Antelope County Shooters Benefit From NRA Grant

Area shooting enthusiasts now have more top quality equipment to use at the Antelope County Shooter’s Club, thanks to the Friends of the NRA program.

The Antelope County Shooter’s Club was the recent recipient of a $8,500 grant from Friends of the NRA. The grant allowed the club to purchase a new trap house, trap thrower and wireless voice releases so they could build a second shooting area at the current shotgun range.

Duane Childers, a member of the club, explained that the new equipment allows the club more flexibility for their shooters and leagues. Now, the club can have more shooters going at a time. It also gives the opportunity for shooters who are nervous or unsure of themselves a bit more privacy when they are shooting.

The process for the grant began approximately a year ago. The club had to write a highly detailed grant request before submitting it to the NRA. That means that research on cost and equipment all had to be done before the grant was written. Childers explained thats all because the NRA wants for specific details on what the grant is for.

“The NRA is very specific about what they will give you money for,” Childers explained. “We had to specify exactly what we were going to do, what machine we were going to buy and so on and so forth.”

After the equipment was purchased, the NRA required that they were provided with a proof of purchase as well.

Everyone is welcome to check out the new equipment for themselves at the club’s open house on August 18. 

“We’ll show off all our new things the NRA has given us,” said Childers.

Besides simply admiring the new scenery, everyone that comes to the open house is welcome to test out the equipment as well. There will be reduced rates to shoot that evening and extra ammo will be available for purchase on site. Along with the improvements to the shotgun range, the NRA’s grant allowed for improvements at the rifle range as well. Childers encourages everyone to check that out as well.

“Our rifle range is located on the airport road,” he said. “With the help of the NRA’s grant, we put a slab of concrete down and we put a covered roof over it and we built five new shooter’s benches.”

The Antelope County Shooter’s Club currently boasts more than 250 members, including people from as far away as Norfolk. A first year membership for a family is only $25. Every year after that, the membership fee drops to only $15. Anyone with questions or that would like to sign up for a membership should contact Rick Fangman at (402) 386-5727.