New Richland Area Sportsmens Club

The New Richland Area Sportsmen's Club has operated since the 1930s—making it one of the oldest continuous shooting clubs in Minnesota. What started with meetings in a local creamery evolved into a full-featured range facility and community hub for hunters, shooters, and anglers.

The club operates from a 17-acre property east of Highway 13 that includes:

• •Rifle/Pistol Range – 60'×50'×20' berm with covered shooting stations (15'×90' range building)
• •Trap Range – Automated clay bird thrower with concrete shooting lanes
• •Archery Range – 5 shooting stations (added 2022-2023)
• •Clubhouse – Renovated meeting space with fireplace, wood burning stove, available for rentals
• •Public Access Area – Maintained parking, signage, and facilities

The facility was significantly upgraded through a $7,000 LCMR (Legislative Commission for Minnesota Resources) grant in 1998, with matching club funds raised through fundraisers and local business donations.

The club administers Minnesota DNR-certified firearms safety certification for youth. Here's how it works:

Requirements: - Must be 11+ years old - Required for anyone born after 12/31/1979 to purchase a hunting license in Minnesota - Counts toward apprentice hunter validation

Training Process: 1. Complete 12-15 hour online course at huntercourse.com ($24.95) 2. Pass the online test 3. Attend all-day field day (typically April) – includes live fire on the rifle range 4. Self-certify online at mndnr.gov ($7.50 fee)

2025 Field Day Details: - Date: Saturday, April 26th, 2025 - Capacity: 25 students (first come, first served) - Cost: $5.00 (covers lunch and refreshments) - Sign-up: New Richland School or email [email protected] - What to bring: Birth certificate, field day voucher, safety glasses, appropriate clothing and footwear (no flip-flops—wooded walking areas)

Students can bring their own rifle or shotgun, or use club-provided rifles. A parent/legal guardian must attend registration and sign parental release forms.

Purchase memberships from: - Any active club member - Officers (contact info below) - The New Richland Liquor Co. - Jennifer Dunnette: 507-461-1040 - Lee Mendenhall: 507-475-1444

Children must be accompanied by an adult member at all times.

The club organizes numerous public events:

• •St. Olaf Lake Ice Fishing Contest (February) – Running since the late 1930s with 350-400 holes drilled annually. Prize tickets $5 (up from $1). Grand prize up to $500. Drew huge crowds with fish like 6 lb. walleyes, 9 lb. northern pike.
• •Take a Kid Fishing Day
• •Fish Frys and Oyster Feeds
• •Trap Shooting Events
• •Fishermen's and Hunter's Nights
• •Farm & City Days

Contact: - Email: [email protected] - Mail: PO Box 234, New Richland MN 56072 - Phone: 507-475-1444

The club relocated to its current 17-acre site in the early 1990s after purchasing a former school portable classroom (28'×32'). Major renovations include:

• •1994 – Log siding, new roof, windows
• •2002 – Wood burning stone fireplace
• •2010 – Flood recovery and complete interior rebuild
• •2017 – New air conditioning, LED lighting, grounds mower, trap machine, .22 rifles for training
• •2020-2023 – Concrete dock ramp with handrails, new signage, archery range, all buildings painted, trees planted

In 2024, the facility narrowly avoided flooding—water levels came within 2 inches of entering the clubhouse.

The club actively manages the surrounding habitat:

• •Northern Pike Rearing Pond – Worked with DNR to maintain spawning habitat at St. Olaf Lake for decades
• •Wood Duck Houses – Built and installed by members and FFA students
• •Bluebird Houses – Community-built and distributed
• •Food Plots – Partnership with area farmers for pheasant habitat
• •Winter Feeding – Pheasant ear corn feeders during severe winters
• •Rain Gardens & Erosion Control – Ongoing shoreline restoration at St. Olaf Lake
• •Tree & Shrub Plantings – Native prairie grass, arborvitae, wildlife shrubs planted annually

The newly renovated clubhouse is available for rental to members in good standing. Contact club officers for details.