BASIC SAFETY & FIELD ETIQUETTE RULES
The Tulsa Gun Club has a good safety record and would like to keep it that way.
As a member, we want you, our guests and our visitors to have a safe and enjoyable shooting experience at our club whether it’s to shoot archery, shotgun, rifle or pistol, or to watch these shooting sports.
Safety is, and should be, our first concern and as such, we have herein listed our basic safety rules.
Remember, no set of rules can cover all possible situations. The safe and rational use of archery equipment and firearms depends on the common sense and proper training of the user. Always follow safety rules and think before you act.
We’ve listed these rules in four categories.
A. General
B. Archery
C. Pistol and Rifle
D. Shotgun
Please read these and keep them for future reference.
A. General
1. ALL weapons are assumed loaded – always point them in a safe direction. Always verify that weapons are unloaded when picking them up or when they are handed to you.
2. ALWAYS THINK SAFETY. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you. Anyone who observes an unsafe act should immediately take action; politely correct the individual or individuals involved, call for a cease-fire, or notify the club manager, whichever is applicable.
a. Thoroughly read your weapon’s instruction manual.
b. “Know Your Weapon” before loading or stringing it the first time. Know how to open and close the action for example, and how to remove ammunition.
c. Remember your firearm “safety” is a mechanical device and it can malfunction.
d. Make sure you have the correct ammunition for your firearms.
e. All spectators must stay out of and behind the shooting areas.
f. Ensure that all guns are free of obstructions before loading. Obstructions can cause a firearm to explode.
3. Keep the ACTION OF YOUR GUN OPEN at all times except when standing on the shooting station ready to shoot. This includes when you are bringing a gun from your vehicle to the shooting area or back to your vehicle. The only exception is when the gun is in a gun rack or case. The gun action can be closed, but must be reopened when it is taken from the rack or case.
a. Black Powder guns to remain uncapped until at the firing line with the gun pointed down range.
b. Arrows are to remain off string until shooting.
4. Any gun carried over the shoulder must be carried with the barrel forward.
5. ALL persons at the range MUST wear proper eye and ear protection! This includes guests, spectators and workers. You should be wearing these before entering a shooting area. NOTE: Shooting glasses that give best protection are those that cover all around the eye area.
6. NEVER LOAD YOUR WEAPON except when standing on the shooting station ready to shoot. Always unload your gun completely of both live and fired shells and open the guns’ action before turning around and walking off the station. If it is necessary to turn around to talk or ask a question the guns’ action should be open or the arrow removed from the bow before turning around. Always keep your focus and your weapon pointed down range when loading, loaded or preparing to fire.
7. Always be sure the path to the target and beyond is clear.
8. Do not shoot wildlife on club property.
9. In case of gun malfunction, gun must be pointed down range until cleared. Wait at least 15 seconds before opening action.
10. No intoxication, intoxicating beverages or drug impairment is permitted on or near the range.
11. Never transport a loaded gun.
12. The Tulsa Gun Club provides novice training. If you or someone you know wants training, speak with the Club Manager.
13. Put all litter in trash barrels. Leave the range in better condition than you found it.
14. Conduct yourself as a gentleman or lady at all times.
15. In all instances not covered by established safety rules, the decision and direction of the club management will be final.
B. Archery
1. Always be sure the path to the target and beyond is clear before drawing your arrow.
2. Never point an arrow at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
3. Arm guards and finger tabs or similar equipment are highly recommended. Participants are encouraged to have their own protective equipment.
4. Make sure your equipment, bow, arrows, and guards, are in proper working condition.
5. Place an arrow on the string only when you are ready to take a shot. Do not walk, run or turn around with a mounted arrow.
6. Make sure no one is near enough to your bow when it is released as to be hurt. Always be aware of danger areas of arrows and limb tips.
7. Arrows, when shot, can be dangerous penetrating weapons. Never, under any circumstances point a mounted arrow in an unsafe direction.
8. Under no circumstances is an archer to step in front of the shooting line to retrieve an arrow while others are shooting even if they’re shooting at a nearby station.
C. Pistol and Rifle
1. Always enter shooting area from the north side (behind firing line).
2. If you are hit by hot brass from a semi-auto firearm, it will burn or blister you. Cover all exposed areas and wear a hat when around this type of firearm.
3. Full automatic shooting is not allowed.
4. Armor piercing, incendiary, tracer or explosive rounds are not allowed at the range.
5. Paper targets (any kind) are the only type of target shot at this range. Mount them on target frames provided behind the shooting line.
6. All firing will be from behind the shooting bench, in either a standing or sitting position.
7. Never shoot at or near the top of the safety berm.
8. Don’t allow your bullets to impact railroad ties, concrete walks or anything other than the dirt berms.
9. Never shoot across another shooter.
10. While rapid-fire is allowed, it is discouraged due to the possibility of a squib load. (NOTE: a squib load is a bullet that does not leave the barrel, and if another round is fired into it, your barrel will explode.)
11. Range commands you will hear and use:
a. Cease Fire – A dangerous situation is noticed;
stop shooting,
keep firearm pointed down-range,
finger off trigger,
wait, for one or both of the following commands.
1) Clear Firearms – Situation cannot easily or quickly be resolved;
completely unload firearm,
open cylinder or action,
lay on shooting bench,
pointing down-range.
Do not handle firearm, clip or magazine.
Stay behind the yellow safety line.
2) Resume Firing – Situation has been
3) resolved;
range is safe,
start shooting again.
b. Clear the Line – When someone wants to go forward of the shooting line; finish shooting current cylinder, magazine or clip, remove clip or magazine, open cylinder or action, lay firearm on shooting bench, pointing down-range. Do not handle firearm, clip or magazine. Turn flashing red light on. If not going down-range, stay behind yellow safety line until the down-range area is clear.
c. Range is Cold – This is to confirm that it is safe to go down-range. You should tend to your target frame in an efficient manner and return to the yellow safety line so there is more shooting time for all.
d. Range is Going Hot – Prepare to start shooting; make sure no one is down-range, turn flashing red light off, move to shooting bench.
e. Range is Hot – Shooting is permitted;
Confirm that no one is down-range, resume firing.
12. Place misfires in “dud box” or take home.
13. Re-hang the target frames under the steps when finished shooting.
D. Shotgun
1. Max shot size and loads allowed 7 1/2 shot. 3 1/4 drams.
2. Semi-automatic shotgun trap shooters should use a shell catcher.
3. Only one shot per target.
4. Do not load more than 2 shells at skeet stations 1 through 7, or trap doubles. Do not load more than 1 shell at skeet station 8, or at trap singles.
5. At skeet station 8, face the high house for a single shot. Then face the low house for a single shot (2 shots, 2 targets if perfect round); the center stake is your boundary marker. Do not swing gun past boundary marker.
6. A squad should not have more than 5 shooters.
7. A squad should move from Station to station as a group.
8. Skeet shooters not on the shooting station should be ready for their turn and remain behind the station.
9. Shooters MUST always be alert to traffic along entrance road and stop shooting until area is clear.
10. Skeet shooters MUST always be alert to persons approaching Trap houses on other fields. If either shot or targets are being fired toward those at a Trap house. Stop firing until the area is clear.
11. Never walk directly in front of low house openings on the skeet fields. When picking up fired hulls, walk out and around the path of the target. Be careful not to expose yourself to other fields.
12. No hulls are to be picked-up during a round of skeet or trap.
13. Pull cords and other equipment can be damaged. Handle with care.
14. It is polite to refill the skeet and trap machines when finished shooting.
a. Reloading skeet:
1) After entering the house, step behind the machine.
2) The throwing arm is dangerous and travels counter clockwise from 6:00 back to 3:00, 12:00, 9:00 and 6:00 where it “cocks” again.
3) Stay behind machine, keep eye protection on.
4) Use one finger to depress the toggle switch (control box on wall) down and release. This will throw target (be sure no one is in front of low house window), and de-cock machine making it safe. Throwing arm will stop at the 9:00 position.
5) Carefully load 10 target sleeves to top of each. Once in a sleeve do not let targets slide down on their own, they will break.
6) Turn machine on (toggle switch up).
b. Reloading trap:
1) Raise the orange flag located on the fence so as to alert skeet shooters on adjacent fields before approaching the trap house.
2) Approach from left rear side of trap house to left front corner. Make sure skeet and skeet shooters are not firing toward the trap house.
3) Do not go to front of machine at this time. Keep eye protection on.
4) Reach around corner of trap house. Use one finger to depress and release inside toggle switch (2nd switch). This will throw target and un-cock the machine making it safe. Throwing arm will stop at 9:00 position.
5) Enter and carefully load 16 target sleeves to top of each. Once in a sleeve do not let targets slide down on their own, they will break.
6) Exit house and recock the machine (2nd toggle switch up). Make sure skeet and skeet shooters are not firing toward trap house).
7) Lower the orange flag.
