Unaka Rod & Gun Club

Unaka Rod & Gun Club started when a group of local World War II veterans decided Johnson City, Tennessee needed a safe place to shoot. That was August 12, 1948. Nearly 80 years later, the club still runs on the same core idea: provide shooting facilities and keep youth involved in marksmanship sports.

The club operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Members volunteer their time running range operations—no one gets paid except for reimbursement on actual expenses.

Steel targets are now available at the rifle range (bring spray paint to mark your hits). All shooters provide their own paper targets, but target stands and bases are free to use.

• •Standard Family Membership (age 18-64): $150/year
• •Senior Family Membership (age 65+): $100/year
• •New Member Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable)

Family membership covers the primary member, spouse, and dependent children living at home. Members get a permanent membership card and gate card for access. The membership year runs March 1 through February 28.

Guests must be accompanied by a member at all times. The member is responsible for their guest's safety and conduct.

• •Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Classes – Classroom and field training by NRA instructors
• •Tennessee Hunter Education Classes – Field day and in-person options taught by instructor Stanley Shell

• •Monthly Trophy Shoot (4th Saturday of each month)
• •Open to anyone
• •2 rounds of skeet and/or trap
• •Lunch included with entry
• •Pricing: $32 for both disciplines, $19 for one discipline (subtract $5 if skipping lunch)
• •Guests can attend lunch for $5

Other regular competitions include: - 200 yard bullseye rifle matches - Bullseye pistol matches - Black powder matches - Rimfire silhouette matches - Skeet and trap leagues with monthly score tracking

Other regional clubs host trophy shoots on different Saturdays: Kettlefoot (Bristol, VA—1st Saturday), Wilderness (Gate City, VA—2nd Saturday), Cherokee (Kingsport, TN—3rd Saturday).

Unaka runs two main youth initiatives:

• •Unaka Shooters SCTP Team – Scholastic Clays Training Program for shotgun sports (skeet, trap, sporting clays)
• •Youth Rifle Team – NRA-sponsored junior rifle training

The club is affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA), Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), and National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA).

• •Summer Hours (April 1 - October 31)
• •Monday-Wednesday & Friday-Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
• •Thursday: Closed
• •Sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm

• •Winter Hours (November 1 - March 31)
• •Monday-Saturday: 12 pm - 4 pm
• •Sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm

Range Safety Officers (RSOs) must be present for anyone to use the rifle/pistol range. No shots fired on Sundays before 1 pm or after 6 pm (church agreements). Members must arrive one hour before closing or the RSO can shut down early.

• •Eye and ear protection mandatory at all times on the range
• •Any legally-owned firearm in safe operating condition is permitted
• •Fully automatic firearms only for shooters age 15+
• •Tracers, explosive rounds, incendiary ammo, and armor-piercing ammo prohibited
• •NO metal targets, metal frames, or metal stands (ricochet risk)
• •Target stands must be made from wood, PVC, cardboard, or non-ricochet materials
• •Firearms unloaded and actions locked open during cease-fire
• •All RSO commands must be obeyed

• •Address: 90 Furnace Road, Johnson City, TN 37601
• •Mailing: PO Box 572, Johnson City, TN 37605-0572
• •Membership Contact: Stanley Shell | [email protected] | 423-361-6439

Club meetings and board meetings are open. Members can volunteer as Range Safety Officers and qualify for complimentary membership based on time/financial contributions. Dues keep facility costs low—shooters only pay per clay target round (skeet, trap, 5-stand).

Rangehouse amenities include restrooms and snacks/drinks available for purchase.