MONTROSE – With the sky filled with game birds and seasons being limited, it is imperative that hunters be not only quick on the draw, but accurate with the shot. To be able to hit the mark, it just takes three things: Practice, practice, practice. Well, there’s a place in our own backyards where we can do this.
The Tri-State Gun Club has been around for over three decades and offers a place for hunters or target shooters to hone their skills.
Dave Hunold, member of the club in Montrose, said the organization originated 35 years ago farther south of its current location.
“We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit,” Hunold said. “We were founded in 1982 near Keokuk. We built the clubhouse and the original four trap fields in 1988.”
Hunold said things began to grow at that time.
“Since that time we added two pistol ranges, a rifle range, and we added on to the original clubhouse, more than doubling it in size,” Hunold said.
And, two shelter houses were constructed at the range.
“This will give people the chance to get outside and have get-togethers,” Hunold said.
Hunold said more work was done on the ranges.
“We added another pistol range for 50 yards,” he said. “And last year, we made an addition to the rifle range. We extended our distance from 200 meters to a bit over 400 meters.”
The firing ranges and the pistol ranges now have shelters over them.
“This is so shooters can be out of the sun or if someone wants to practice in the rain they can still stay dry,” Hunold said.
The club membership voted to add a skeet range on the club grounds.
“We are doing this on the east side of the facility and hope to have it available by mid April,” Hunold said.
Along with the layout for the skeet shooting will be two towers from which skeets will be launched. One is the high house where the skeet is launched eight feet above the shooter, and the low house launches the skeet three feet above the shooter.
Hunold said the Tri-State Gun Club has more than 700 members.
At this time, the Tri-State Gun Club is working with high school teams from Fort Madison and Central Lee.
“They get in competitions around the state,” Hunold said. “And then they compete in the state competition each year.”
The gun club also is the home location for Southeastern Community College, according to Hunold.
“They started a club a couple of years ago,” he said.
The range also is available to law enforcement agencies who need to get officers or deputies certified on weapons.
Plans are being discussed for an indoor shooting range, however, Hunold said that will cost quite a bit of money and will probably take place far in the future.
People interested in becoming members in the Tri-State Gun Club can contact Hunold at 319-795-3380.
