Whortlekill Rod & Gun

Whortlekill Rod & Gun Club operates an indoor pistol range in Hopewell Junction with 7 shooting positions and motorized cables that place targets up to 75 feet downrange. The range is open to the public—no membership required to shoot.

Pistol Range Hours: - Tuesday & Wednesday: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM - Noon

Range Rates: - $15 for 1/2 hour - $25 for full hour - Gift certificates available

Every Monday from January through March (6:30 PM - 8:00 PM), Whortlekill hosts Pistol Poker Shoots. Shooters fire at full deck-of-cards targets to score the best poker hand. Choose Texas Hold'em or Seven Card Blind—or try both.

• •$30 entry includes three rounds and range fee
• •$5 per additional hand
• •Weekly cash prizes + final prizes for high-point scorers

Whortlekill is a proud member of the Amateur Trap Shooting Association. Trap shooting is open to the public on Wednesday nights starting at 3:00 PM and Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to noon. Bring your own trap shotgun.

Note: Wednesday night trap is closed from 12/24/25 through the end of February 2026. Sunday morning trap continues year-round.

The club operates a 30-target 3D archery course at their preserve in Hopewell. Shoots run 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM (all rain or shine). Events include:

• •Steel deer shot challenge with cash prizes
• •Trick shot competitions
• •$15 per non-member | Children under 12 free
• •Food and drinks available on site

Follow Archery In Hopewell on Facebook for upcoming 2026 shoot dates and photos from past events.

The Education Committee offers comprehensive firearms and hunting instruction:

Pistol Courses: - NRA Basic Pistol ($85 per person) – Full 8-hour instructor-led course with live fire and certificate - NRA Basic Pistol Blended – Online pre-work + 5-hour in-person (faster option) - Introduction to Concealed Carry – Foundation course covering mindset, holster placement, situational awareness, and scenario drills - Pistol Skills, Drills & Thrills – Advanced drills and fundamentals practice - Advanced Defensive Pistol – Draw from holster, moving targets, reactive steel targets (approx. 300 rounds) - Pistol Next Steps – Progressive training for shooters seeking skill development - NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Course – Train-the-trainer certification

Safety & Permitting: - NYS Pistol Permit Course (16+2 hours) – Required for new permits and concealed carry renewals in NY counties requiring renewal - NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) Course – Become a certified RSO (upcoming: March 3-5) - Firearm Safety Seminar – FREE seminar on function, safety, ammunition, and storage (space limited)

Hunting Education: - NYS Hunter Education Course – In-person statewide certification required for hunting license - NYS Bowhunter Education Course – Certification required for bowhunting in NY - Trapper Education Course – NY State certified instruction - Waterfowl Education Course

Contact Philip Scarano (845-401-6636 or [email protected]) for course registration and questions. Visit register-ed.com or nrainstructors.org for online enrollment.

Whortlekill rents club space to the public for weddings, fundraisers, parties, and corporate events.

Rental Options & Pricing (Non-Member Rates):

What's Included: - Commercial kitchen, tables, chairs (indoor rentals) - Walk-in cold box and indoor restrooms - Catering available on premises or BYOC - Club dumpster access

Booking Requirements: - Security deposit due at booking; full balance due 2 weeks prior or date released - Payment by check or money order only (no cash) - Blue painters tape only for decorations (no holes in walls or scotch tape) - Renter responsible for cleanup and putting away furniture

Contact Terence Thornton (914-490-7718) to book and verify availability.

Whortlekill currently operates a numbered waiting list for new members due to limited active membership slots per club bylaws.

Membership Requirements: - Sponsorship from 2 active or life members in good standing - Active NRA membership (must provide member number) - 3 character references (non-members acceptable) - $50 non-refundable application fee - Application reviewed at monthly members meetings; voted on at second reading

Membership Costs: - Initiation: $2,500 - Annual dues: $400 - Annual required raffles: $120 - Payment by check or money order only

Member Obligations: - First 2 years: 25 work hours annually (Wednesday night trap volunteer shifts) - Year 3+: Work all scheduled ATA trap events - Ongoing: 25 work hours per year or face $50-$100/hour fines or ejection

• •Main Email: [email protected]

• •Pistol Range Updates: Email [email protected] (specify pistol range only or all club activities)

Email privacy protected—subscribers' addresses never shared.

Check the club calendar on their homepage for weather closures and event updates.