RANGE RULES – TABER SHOOTING FOUNDATION
1. All members must execute a ‘liability waiver release’ prior to entry to the range.
2. Members are legally and financially responsible for the actions of their guests.
3. Shooting hours:
• Shooting is allowed sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year, except for required maintenance.
• Shooting after sunset may be allowed during night shooting seminars or events, by the executive with written permission.
• Ranges may be required to be closed if a site downrange within the safety template area is occupied for an extended period of time – i.e. for ‘agricultural, oilfield or maintenance activities’.
4. All Federal and Provincial Regulations are to be observed at all times at the Range.
• Failure to comply may result in eviction from and being banned from the Range, without refund of fees or dues.
5. No Hunting of Wildlife Allowed.
• Anyone shooting at objects other than targets authorized by the club will be escorted off the Range.
6. All members in a vehicle must enter enter using their Key FOB upon arrival at the gate.
7. Members may host up to 2 guest shooters per day. There is no fee for first and second time guest shooters. All subsequent visits will have a nominal fee of $15 per person per visit. All non-shooting guests are the responsibility of the host member.
8. All shooters must produce their membership card upon request from any other member and must have it on their person.
9. Guests at matches and commercial guest customers have unescorted shooting privileges only on the ranges booked for the match or the commercial event. They are not allowed to shoot on other ranges without the supervision of a member.
10. All shooters must wear adequate eye and ear protection while on any of the ranges whether discharging a firearm or not.
11. All firearms must be UNLOADED and, in addition, CARRIED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION (unless encased or on a gun cart) until you arrive at the designated shooting area. Here firearms may be placed either on an upright stand, left on the gun cart, or laid on a shooting bench, unloaded, action open and visible and pointed downrange.
• (i) Holsters for handguns are permitted to be used on the range except for shoulder holsters, which are not permitted on the range.
• (ii) Handguns must be unloaded until the shooter is at the firing line.
12. No person is permitted to handle a firearm when any person is downrange of the firing line. Firearms need to be unloaded, bolt open, breech open and pointed downrange.
13. Minor shooters (under 18 years of age) are welcome and encouraged. All minor shooters must be under the direct, immediate and constant supervision of an adult while shooting and must otherwise be supervised and behave in a responsible and safe manner.
14. The consumption or possession of alcohol or drugs is not permitted within club boundaries while any portion of the Range remains open to shooting. Anyone found in contravention of this rule, including shooters who have consumed alcohol immediately prior to arriving at the Range, or appear to be impaired from any source, may be permanently banned from the Range.
15. No smoking unless in designated areas.
• No smoking or open flame in effect during fire bans.
16. Firearms not in immediate use are to be empty of all ammunition and magazines, and,
• in the case of long guns, stored with their actions open and visible in the racks provided or stored in a suitable similar manner including in gun carts.
• in the case of handguns, stored with their actions open and visible, in a case or stored in a holster with hammer down.
• or stored in a locked vehicle, cased or out of sight.
17. All ranges require a common cease fire and a common firing line. Shooters must not be positioned forward of other shooters on the firing line.
18. When two or more shooters are on a particular range, one must assume the responsibility of range officer, to declare cease fires and the resumption of shooting, following a check of the range. Shooters must get an “All Clear” signal from the range officer before going downrange to post, check or retrieve targets. The member acting as range officer is responsible to ensure that everyone on the line is following the “cease fire” and other range commands and is maintaining a common firing line. Any individual may call ‘Cease Fire’ at any time.
19. All shots are to be made at the target directly in front of the shooter’s firing position. No shots are to be made at angles across the range, as this poses a ricochet and safety hazard unless the shooter is engaged in an approved competition which permits this activity. Shooters wanting to shoot at a different target stand/distance must move to a firing position which provides the required stand/distance immediately to the front of that position.
20. Cartridge restrictions per Federal regulations: .50 BMG are Prohibited. Tracer, incendiary and armour piercing ammunition is Prohibited.
21. Shotgun/Trap Range(s):
• Only shotguns firing lead bird-shot are to be used on the shotgun/trap range(s). No rifles or slugs.
• Shotguns may be patterned, using lead shot only, on the designated patterning board. Shotguns using shot must not be fired at target stands. Shotguns firing only slugs may be shot on the rifle range(s) only.
• Only clay targets and other approved Sporting Clay targets are to be used on the shotgun range(s).
• Shot shell restrictions: Lead shot only, maximum shot shells to be size US # 7½ (0.095”), 2¾” in length, 1 1/8 ounce shot maximum. Shotguns firing slugs may be discharged on Range 4C only. NO SHOTGUN USE ON ANY OTHER RIFLE OR PISTOL RANGE.
22. Pistols are to be shot on the 100 meter (number 1) range, the 200 meter (number 3) range, the action (number 4) range, or 50 meter (number 5) ranges only.
23. Drawing and firing a loaded handgun from a holster must be done in a safe manner and with the greatest care at all times. The handgun must be loaded and unloaded only at the firing line.
24. Handguns in holsters not in immediate use on a firing line must be unloaded of ammunition and/or magazines.
25. When moving forwards and backwards to a firing point, pistols must be continuously pointed downrange.
26. Archery Range Rules: Firearms must not be discharged on the archery range – archery only.
• Broadheads are only allowed at designated Broadhead backstops.
27. All trash and spent ammo must be picked up before leaving the range.
28. Human silhouette targets must be removed from the range when finished shooting.
29. Dogs and other domestic animals are prohibited on all ranges at all times.
30. All targets shall be removed from the backstops upon completion of shooting.
31. Glass, bottles or other unapproved materials may not be used as targets at any time.
32. All range users shall pick up all refuse and materials (targets, cartridge brass, shotgun hulls, etc.) they used and leave the range clean at all times.
33. Targets shall be placed on target backboards – not on the support posts or frames.
34. No vehicles are permitted on ranges without permission from the Chair or Property Chair.
35. Special activities or events and range closures shall be authorized only by the Executive.
36. When there is a special shooting event at a range, that range is closed for all other shooting activities until the event is over.
37. The main gate must be locked immediately upon entering and exiting, except when there are special shooting events.
38. ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THESE RULES AT ALL TIMES – NO EXCEPTIONS. ANYONE DISREGARDING THESE RULES WILL BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE RANGE IMMEDIATELY AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER ACTION OR SANCTIONS AS DETERMINED BY THE TABER SHOOTING FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE.
39. ANY ACTS OF ILLEGAL, DANGEROUS OR IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF RANGE FACILITIES, OR ACTS OF VANDALISM OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP FROM THE TABER SHOOTING FOUNDATION PROPERTY. THE FOUNDATION WILL ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN ANY CRIMINAL CODE INVESTIGATION.
EXCEPTIONS: The following exceptions are allowed for special organized groups within TSF while they are holding formal competitions, practice sessions, or firearms education courses, all under the direct control of their respective Range Officer(s)/Instructor(s) for the entire time. Examples of these groups include Sporting Clays, Silhouette, Cowboy Action, Swiss Rifle, IPSC, IDPA, NRA. These exceptions are not allowed for the general membership during casual shooting. Targets may include steel targets with special permission and special conditions of usage.
A. Rifles utilizing pistol cartridges may be shot on the handgun range(s). Examples are: 44/40, 38/40, 45 Colt, etc.
B. Use of a shotgun on any range may be approved by the executive in special cases. More than one shotgun shell may be loaded into a shotgun at a time. Approved competition and practice may utilize other sizes of lead shot, by the executive with written authorization.
C. Approved competition and practice may set target stands at locations other than at the rear berms with special permission and specific conditions of usage, by the executive with written authorization.
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RANGE COURTESY
• There are certain standards of range courtesy. Considerate shooters follow the following standards.
• Rules and procedures may vary occasionally. Check and obey the approved rules. There should be a safety briefing before starting.
• Sign in to the firing range upon arrival.
• Avoid interrupting or distracting others when they are shooting.
• Do not smoke on the firing line.
• Ask the owner’s or shooter’s permission before handling that person’s firearm or equipment.
• Leave enough space between you and others to ensure safety.
• If firing particularly smokey firearms, shoot from downwind of other shooters on the firing line. Black powder firearms are especially smokey.
• Do not fire on other people’s targets, targets not directly down range from yourself or any target that may disturb others.
• Those firing semi-automatic firearms should take a firing point where other people will not be disturbed by ejected casings.
• Rapid firing may disturb shooters sighting-in or doing deliberate target work.
• Clean up after shooting. Pick up cartridge casing. Take down targets.
• Put away any range-owned equipment you have used. For example, sandbags or bench rests.