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Starting with the June 2013 membership meeting, ALL new members will be required to have a passport photo to process their membership badge. In the past DGC made attempts to take photos on a membership day. We will no longer do such.
Starting with the June 2013 membership day. If your application is incomplete in ANY way your membership may not be processed until the next regular scheduled membership day. This could mean your gate access number will be deactivated during that period of time. Each member is totally responsible to monitor the expiration date of their membership. That is NOT a responsibility that DGC holds!

It is strongly suggested that ALL DGC members take time to view the new changes in the DGC Member Handbook concerning safety violations. DGC club rules will be strictly enforced.

As of late we have had repeated requests to use “bump fire stocks” on the ranges. By decision of the Desoto Gun Club, Inc. Board of Directors, ANYTHING that simulates ANY firearm to automatic arte of fire is strictly prohibited on ANY range EXCEPT the “containment range”. This will however require prior approval and a special membership badge along with at least one full year of safe, incident free membership. ANYBODY caught in the use of any device or techniques to simulate full automatic rate of fire out of the containment range & without prior approval will have their membership revoked immediately.

Due to the risks involved NO TRACER / INCENDIARY ammo of ANY kind may be shot on Desoto Gun Club, Inc. property at ANY time,,,, NEVER! The use of such poses high risks that Desoto Gun Club, Inc. can’t take due to fire hazards. ANYBODY caught in the use of these items will have their membership revoked immediately.

No “exploding targets” of ANY sort are permitted to be used on ANY of the ranges,,,NEVER! Again, the fire risks associated with such are too great.

We ask all members to exercise extreme caution when choosing to shoot at anything but typical paper targets. Aerosol paint cans are NOT a good target idea. Please remember than an “empty” propane tank containing only fumes has equal exploding power to 5 sticks of dynamite (information courtesy of the local fire inspector). Obviously a “target” of this nature would be prohibited. USE CAUTION please!

DeSoto Gun Club will be the venue for the 2012 Florida State Field Target Match on Saturday Feb 11, 2012.

The DeSoto Airgunners held a match on 11/13/11 Check out the action at the link below.

AS PER UNAMIOUS DECISION OF THE DESOTO GUN CLUB, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE ENTIRE RANGE WILL NOW BE CLOSED DURING THE SHOTGUN MATCH. THE FIRST DAY THIS WILL HAPPEN WILL BE SEPTEMBER 4^TH, 2011. THIS WILL OCCUR THE FISRT SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. ALL RANGES WILL BE OPEN AFTER MATCH IS COMPLETE, WHICH IS GENERALLY 1 – 1:30 PM PENDING ON MATCH ATTENDANCE.

AGAIN, ENTIRE RANGE WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE SHOTGUN MATCH ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY. RANGES WILL REOPEN FOR GENERAL MEMBER USE AFTER MATCH IS COMPLETE.

When taking a new shooter to the range there are a variety of items that should be covered before they get into a situation involving real guns with live ammunition in them. At the range it is a good idea to try to start every new shooter off with a “talking to” and a blue gun ( solid plastic training handgun that won’t go bang),,,,if not available, do so with a “safe gun” meaning it is unloaded, before taking them onto a “hot” range with live firearms.

The first thing new shooters need to hear is the four rules of gun safety, and how the four rules apply to the range they are about to be on.

Rule 1: All guns are always loaded. This means we don’t want anyone behind the firing line with an “unloaded” gun. Keep it on the firing line unless it’s in the case, because trust me, it’s loaded, and no one wants anyone with a gun wandering around behind them. Approach & leave the firing lines with all firearms “safe”. If a gun is NOT cased, it is to be carried, muzzle up, action open, and chamber empty, until it is placed safely into the shooter’s vehicle. If you arrive at a firing line with a gun bag, please remove & replace all guns in the bag on the firing line, and not behind the firing line.

Rule 2: Don’t point your gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy.That means keep it down range. No matter what happens the firearm should not be pointed at the floor, the roof, the shooting tables & benches, or anything besides the dirt berm. Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction also applies to uncasing/casing any firearm.

Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target. Keep your finger indexed, parallel to the barrel, until the gun is up, sighted in and you are ready to break the shot. This will also include times during loading & unloading. Generally speaking, fingers do NOT go on the trigger until we want the gun to go bang.

Rule 4: Know your target and what is beyond it. Paper doesn’t stop bullets. Your bullet will travel beyond the target and hopefully hit the dirt berm. Keep an eye on your angle of trajectory and keep your aim aligned so the bullet will impact the REAR BERM. Shots that “skip” off the ground are NOT acceptable.

The next thing I like to do with new shooters is go over basic stance and grip. Nothing fancy, just “hold the gun safely”, and “stand safely”. We want everyone to have a safe and fun shooting experience. Many people are nervous and very excited so they have a difficult time focusing (and hearing) once on the range, the more instruction you have heard ahead of time the better.

In the past Desoto Gun club, Inc. has tried very hard to provide NRA memberships to anyone seeking such. I want to emphasize the words "very hard" because that is just what it has been.Some of you have experienced difficulty in obtaining your NRA membership cards, etc. Still others have had major fiascoes even getting recognition as an NRA member. Our club treasurer sends in new NRA membership slips each time we hold a membership meeting, only to have problems with both the NRA and club members. We felt burdened because we were in the " middle",,,and that is a bad place to be sometimes. We, the club officers, and board of directors, felt it totally necessary in the best interest of Desoto Gun Club, Inc. to make the decision to remove ourselves from these issues effective IMMEDIATELY. In other words, we at D.G.C. will no longer sign ANYBODY up for NRA memberships.

So, here it is in a nutshell. You will still need to be an NRA member to join Desoto Gun Club, Inc,,,,nothing has changed there. But, Desoto Gun Club, Inc. will no longer process ANY NRA memberships,,,,effective IMMEDIATELY.

Anyone can go to www.nra.org and either sign up or renew their NRA memberships. this task can also be done via phone as well. Please print or have proof of membership if you are planning to join or renew with Desoto Gun Club, Inc.

Desoto Gun Club, Inc. would like to apologize in advance for any inconveniences this causes to any members. We know everyone will try their best to understand. Please pass this information along to any friends who may be club members ..

Starting with the June 2013 membership day. If your application is incomplete in ANY way your membership may not be processed until the next regular scheduled membership day. This could mean your gate access number will be deactivated during that period of time. Each member is totally responsible to monitor the expiration date of their membership. That is NOT a responsibility that DGC holds!

It is strongly suggested that ALL DGC members take time to view the new changes in the DGC Member Handbook concerning safety violations. DGC club rules will be strictly enforced.