GANDER ROD & GUN CLUB
ARCHERY RANGE SAFETY RULES — 2026 EDITION
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Applies To: All Members, Guests, Visitors, Coaches, Instructors, and Archery Range Users
1. PURPOSE
These Archery Range Safety Rules are established to promote the safe, responsible, and lawful use of the Gander Rod & Gun Club Archery Range facilities.
These rules are intended to:
- Protect members, guests, spectators, and the public;
- Establish safe archery operating procedures;
- Support compliance with applicable Canadian safety standards;
- Support insurer, Club, and regulatory compliance requirements;
- Establish clear authority and emergency procedures;
- Maintain a safe recreational and competitive archery environment.
All persons entering or using the archery range are deemed to have accepted and agreed to comply with these rules.
These rules are intended to align with recognized Canadian archery safety standards, range operating practices, and Range Safety Officer principles used by Canadian clubs and organizations.
2. GOVERNING AUTHORITY
All archery activities conducted on Club property must comply with:
- All applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws;
- Club Range Operating Instructions (ROI);
- Club Executive directives;
- Range Officer (RO) or Archery Range Officer commands;
- Posted range signage and restrictions;
- Applicable insurance and safety requirements.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in:
- Immediate removal from the range;
- Suspension of range privileges;
- Club disciplinary action;
- Revocation of membership;
- Notification to law enforcement where required.
3. GENERAL SAFETY PRINCIPLES
Every person using the archery range shares responsibility for maintaining a safe environment.
All persons must:
- Conduct themselves safely and responsibly;
- Follow all range commands immediately;
- Use equipment safely and appropriately;
- Report unsafe conditions immediately;
- Ensure guests and minors comply with all rules.
Unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated.
No person may engage in any activity that creates an unreasonable risk to:
- Persons;
- Property;
- Wildlife;
- Adjacent ranges;
- Spectators;
- Club infrastructure.
4. DEFINITIONS
Archery Range — Any designated area used for archery activities on Club property.
Firing Line / Shooting Line — The designated line from which arrows may be discharged.
Waiting Line — The designated line behind which archers and spectators must remain until shooting is complete.
Clear Range / Clear to Retrieve — Command indicating that shooting has stopped and it is safe to proceed downrange.
Hot Range — A condition where shooting is authorized.
Cold Range — A condition where no shooting or bow handling is permitted.
Range Officer (RO) — A person authorized by the Club to supervise range safety and operations.
Dry Firing — Releasing a bowstring without a properly nocked arrow.
Broadhead Arrow — Any arrow equipped with hunting or cutting blades.
Sky Drawing — Drawing a bow in a manner where the arrow points above the target line or outside the designated safety zone.
5. RANGE AUTHORITY
5.1 Members
Members are responsible for:
- Their own conduct;
- Safe equipment use;
- Guest supervision;
- Compliance with all Club rules.
5.2 Range Officers
Range Officers have full authority over:
- The shooting line;
- Shooting activity;
- Cease-fire procedures;
- Removal of unsafe persons;
- Enforcement of safety rules.
All Range Officer commands must be obeyed immediately.
5.3 Club Executive
The Club Executive maintains authority regarding:
- Rule enforcement;
- Disciplinary matters;
- Operational oversight;
- Safety compliance.
6. RANGE ACCESS AND ORIENTATION
All first-time users and guests must:
- Receive an archery range orientation;
- Review applicable safety rules;
- Demonstrate safe equipment handling;
- Remain under supervision where required.
The Club may require proof of competency or prior instruction before permitting unsupervised use.
7. FUNDAMENTAL ARCHERY SAFETY RULES
All archers must:
- Always point bows toward designated targets;
- Keep arrows pointed downrange at all times;
- Shoot only from designated firing lines;
- Shoot only at approved targets;
- Maintain awareness of persons downrange;
- Inspect equipment before use.
No person may nock or draw an arrow unless standing at the shooting line and the range is clear for shooting.
8. SHOOTING LINE PROCEDURES
Archers may only shoot when:
- The range is declared HOT or CLEAR TO SHOOT;
- All persons are behind the shooting line;
- No person is downrange.
All archers shall:
- Shoot together where practical;
- Retrieve arrows together;
- Step back from the firing line when finished shooting.
When multiple archers are present, shooting cycles shall be coordinated for safety.
9. CLEAR RANGE / RETRIEVAL PROCEDURES
Before any person proceeds downrange:
- All shooting must stop;
- All bows must be lowered;
- All archers must acknowledge the cease-fire or retrieval command;
- The range must be declared CLEAR.
No person may shoot while another person is:
- Forward of the shooting line;
- Retrieving arrows;
- Inspecting targets;
- Searching for arrows.
Archers must walk — not run — when retrieving arrows.
10. BOW HANDLING RULES
Archers must not:
- Dry fire a bow;
- Draw a bow outside the firing line;
- Draw a bow toward another person;
- Engage in horseplay or unsafe handling;
- Use damaged or unsafe equipment.
Sky drawing is prohibited.
All bows must remain pointed safely downrange while an arrow is nocked.
11. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
All equipment used on Club property must be:
- Safe;
- Properly maintained;
- Suitable for range use.
The Club reserves the right to prohibit unsafe or excessively powerful equipment.
Before shooting, archers must inspect:
- Limbs;
- Strings;
- Cams;
- Arrows;
- Releases;
- Sights;
- Stabilizers.
Unsafe or defective equipment must not be used.
12. PROHIBITED EQUIPMENT
Unless specifically authorized by the Club, the following are prohibited:
- Explosive arrows or projectiles;
- Incendiary devices;
- Unsafe homemade equipment;
- Damaged arrows;
- Damaged bows;
- Targets depicting human figures or unlawful imagery.
Broadheads are prohibited on Club targets unless specifically approved and used on designated targets only.
13. CROSSBOWS
Crossbows may only be used where specifically authorized by the Club.
Where permitted:
- Crossbows must be discharged only from approved shooting stations;
- Bolts must be appropriate for the equipment;
- Users must maintain full muzzle-direction equivalent control at all times.
The Club may impose velocity or equipment restrictions where required for safety or target protection.
14. ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND IMPAIRMENT
The possession or use of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, or impairing substances before or during archery activities is strictly prohibited.
Any person appearing impaired may be:
- Removed from the range immediately;
- Reported to the Club Executive;
- Subject to disciplinary action.
No person may use archery equipment while impaired.
15. CHILDREN AND MINORS
Children and minors must remain under direct adult supervision at all times.
Parents or guardians are responsible for:
- Safety compliance;
- Equipment handling;
- Supervision;
- Conduct.
The Club may establish minimum age or supervision requirements for unsupervised shooting.
16. SPECTATORS
Spectators must:
- Remain behind designated safety lines;
- Follow all Range Officer instructions;
- Avoid distracting archers;
- Remain alert to shooting activity.
Unsafe spectator behaviour may result in removal from the range area.
17. RANGE MAINTENANCE AND HOUSEKEEPING
All users must:
- Remove garbage;
- Remove damaged arrows where possible;
- Dispose of broken equipment safely;
- Report target or range damage;
- Leave shooting areas clean and orderly.
Intentional damage to Club property may result in suspension, liability, or expulsion.
18. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
In an emergency:
- Immediately stop all shooting;
- Make all equipment safe;
- Notify the Range Officer;
- Contact emergency services if required;
- Follow posted emergency procedures.
Emergency contact numbers and first aid equipment locations shall remain posted at the range.
A first aid kit should be accessible during all organized shooting activities.
19. INCIDENT REPORTING
All injuries, equipment failures, unsafe incidents, or near misses must be reported immediately to:
- A Range Officer;
- A Club Executive member;
- Event organizers where applicable.
The Club may require written incident reports for safety review and insurance purposes.
20. RULE ENFORCEMENT
Violations of these rules may result in:
- Verbal warnings;
- Suspension of shooting privileges;
- Removal from Club property;
- Revocation of membership;
- Permanent prohibition from range use.
Serious or reckless safety violations may result in immediate expulsion.
21. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY
All members share responsibility for:
- Maintaining safe range operations;
- Promoting responsible archery practices;
- Assisting new archers safely;
- Correcting unsafe behaviour where appropriate;
- Reporting unresolved hazards promptly.
Safety is a collective responsibility.
22. FINAL AUTHORITY
These rules may be amended by the Gander Rod & Gun Club Executive as required to maintain compliance with:
- Insurance requirements;
- Recognized Canadian archery safety practices;
- Evolving range standards;
- Operational and safety needs.
The most current version shall be posted on the Club website and made available to members upon request.
GANDER ROD & GUN CLUB
Archery Range Safety Rules — 2026 Edition
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
These rules are intended to align with recognized Canadian archery range safety practices and Range Safety Officer standards used by Canadian clubs and organizations.
