Question 1

Is this a private range?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It is owned by Knox County Fish & Game Association and is for the exclusive use of members and their guests. The only exception is that scheduled shoots are open to the public. Non-members within the confines of the range at any other time are trespassers and will be treated as such.

Question 2

What does it cost to join?

Accepted Answer

Annual memberships for KCF&G are $150 ($100 for veterans/first responders with employment verification/letter from department or DD214). A Life Membership can be purchased for $1,000. There are membership specials during May and June. Members are entitled to use the range as well as our 3D archery range, the beach, and the campground.

Question 3

What are the hours?

Accepted Answer

During good weather the range is open from 9:00AM to 7:00PM. The rest of the year (October through mid-April) it is open from 9:00AM until dusk.

Question 4

Are their restrictions?

Accepted Answer

They are posted on the Range Rules page of our website and at the range.

Question 5

How do I get the combination to the gate locks?

Accepted Answer

You must be a current member and have your signed Range Waiver on file with the Rangemaster. The combination changes annually.

Question 6

How do I get into the clubhouse and target room?

Accepted Answer

Only Range Officers have keys. There is no need for access because there are target stands hanging up on the left side of the clubhouse that you are welcome to use. Just put them back afterwards. There is also a flat red box containing backing cardboard and paper targets for your use. You'll need your own stapler.

Question 7

What is the thing built out of railroad ties on the firing line?

Accepted Answer

That's a Safe Table. If you need to clear a weapon or work on one that is malfunctioning that is where you do it. It is there for protection from an accidental discharge, hence the name.

Question 8

What's to the right of the clubhouse?

Accepted Answer

That's the Pistol Range set up for walk-through shooting with reactive targets. It's open whenever the range is open. Put things back the way you found them and police your brass. The range to the left of the clubhouse is set up for target shooting with pistols and rifles and for shooting clays. There are berms at 25, 50, and 100 yards.

Question 9

How long do scheduled shoots take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the shoot and how many attend. Black Powder is the longest, and they clear the range by 4:00. Shotgunners clear the range by 2:00, and Both Pins 'n Plates and Combat Shoots are done by 1:00 or so. Once concluded, the range reverts to members and their guests only.

Question 10

Can I bring a friend?

Accepted Answer

Yes, though you must stay with them, and if they plan to shoot, you must have them sign a Range Waiver.

Question 11

Are children allowed?

Accepted Answer

Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times and must have appropriate eye and ear protection whether they are shooting or just observing.

Question 12

What are the scheduled shoots and when are they held?

Accepted Answer

We have Redneck Clays, Black Powder, Pins 'N Plates (Rimfire), and Combat (Centerfire Pistol). 
Rimfire Pins ‘n Plates. First Sunday of every month from April through October.
Run by Mike Ward [207-975-5607]. The charge is $5 for pistol and $5 for rifle, and
shooters can compete with one or both. Red dot sights are allowed as are
suppressors, but the caliber is limited to .22LR. Magazines are restricted to a
maximum load of ten rounds and each shooter can have two. The winner is the
one who can knock all 5 plates off of the rack or knock down all five steel plates
and then knock the little stop plate off the 6x6 block sitting alongside.

Black Powder. Second Sunday of every month year ’round. 
It was black powder shooters who built our range, investing a considerable amount of 
time and resources. They are the ones who named it the Eye of the Hawk. The shoots are
run by Alan Smith [207-691-1043], with Terry Briggs and Dan Fickett helping as
necessary. Cost of the shoot depends on the targets selected each month (never the same
twice) but typically run $12 to $15. The range furnishes the various paper targets
and they are stored on the shelves behind the bench. They often get
together to offer prizes to top shooters. Our black powder guys, also known far
and wide as Team Maine, are the best in New England.

Skeet, aka Redneck Clays. Third Sunday every month year ’round. 
Run by Judd Dodge [207-691-9222] and Barry Ames [207-593-6520].
 The competition is five shooters per relay and the cost is $10/relay. The object is to 
break all 25 birds, and occasionally that happens. More often than not the winner 
downs 23 or 24 clays.

Centerfire Combat. Fourth Sunday of every month from April through October.
run by Nick Berry [207-322-3676]. 
 They shoot mostly regulation IPSC cardboard targets but add knock-down steel targets to most
stages. Each run is evaluated according to power factor, hits on target, and overall
time from opening beep to showing your weapon clear. The course of fire is never
the same twice. Nick handles the scoring and posts the results online after each shoot.

Pistol Range. Shoots every Saturday morning, usually April through November. 
It shuts down when it gets slippery underfoot. Run by Peter Simmons [207-785-
2428] and Ted Skowronski. We have to insist on pistol non-magnum calibers because 
heavier loads have caused extensive damage. Currently it takes 50 rounds to clear all of
the targets inside and adjacent to the buildings.   .22 caliber is too light to knock
down the reactive targets, but 9mm, 9mm Makarov, .38, .40 S&W, and .45acp
work just fine–.380 is borderline. There is no charge for shoots at the moment,
but as donations have pretty much petered out, that will have to change soon.

There is an annual Memorial Clay Shoot on a month with five Sundays. 
Proceeds go to a scholarship for a youngster at Bryant Pond Conservation Camp. 
The rack under the first part of the firing line is for holding shotguns during the shoots. 
It was built and installed by Judd Dodge.

Question 13

What's going on between the wooden fence and the road?

Accepted Answer

Those 500-pound hay bales are there for archery practice, for those who might not want to do the whole archery course. The entrance for the new 3D archery range is across the street from the rifle range at the back of the parking lot. To the left of the round bales is the kids hillside range.

Question 14

Where is the archery range?

Accepted Answer

The 3d range is located at the back edge of the range parking lot, you will see the trailhead and archery signs easily from the parking lot. There are trail maps and score cards attached to a clipboard hanging with the donation box at the trailhead. This trail is just shy of a mile loop with 9 stations, each set with 3 targets of varied yardage. All archery range donations go towards purchase of new targets.

Question 15

Who is the Range Master?

Accepted Answer

Christina Parsons is our new Range Master for the Eye of the Hawk Range.

Question 16

How do I contact the Range Master directly?

Accepted Answer

You can reach Range Master Christina Parsons at:  eyeofthehawkrange@gmail.com. You can also fill out the Contact us/Need more info form on the Range page.

Question 17

Are you affiliated or insured with the NRA?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are proudly affiliated and insured with the NRA!

FAQ

Frequently asked questions