The TCSA Ranges are open Monday through Saturday at 8:00 am and close at sunset. Sundays they are open at 9:00 am and close at sunset. Exceptions to these rules are when proper lighting has been installed. TCSA has one lighted Trap field allowing evening shooting until 9:00 PM, for a scheduled event supervised by a TCSA Range officer.
Starting Sept 1 2021 your membership identification card will be the RFID Card you purchased to access the Gate. It should have your name printed on it. You should also have proper photo ID with you.
Firearm Muzzle Direction Clarification
A question has come up regarding muzzle direction during various activities on the Tioga County Sportsmens Association ranges.
The hard rule and first rule of firearm safety is:
“Always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.”
If the gun goes off for some reason, it will not cause injury or damage.
Since the ultimate goal is safety and after lengthy conversations, the following policy is in place: Each of the participants in the various disciplines that are active on the TCSA property is required to be aware of the direction their firearm is pointing.
Peer safety is the responsibility of each person at a range, whether they are shooting, acting as a Range Officer or simply observing. Therefore, all participants shall be actively engaged as safety officers and shall question, coach and engage other participants if something perceived as unsafe is observed.
Self-policing by all participants, for firearm safety of all participants is required!
In addition to the above “first rule” each discipline may have its own established firearm safety regulations, routines and practices that must be followed.
Examples:
1. Due to the nature of hunting, when you are carrying a loaded firearm in the out-of-doors, the firearm muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction. This rule cannot be compromised for this discipline! This is safe for this activity.
2. For indoor range firearm activities, the Range Officer is the primary authority for declaring a cold range and the muzzle of an empty pistol is usually pointed down range, at the participants, as they travel to confirm their target scores. This is safe for this activity.
3. For all outdoor range activities, the same or similar to the above rule in number 2, is in place with the exception that there may not be a specific Range Officer. Before going downrange communication and verification that firearms are unloaded and safe is to be confirmed among the group using the range. This is safe for this activity.
4. For any activity where the firearm(s) is / are temporarily stored on a gun cart, muzzles may be facing up or down in the cart. These firearms have been physically examined prior to this storage means and are known to be empty. This is safe for this activity.
5. For shotgun activities, participants waiting their turn at a position on a field or station, with an empty firearm, will grip the gun such that it is pointed at the earth, and perhaps resting on their foot. Break-open types may also be gripped by the muzzle with the stock over a shoulder. If the discipline Range Officer is not opposed to these actions and self-policing is performed, then this is safe for this activity.
Common sense, safe firearm handling is always the policy of the Tioga County Sportsmens Association.
Approved as per the TCSA Board of Directors, April 4, 2023
The guest policy is as follows:
Except during scheduled events that are open to the public, any non-member of the Tioga County Sportsman’s Association wanting to use the facilities is required to be accompanied (throughout their stay), by a current TCSA member.
That non-member is required to stop at the front kiosk on the road into the grounds and fill out a TCSA release / waiver form along with paying the required fee for the one day use. That fee is listed on the form. Please follow the instructions on the form.
Again, guests are required to have a member companion with them during the time on the grounds. Only one guest per member is allowed at this time.
Please follow the rules, posted sign information and firearm safety directives at all times, to create a cautious, courteous and safe time using the grounds.
Please read the posted signage on each range and be cautious, courteous, and safe while using the ranges.
All users of the TCSA grounds:
Use only firearms that are compatible and allowed with the different venues / ranges on the grounds. Pistols and rifles are not permitted to be fired from any grounds specified for “shotgun” activities. (E.g. 5-stand, Trap field, Skeet fields, etc.)
Always know what is beyond the targets that you are engaging and do not jeopardize the safety of anything that exists beyond the ranges. There are houses and roads within reach of most of the bullets being expelled from firearms.
Please keep any shots and targets below and within the marked areas of the dirt backstops that are directly opposite the firing line. Be conscious of where the muzzle of your firearm is pointing at all times. Do not use rocks for back stops or targets. They cause ricochets and are hazardous when we mow the ranges. Pick these up and put them safely aside, out of the way.
The firing line is the front edge of the covered firing position structure on each range. No shooting should be done ahead of this line. ANY shots fired at the 200 yard backstop should be done from the furthest two positions on the right end of the 100/200 yard range. ABSOLUTELY NO CROSSFIRING from the 100 yard positions!! If unsure of where and how to properly use any range, call the clubhouse phone to arrange for a site visit from another helpful member.
If more than one shooter is on the range, all should collectively agree on a cease fire before moving ahead of the firing line. At these times, all firearms will have actions open and empty chambers, including magazines out, and when possible, indicated as such with an ECI device, before anyone goes downrange. No one is to handle any firearm at or behind the firing line while others are down range.
The following range rules for the High Power Range have been revised as of June 2018. There are now target boxes at 25 and 50 yards and target frames with backer board at 100 and 200 yards. All targets must be placed on the target boxes in the designated area (inside the red lines) at the 25 or 50 yard range. Targets should be placed on the target backers at 100 and 200 yards insuring bullet impact is below the red safety line. No targets or target holders shall be placed anywhere except at the designated ranges (25, 50, 100 or 200 yards).
Whenever a gun is picked up, the safety should be engaged, and if the gun has a magazine, it should be removed before opening the action and looking into the chamber. The chamber should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber, get help from a range officer or other qualified shooter.
With the exception of the High Power Range, TCSA does not supply any type of target holders for use on our ranges, pistol or rimfire. It is the shooter's responsibility to purchase or construct a target holder to use on those ranges. Please note that some of the shooting ranges have a MINIMUM target height for safe shooting. The Silhouette/Rim Fire range and the Outdoor Pistol range have berms (dirt structures) at distances less than the total length of the range. These intermediate berms are there as a protection feature for competitions/equipment and SHOULD NOT be shot into, and you should not set anything on the top of them. Your target holder should be high enough to place your target and shots over these intermediate berms and your bullets should and will impact at the furthest backstop on the range.
Here are two different types of target holders that you can view or print, to help in constructing your own.
After shooting is done for the day, all target holders and targets should be removed from the range. Empty cases and shells should be picked up and either recycled in the "Brass Only" bucket for centerfire cases, or in the garbage for shotgun shells,steel case ammo, and rimfire cases. Please leave the range in better condition than when shooting began.