Chester Rod & Gun Club

Chester Rod & Gun Club sits at 4137 VT Route 11 in Chester, Vermont—an all-volunteer shooting club that's been running clay and rifle sports for years. This is a membership-based operation, and they take their facilities and community seriously.

The club offers multiple disciplines:

• •Skeet and Trap Shooting – Skeet, trap, trap doubles, and handicap trap year-round
• •Rifle & Pistol Ranges – 25-yard, 50-yard, and 100-yard shooting distances

As of September 2020, trap and skeet shooting costs $5 for members and $6 for non-members per shoot.

The club regularly hosts Vermont-certified hunter safety courses. These typically run 6 sessions plus one full Saturday session. Students must attend all classes to complete the course. Children under 16 need a parental consent form. Registration goes through the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.

The club holds its annual meeting on the third Wednesday of January each year. A potluck starts at 6pm, officer elections at 7pm, and the regular meeting follows at 7:30pm. This is where members vote on club business—membership dues have been discussed and adjusted here.

Chester Rod & Gun Club isn't just about shooting. They sponsor conservation education:

• •Green Mountain Conservation Camp Sponsorship – The club sponsors students to attend one-week conservation camps at Lake Bomoseen (Castleton) and Buck Lake (Woodbury). Campers learn fish and wildlife conservation, ecology, forestry, orienteering, safe firearm and archery techniques, swimming, canoeing, and fishing.
• •Children's Fishing Derby – Annual spring event at Chester Reservoir for kids of all ages
• •Annual Spring Cleanup Day – Members volunteer to maintain grounds, ranges, and facilities (typically held in May)

The club operates an active Building and Grounds Committee managing ongoing improvements:

• •Club building interior/exterior maintenance and painting
• •Trap range attenuation barrier repairs and fence work
• •Skeet range house exterior maintenance
• •Rifle and pistol range debris clearing and target backing support installation

The club is all-volunteer. The more people get involved, the faster projects move forward and the stronger the club stays.

Interested in helping? Contact committee members Harry Henderson (802-280-5871), Jerry Gleason (508-259-0687), or Martin Hewitt (914-772-1793). Skills like plumbing, electrical work, construction, or heavy equipment operation are always welcome.

4137 VT Route 11 Chester, Vermont 05143 USA

The club operates in central Vermont, accessible from Chester. Being volunteer-run, hours and special events are announced through their website and announcements.