There was also increase in muzzleloader tags sold – 164,094 to 183,060 – reflecting an increase of more than 11 percent.
The biggest jump came in the sale of resident junior hunting licenses. Those sales jumped from 8,052 in 2019 to 10,203 in 2020. The increase of 2,151 more junior hunters reflected an increase of more than 26 percent.
The end result was that the DEC recorded total of 77,690 more hunting licenses sold this fall compared to last year.
The online courses, made available by Kalkomey, a Texas-based company, will continue to be offered at the same prices: $19.95 for the hunter safety course and $30 for the bowhunter safety course. Those taking the courses have to be at least 11 years old and a New York resident.
According the DEC, more than 50,000 people were certified through DEC’s online hunting safety class this spring. In previous years, that number was about 20,000. More than 21,000 bowhunters finished the online course. In previous years, that number was approximately 10,000.
And what about the in-person classes with instructors? DEC said some were offered beginning in early September last year. Depending on what happens with the pandemic, some may be offered again this spring.
“DEC offered in-person courses from September to November 2020, maintaining strict COVID protocols and procedures including size limits, social distancing, mandatory masks, hand sanitizing, and cleaning of equipment,” DEC said. “We will continue monitoring the pandemic and are in contact with volunteers about potentially planning in-person courses in April to help hunters get certified before turkey season starts in May.”
And what about a trapper safety course, which is required to get a trapping license?
DEC offered a limited home study course for those who did not have immediate access to computers. It was not an online course. It was available for a few months, but with trapping season wrapping up, it is no longer available.
“DEC is currently developing an online trapper education course with more details expected by the end of the summer,” DEC said.
Posted inHunter Safety Training, Hunting|Comments Off on DEC decides to offer totally online hunter, bowhunter safety courses ‘indefinitely’
A new parking area for the pistol range has been created on the right side of the driveway. Please park your vehicle perpendicular to the driveway, nose in or out, to allow maximum capacity.
In addition, the pistol range surface has a layer of sand to reduce/eliminate the chances of ricochets, and a berm has been created just behind the plate rack.
All range rules still apply: Eye and ear protection is mandatory for ALL persons, at all times when beyond the red sign at the entrance to the range. NO PARKING in the area to the left of the range retaining wall. Use of the plate rack is restricted to firing from inside the firing point, between the signs. Firearms must be placed on the bench BEFORE resetting the plate rack with the rope. DO NOT RESET THE RACK WHILE HOLDING YOUR FIREARM.
In response to member requests, the club’s plate rack has been made available for general member use. It has been installed to the far right of the outdoor pistol range. The distance has been determined to be appropriate for safety of users. Do not move it from the current location. All shooting must be done from inside the firing point building.
There are rules posted for the use of the plate rack that MUST be followed for safety reasons. All shooting of the plate rack must be done from the designated location, marked by signs.
Because the shooting of steel targets requires additional safety rules, new range rules will be posted on line and at all ranges for member reference.
There will be no parking allowed next to the outdoor range starting today. A sign has been installed prohibiting vehicles in the area next to the range, because of bullet splatter or ricochets when the plate rack is used.
The use of eye and ear protection when entering the outdoor pistol range area is MANDATORY. There can be no exceptions to this rule. Bullet debris has been found on vehicles that had been parked in the area. The danger of allowing people and vehicles in the area is too great a risk that can be avoided.
The modified Standard Operating Procedure which includes the Range Rules will be posted on the club web site and a printed copy at each range within a few days. There are other, pertinent rules regarding muzzle control and trigger discipline that have been changed, so make sure you read ALL of the new document.
The club has made a major upgrade to this range. The new rules have been added to increase safety.
Violation of these SAFETY RULES will result in loss of membership! Don’t put the club at risk!
Posted inAdvisories, Pistol Shooting, Range Rules, Ranges|Comments Off on New Safety Rules For The Outdoor Pistol Range. Plate Rack Is Now Available For General Member Use
An online Bowhunter Education class is now available. The DEC DOES NOT receive money for this course, it is being offered by an approved provider, Hunter-Ed.com.
