- Monday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Tuesday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Wednesday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
All about Effingham County Sportsmans Club
Facilities and Activities:
The Effingham County Sportsman’s Club offers a variety of facilities for shooting sports enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of the key facilities and activities available:
1. Rifle and Pistol Ranges
- Rifle Range: The club has a dedicated rifle range where shooters can practice at various distances. Targets are set up at multiple ranges to accommodate different types of shooting, from small-caliber rifles to long-range shooting.
- Pistol Range: There is a designated pistol range for handguns, offering shorter distances for target shooting. This range is popular among members who practice competitive or recreational pistol shooting.
- Benchrest Shooting: Many rifle and pistol ranges at sportsmen's clubs are equipped with benchrest setups, allowing shooters to steady their firearms while sighting in their scopes or practicing accuracy.
2. Trap and Skeet Shooting
- Trap Range: The club features trap shooting facilities where members can practice or compete in the popular shotgun sport. The trap range allows shooters to test their skills by hitting clay targets launched from a single house in front of the shooter.
- Skeet Range: For those who prefer skeet shooting, which involves shooting targets that cross paths in front of the shooter, the club also provides skeet fields. This is a highly competitive and fun activity for members who enjoy clay target shooting.
3. Archery
- Archery Range: ECSC offers an archery range with targets set up at various distances, allowing for both beginners and experienced archers to practice and hone their skills. The range typically accommodates both traditional bow and compound bow users.
- 3D Archery: In addition to standard target archery, the club may offer a 3D archery course. This involves lifelike 3D animal targets placed in a natural setting, simulating real-world hunting conditions and adding a dynamic aspect to the archery experience.
4. Shotgun Sports
- Sporting Clays: Some sportsmen’s clubs provide a sporting clays course, which is a challenging and fun activity involving a variety of clay targets launched from different angles and distances. Sporting clays is often referred to as “golf with a shotgun” due to its varied and unpredictable target presentation.
5. Hunter Education and Firearm Safety Courses
- Hunter Safety Courses: ECSC may offer hunter safety education courses for young hunters or those new to the sport. These courses are often a requirement for obtaining a hunting license in Illinois and focus on safe firearm handling, hunting ethics, and wildlife conservation.
- Firearm Training: Some clubs provide basic to advanced firearm safety and handling courses. These can range from introductory handgun classes to tactical training sessions. The club might partner with certified instructors to offer NRA-approved classes.
Membership Information:
As with many sportsmen’s clubs, the Effingham County Sportsman’s Club operates as a private, membership-based facility. Membership provides access to the club’s facilities, events, and competitions.
- Membership Fees: Members are typically required to pay annual dues to maintain their membership. These fees help cover the cost of maintaining the ranges, organizing events, and ensuring the upkeep of the facilities.
- Application Process: New members generally need to apply for membership and may need to be sponsored by an existing member. The application process may also involve approval from the club’s board or officers.
- Guest Access: Members may have the ability to bring guests to the club. However, guests typically need to follow all safety rules and might be limited to a certain number of visits per year before applying for their own membership.
Events and Competitions:
Effingham County Sportsman’s Club hosts a variety of events throughout the year, catering to shooters of all skill levels. These events include:
- Trap and Skeet Competitions: The club organizes regular trap and skeet shooting competitions, attracting participants from across the region. These events may include both individual and team competitions.
- Archery Tournaments: Archers can compete in tournaments or fun shoots, ranging from traditional target archery to more challenging 3D archery courses.
- Sporting Clays Shoots: Sporting clays events might be held throughout the year, offering a fun and competitive environment for shotgun enthusiasts.
- Special Events: The club may also organize social gatherings, holiday shoots, or charity events. These provide members with the opportunity to compete, socialize, and enjoy the facilities in a more relaxed setting.
Safety and Rules:
Like all shooting ranges and sportsmen's clubs, safety is a priority at the Effingham County Sportsman’s Club. All members and guests are required to follow strict safety protocols, including:
- Firearm Safety: Members must handle firearms responsibly, ensuring that they are always pointed in a safe direction and unloaded when not on the firing line.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Shooters are required to wear appropriate safety gear, including eye and ear protection, while on the range.
- Range Safety Officers (RSOs): The club may have trained Range Safety Officers on-site during events or busy periods to oversee shooting activities and ensure compliance with safety rules.
- Controlled Access: Since the club is private, access to the facilities is restricted to members and their approved guests. Unauthorized access is generally prohibited.