Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Range returning to normal (sort of)

One range of which I am a member, is returning to almost regular operations.

As of today, all ranges at the OGC are open, and with regular operating hours. We are still wearing masks, except when shooting. Security cameras have been expanded to more parts of the facility, and the front gate. No doubt, to keep the COVID monkeys out.

The front entrance gate is now to be kept locked at all times, even when at the facility - except, oddly enough - when skeet shooters are there, Wednesdays and Sundays. Some of these skeeters would be the OFWG who hold board positions. Quelle surprise!

I have asked before, but did you club assume a COVID rules posture? If so, are you still in it?

Our local one is open, but only for members.
Not the public yet

That's understandable. You have to keep the COVID monkeys out.

I am going to try Monday again. I have to set up my Chronograph and other stuff. I am hoping that the OFWG have scared off most of the members and I can get a couple of hours to myself there.

On a related note, I am the member of another range and went in this afternoon to pay next year's dues. The lounge is deserted, and there are lane ways and tables blocking and/or routing people everywhere.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

..

We have been back to "almost normal" for some time now at our range up North here, the health inspector put some requirements in place but for the most part it is all good.:>)
We have a had a few smallbore and IPSC matches , and have a long range steel match scheduled form the 12th of September.
Cat

I wish we could say the same thing. Unfortunately, most of one facility of which I am a member remains closed or under restrictions.

Most of the board members there are retired, and were bored before COVID-19. When it struck, they were given an excuse to save us from ourselves. I like to think of them as the new and improved range Nazis. They sprang into action! (well, trundled into action). Apparently, we are now using the facility at our own risk. I guess the gun range was safe before COVID. They love to patrol, much like jail guards.

Besides having ROs in place, they decided to install a range supervisor to oversee the entire facility. This position (mercifully) did not last long.

The RS, aka the OFWG, got bored because his buddies were on the range and he couldn't chat with them. Socializing is not allowed. The RS had to remain in the main bldg and inspect folks upon arrival. It was a lonely existence. We were checked for masks, sanitizer, bench covers, spray sanitizers to spray down the concrete benches after use, etc. We had to understand that the facility was using new protocols, in addition to the COVID protocols. The board had enacted some new rules (because, you cannot have enough rules). Gun owners understand that more rules is good for us.

Here are just a couple of them:

The camera system was expanded to include the front gate and the back of the property.
The gate must remain closed and locked, even while you are on the property.

While I understand that COVID-19 has affected things, provincial health protocols were put into place, and cover virtually everything. Nonetheless, there were certain things the board enacted that were silly. Locking ourselves in is a good example of this - except for trap and skeet Wednesdays. Oddly, many board members shoot skeet. hmmm... God help us if we have a fire or other emergency where we have to exit quickly.

The biggest thing to take away from this is that should you decide to retire, make sure you have some hobbies that will keep you busy, and not make you a busybody!

Steve, our range is equipped with several cameras to monitor all the ranges. We have a card llock system, but the gate has to be manually opened and closed, the card lock simply unlocks it.
We are only allowed a certain number of shooters at a time on the indoor range, and members have to stay 6' apart on the outdoor ranges.
Spray nine and paper towels are supplied to wipe off the benches before and after.
We only have RSO's in place when our 1K range is in operation because it parallels our 500 meter range so for safety's sake the RSO shuts everything down when the short range guys want to post targets.
Yeah, the social distancing and wiping down of tables is oi paramount concern and the members strictly adhere to it!( giggle)
Cat

Yes, sanitizing/social distancing is a provincially mandated thing. The locks, cameras and OFWGs are the board's decision. They weren't necessary before. They aren't necessary now.

We found our vandalism and range damage went way down after we installed cameras, and we have actually caught guys sharing their range cards as well.
I have a big thing about paying $250 and doing a bunch of volunteer work when other guys that are making 150K+ a year are too cheap to buy their own memberships and borrow their buddy's,, or two and three guys go in on one.
Cat

What in the hell are Covid monkeys?

Yes we are operating as normal. Since May.

Only in Canada would we install security cameras to catch people sneezing.

These be COVID monkeys.

You've got to watch your step, when you know the chips are down!

https://globalnews.ca/news/7002788/coronavirus-monkeys-lab-india/

Steve R. what do you have against corrections officers? HMmmm? Be Well, RZ.

I don't mind corrections officers at all. But...are corrections officers required to keep an eye on us? 😐

I will have to check the range out here in Sparks, NV and see about the new range rules, and if they are back in business. Once I get all that, I will share my range report rules post-covid 19 era.

Rory.

Mornin Steve, all this rule stuff started a few years ago when they thought more members meant more money. Most older members said it's fine, we have a nice small club & we don't need new members or more money. Now since new members are up in numbers because they all got there friends in to, we have new members on the council & very few old members. SO, they make new rules because they feel that they should do something instead of nothing so they make rules like they had used at other clubs!!!! The other clubs whose rules got them kicked out or reprimanded (because there stupid) . I was a member till I saw a few of them trying out sporting clays with there tactical shot guns, on the walk up birds they actually snuck up on them like they were going into a crack house. I know others that have been there since the 50s & 60s that won't ever go back. Others only go on Wednesday nights(cause there's no idiots there)!!!!!! I know several who paid there share just so they can take there deer rifles & friends rifles & line them up. They now go to several farms that have a small range to do this. The last straw for me was setting up targets & some nimrod started shooting with the hand gun on the rifle range with a card board box set up 15yds from the firing line with the FLAG UP!!!! When I got back to the line he was long gone. If I hadn't yelled at the moron he would have kept shooting. It's like( some ) CITYIT's come up to the country to live, buy a couple acres & post it no trespassing?????? They then join the council & start making new rules,in a twp that has to many rules now, some also cut down all the trees on the lot & replant & landscape after????? Time to move north, way north. We're men are men and women eat their young. Ok ranting done. Bill out. 🐾👣🐾👣🇨🇦

Bill,

The expanded camera locations and locking the gate even when you are inside just started. What aggravates me is the Wed skeet shooters don't have to lock the gate, but everyone else has to. I've been a member there for 10 or 12 years and have seen the place go downhill. There are more city people there now. Not one has brought anything of value with them.