Shirley Rod & Gun Club

The Shirley Rod and Gun Club was founded in 1898 and has operated at its current location for over 60 years. This is a member-run, all-volunteer operation—not a commercial range. The club sits on 200+ acres of New England woods and wetlands on the banks of the Squannacook River near Ayer, just off Route 2A in Shirley, MA.

Membership costs $75/year (first-year members pay $75 initiation + $75 dues + $25 gate card deposit). The club asks members to volunteer 4 hours per year—if you do, you skip the initiation fee in subsequent years. If volunteering doesn't work for you, pay the $75 initiation fee annually instead.

Members access ranges via keycard-operated gate. Lost your card? Replacement is $25 at monthly meetings.

• •Distances: 50, 75, 100, and 200 yards
• •Capacity: Maximum 4 shooters on firing line at once
• •Targets: Cardboard squares in clips on strapping; stored in rack on-site
• •Steel targets: Installed at 100 and 200-yard bunkers (any caliber except .50 BMG)
• •Shotgun shooting: Birdshot must be patterned on left-side wood strapping (not in bunkers). Slugs in any bunker. Buckshot only in 50-yard bunker.
• •Rule: All shots must go into bunkers

• •Distances: 20 and 65 yards
• •Capacity: Maximum 5 shooters on firing line at once
• •Steel targets: Plate rack and dueling tree (non-magnum handguns only—magnums damage them. .22LR not allowed on steel targets due to ricochet risk)
• •Allowed firearms: Handguns and pistol-caliber carbines/rifles only (.22LR acceptable)
• •Targets: Paper/stick-on only, mounted on strapping and cardboard holders (stored in range building)
• •Rule: All shots must hit steel or go directly through paper into berms

• •Season: Wednesday nights April through August
• •Hours: 5:00 PM until dark
• •Entry fee: $7.00 per person
• •Pizza available: All-you-can-eat for $5.00
• •Features: Life-like targets using varied terrain to simulate hunting conditions
• •Competition: Scorecards randomly paired at end of night; prize money for highest and lowest aggregate scores

Red flags at each range alert incoming shooters that a range is "hot." First user raises it; last user lowers it.

• •February: Chili Cookoff ($5 admission, all-you-can-eat, public welcome)
• •March: Annual Meeting with Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner and membership drive
• •March: Becoming an Outdoors Woman Seminar (ranges closed)
• •April: Spring Cleanup (members only)
• •May: Kids Fishing Derby
• •August: Public Field Day and Pig Roast
• •November: Annual Turkey Shoot—the club's biggest event with food, games, prizes, raffles
• •Weekly (April-August): 3D Archery Wednesday Nights

"Both ranges will be closed for the day" during special events like the Becoming an Outdoors Woman seminar

All Ranges: - Members must accompany guests at all times; only one guest on firing line at a time - All firearms must be unloaded or holstered when going on/off range - No handling firearms while people are downrange - No full-auto, bump-firing, or slide-fire stocks - No tracer bullets or exploding targets - No produce, cans, bottles, propane tanks as targets—paper/stick-on or existing steel targets only - Brass and targets must be policed before leaving range - Red flags signal "hot range" to people approaching from behind

Rifle Range Specifics: - Shotgun birdshot must be patterned on left-side wood strapping, never in bunkers (damages telephone pole frames) - Targets never attached to telephone poles - Cardboard squares only in bunker clips

Pistol Range Specifics: - No high-power rifles or shotguns allowed - Shooters must shoot from behind benches on firing line - Targets never on ground, never on telephone poles, never forward of benches (except during club-sanctioned events) - Non-magnum handguns only on steel targets - You're responsible for every bullet until it comes to rest

The club welcomes dogs but enforces clear boundaries: - No dogs allowed on any range (rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery, 3D) - Dogs must be leashed and under control at all events - Any dog showing aggression or causing injury is banned from property - No dogs in the kitchen - Owner is responsible for dog safety; not other club members

Before you can use ranges, new members must attend a Range Orientation walk-through (about 30 minutes) where rules and policies are explained thoroughly. Usually held during monthly meetings or on Sunday mornings during winter.

• •To join: Download membership application, print it, bring it to a monthly meeting (2nd Thursday of each month, 7:30 PM), show up 6:30-7:15 PM to find the membership chairman, bring cash or check. One orientation walk-through required before range access.

Monthly meetings are open to members and prospective members. The club maintains trail systems, range infrastructure, event coordination, and facility upkeep entirely through volunteer hours. Scouts of America (Ayer/Shirley Troop) holds meetings Monday evenings on club grounds year-round; ranges stay open during these meetings.

Club Officers: - President: Leigh Blakely (978) 273-0105 - Vice President: Jim Finnerty (617) 320-8012 - Secretary: Craig Carpenter (781) 844-4487 - Treasurer: Jim Wilson (781) 816-9456

• •Address: Kittredge Road, just off Route 2A in Shirley, MA (about 3 miles west of the Ayer rotary)

• •Mailing: P.O. Box 327, Shirley, MA 01464

• •Get club news via email: Subscribe to mailing list on website