Weston County Sportsman's Club

Weston County Sportsman's Club started in 1989 when local shooters wanted a place to practice without trespassing. The club opened its doors on September 20, 1991, on land leased from the City of Newcastle—originally the old city dump. Today it serves over 160 active members and their families with three separate shooting facilities.

Outdoor Rifle Range - 300 yards maximum distance - Covered firing line with concrete shooting benches - Positions for standing or prone shooting

Outdoor Pistol Pit - 50 yards - Custom berms for dynamic movement practice

Indoor Range (heated year-round) - 25 yards - Robust backstop handles .44 mag, .454 Casull, and .22 rifles - Stationary target stands for custom firing lines - Classroom and meeting room attached

Trap Range - Three trap houses - Located at Sweet Pea Trail near the city water tower

NRA Basic Pistol (Two Days) Covers safety, parts identification, operation fundamentals, and live fire at the indoor range. This class counts toward Wyoming's Conceal Carry Permit requirements. The club keeps rental revolvers and semi-autos on hand so you can test different sizes and calibers before buying your own.

"We are lucky to be one of a growing list of states with constitutional, permit-less carry. However, there are some nasty 'gotchas' that a CCP can help you avoid."

Cost: ~$50 per student (subsidized by NRA Foundation grants and club donations)

Self-Defense Level 1 (New for 2025) Intermediate instruction for shooters with basic pistol skills. Prerequisites include an NRA Basic class or equivalent experience, comfortable with the four rules of safety, and able to keep shots in an 8" circle at 21 feet.

Requirements: - Your own familiar pistol - 200 rounds of ammunition - Outside-the-belt holster (12:00 to 3:00 position on dominant side) - Spare magazines or speed loaders - Electronic hearing protection (rentals available) - Eye protection

Skills and Drills Pistol Night First Thursday of each month for shooters wanting to sharpen fundamentals.

The club has six certified instructors with diverse backgrounds: - NRA-certified trainers - 4H instructors - Law enforcement and military experience - Training from Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, Cornered Cat, and Grey Wolf Consulting - Experience in urban, suburban, and rural environments

Christina Johnson is available to work one-on-one with female shooters on questions and issues.

4H youth groups use the facilities Monday and Tuesday evenings (3-7pm). Last year, 40 youth trained and competed with airguns, .22 pistols and rifles, trap shooting, and blackpowder rifles.

Free access for: - Newcastle Police Department - Weston County Sheriff's Office - Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp - Youth groups

Held in March at the Senior Center. The club organizes vendor tables and admission. All vendors must follow federal, state, and local firearms laws. The club itself does not sell firearms or related products.

• •Membership runs April to April to align with the annual gun show.

Sign-up locations: - In person at Cambria Supply/Badlands Armory in Newcastle - At monthly club meetings (second Monday, 7pm at the indoor range) - At the annual gun show - By mail using the registration form

Members get the main gate code immediately. Access to the heated indoor range requires a tour (offered at meetings or by arrangement).

• •Monday & Tuesday, 3-7pm: 4H youth practice
• •Wednesdays: Open shooting
• •First Thursday: Skills and Drills pistol night
• •Friday nights (winter): Scheduled shoot nights
• •Second Monday, 7pm: Monthly club meetings

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1990, WCSC was created to provide safe, legal shooting access and education. The organization's stated goal is "reducing the barriers to basic training and expanding the safe, effective, and common use of firearms in our community for the purposes of sporting, hunting, self-defense, and defense against a tyrannical government as a natural right described by the 2nd amendment."

The facility is volunteer-run. Funding comes from membership dues, NRA Foundation grants, and member donations—allowing the club to keep costs low and programs accessible.

Location: Newcastle, Wyoming is at the intersection of Highways 85 and 16 in Weston County, on the western edge of the Black Hills. It's near Gillette, Wyoming, and close to landmarks like Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower in South Dakota.