Portage Lake Sportsmens Club
Portage Lake Sportsmen's Club sits on 80 acres near Chassell, Michigan—about 3.5 miles west of town off Chassell-Painesdale Road. The club was organized over 60 years ago by local hunters and anglers who wanted a safe place to shoot and a community of people who shared their interests. Shooting Faci...
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01 // OVERVIEW
Overview
Location details and information
Portage Lake Sportsmen's Club sits on 80 acres near Chassell, Michigan—about 3.5 miles west of town off Chassell-Painesdale Road. The club was organized over 60 years ago by local hunters and anglers who wanted a safe place to shoot and a community of people who shared their interests.
Shooting Facilities: - 400-yard rifle range with covered firing line - Rimfire steel and poly swinging targets on the 50-yard berm - Five-stand shotgun clay range - Pistol pit for defensive shooting - Archery range - Membership clay thrower available
The club property is gated. Members receive the access code, so you can shoot whenever conditions allow. During winter, ranges may be soggy or inaccessible—this is Michigan's UP, after all.
Practical Pistol (IDPA) Weekly sessions run during summer months for International Defensive Pistol Association-sanctioned competition. Contact Scott Gruenberg (906-523-4335, [email protected]) for details.
Five-Stand Shotgun Shooting Weekly summer sessions suspended during fall hunting season and winter. Resumes in spring. Contact John DePuydt (906-231-6270, [email protected]) or Chris Passerello (906-482-7133).
The club opens its ranges to non-members for specific public events:
- •Deer Rifle Sight-In Day (typically November) — Members volunteer to help hunters check their rifle sights before deer season. This is open to the public at no charge.
- •Hunter Safety Courses — Instruction in firearms safety and good hunting practices.
- •3-Gun and 2-Gun Matches — Competition events that occasionally welcome outside shooters.
- •Action Pistol Classes — Instruction from experienced shooters.
Guests can visit the range with a member. Liability waivers are available at the covered range, and completed forms go in the green deck box.
Membership runs May 1 to April 30. The club offers:
| Membership Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Life | Non-expiring, age 18+ (mail application only) |
| Regular | Annual, age 18+ |
| Senior | Annual, age 65+ at 50% of regular rate |
| Student | Annual, high school or full-time college students at 50% of regular rate |
Spouses, minor children, and minor grandchildren of full members get associate membership—they can shoot but must be accompanied by the full member.
- •Work Credits: Members can earn credits toward dues by volunteering for club work projects.
New applicants must: 1. Submit a membership application (online or mail) 2. Read and sign agreement to follow club rules 3. Complete a hands-on range safety briefing 4. Complete a range familiarization session 5. Pay dues
Renewing members need to pay dues, reread rules, and complete a range familiarization session at least once every three years. For the 2025-26 year, all renewing members must also complete a hands-on safety briefing.
- •Contact the Club Secretary (Paul Raymond, 906-370-2816, [email protected]) with questions about membership or to arrange sessions if scheduled times don't work.
The club maintains detailed rules covering firearm safety, use of all ranges, and member conduct. Violation of rules can result in dismissal. Rules cover the covered firing line, five-stand clay range, pistol pit, membership clay thrower, and archery range. Full rules are available on the membership page.
Portage Lake Sportsmen's Club is affiliated with: - National Rifle Association (NRA) — Members can join the NRA at a discount through PLSC - International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) — Sanctions the club's practical pistol events - Friends of NRA - Upper Peninsula Sportsmen's Alliance
- •Address: 18854E Chassell-Painesdale Road, Chassell, MI 49916
- •Driving: From Chassell, take the Chassell-Painesdale Road (also called Fifth Street in town, or County Road 540 on some maps) west about 3.5 miles. Look for the large yellow sign at the property entrance. From US Highway 41, turn at the blinking traffic lights in Chassell.
- •GPS Coordinates: 47.025381, -88.597903
Club Contact: - President: Ed Glowacki Jr. ([email protected]) - Secretary: Paul Raymond, 906-370-2816 ([email protected]) - Website Maintenance: Bob Keen ([email protected])
The club property is gated. Members receive the gate combination with their membership card.
The clubhouse closes for winter with no water or restrooms available until spring. IDPA pistol sessions and five-stand shotgun shooting are suspended fall through spring and resume when range conditions permit. However, members with gate access can still use the ranges during these periods if conditions allow.
The club maintains a calendar of events and a Facebook page (Portage Lake Sportsmen's Club on Facebook) for updates.
Safety Information
- •Check current conditions before visiting
- •Follow all posted safety guidelines
- •Respect other shooters and maintain safe distances
Restrictions
- •Members only - membership application and approval required
- •New members must complete range familiarization session
- •All members must attend hands-on safety briefing (at least once every 3 years for renewals)
- •Rimfire ammunition only for steel/poly swinging targets
- •Seasonal closures - five-stand and IDPA sessions suspended during fall, winter, and early spring
- •Clubhouse facilities seasonally unavailable (winterized in off-season)
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