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Whats the closest free range near Julian/State College/Bellefonte area?
Me and some friends wanted to go shooting skeet, rifles, and pistols this weekend but we need somewhere to shoot. It would probably be a sort of small group maybe 10 people at the very most.
I own a hunting license, but many of our group members probably don't so scotia is meh. Does scotia card people or check for permits? Most of our people shoot pretty rarely so a $30 permit or a license is kinda pointless.
Regarding Scotia, I can not attest to them checking or not checking hunting licenses/range permits personally but I do know that each licensed person can bring ONE guest to any PGC shooting range. I have shot there a couple of times and have never once been asked for my license. Check out the PGC's website for more info:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...=937842&mode=2
have fun shooting
Yeah I seen that. I dont really want to have people breaking the rules like that but its pretty much the only place near here but having people who shoot once in a great great while pay for a full year membership is kinda silly. If they had like a fee for guests that was only a few bucks they would make more money I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by psucivil
Thanks for the input :)
Also do they have range officers there?
Yeah no problem I didnt know what the ratio of unlicensed individuals to licensed individuals in your group would be. But if you have more unlicensed than licensed then thats an issue. Honestly though 30 dollars is not all that bad. The indoor ranges near my parents house in Lawrence County charges about $15-20 an hour.
Regarding range officers im not 100% sure about this time of the year. I know if you go during the summer (monday-Friday) or right before deer season there is a range master. I have only shot at scotia on weekends in the late fall and used the auxiliary ranges.
I was actually debating about going to scotia this Friday afternoon if the rain holds off or Saturday morning sometime.
Yeah, Im trying to find someone who will just let us shoot on their land who has a good backstop in an area thats safe. Dont want anyone to get hurt.Quote:
Originally Posted by psucivil
Just an FYI, I was "carded" about 4 weeks ago by a very friendly WCO after he was phoned in by the Scotia staff for someone "shooting without a permit." It's the first time in 4 years I have been addressed by anyone out there and the only time since the licensing requirements. So, yes, they do check permits, but rarely (and I had been there for about an hour before the WCO showed up).
The best part was that he was more interested in checking out my AR and M&P 15-22 than the hunting license, which was in the truck. I may or may not have exceeded the magazine round restrictions, which was not addressed.
I used to use Scotia a lot when I lived in the area, and I was never asked for a permit or my hunting license. I did once ask the attendant if they were ever checking, and he said since it was a new rule they weren't really checking it much yet. That was last fall though.
I would probably just go for it if you have others with licenses, and just don't have more people shooting at any given time than can be vouched for by a licensee. In other words, if three of you have licenses, don't have more than three non-licensees up at the line holding firearms at one time.
I once asked an attendant there about something like that, and he agreed that if they're not holding a gun and back off the line, they can't really be required to have a license or be vouched for by a licensee. That was just one guy's opinion though, so if you do it and it doesn't fly don't blame me. ;)
just heads up, there's gonna be a pretty big group at scotia next friday (23rd).
Stingy Gunner,Quote:
Originally Posted by StingyGunner
Do you have any idea what the range hours are this time of year? Or is only the auxiliary range open?
8a-4:30p for the gated ranges is what was posted the last time I was there. Aux ranges open til sunset.....Quote:
Originally Posted by psucivil
Thanks Flick, I think im going to try and head out there tomorrow afternoon if the rain holds off
I for one can promise you this...If i am out there and there is a large group shooting 1 ro 2 guns in the group and the magazine capacities are being violated I am going to call the game commission and request an officer come and check every single person there.
I am sick and tired of going out there with a guest, many times one of my children, and feeling usafe because people are not following the rules. Those rules are established for a reason and if you do not like them the go somewhere else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdaddyjo
I totally agree with you on that one there Bigdaddyjo.We have the same problem at SGL58 range in Mifflinville.The commission was called and they have been handing out fines.We have people walking out in front of the shooting tables and firing and not following the rules for round limits here too.Don't know exactly what problems you are having out there,but definately the game commission needs to be aware of thes problems.
ITT
Fudds gonna fudd
The mag capacity rules have nothing to do with safety. If you see people acting in an unsafe manner, I'd say by all means report it. I have. But personally, if I see someone loading more than 6 rounds in a pistol or 3 rounds in a rifle....that's hardly worth calling in the law. Even the range attendants in State College don't typically do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdaddyjo
I go to scotia almost every week/weekend now and have yet to have any trouble with safety issues in regards to others, granted I usually go at 8am when the range opens and usually have the aux range to myself or almost to myself. The couple times that I have shot inside the gates I have not had any trouble, I did notice some people shooting pistols with more than 6 rounds but in my own opinion as long as your not doing mag dumps I don't see anything wrong with it. From what I understand the magazine capacity limits were set in place so that individuals with large capacity magazine could not monopolize the range and so that other would have an opportunity to check/change targets. My wheelgun that i shoot most often only holds 6 so i guess i will just have to abide by the rules :)
His statement makes me think he also calls the cops if his neighbors put their trashcans on the curb too early.Quote:
Originally Posted by PA452
I go out to Scotia every couple weeks either after work or on the weekends. Every time I go I hope I have the range to myself. Inside the fence isn't so bad since there is an actual firing line, but the auxiliary range can be downright scary. I've been swept so many times by people on the aux range I can't believe no one has been hurt. That, and people handling (and loading!) guns while others are downrange shooting. Maybe you've been lucky, but if you think the safety at Scotia is OK you may want to re-evaluate your standards. After having a ND land a foot from my toe b/c someone did something stupid (in a friend's house) I have no tolerance for unsafe practices. I have not had the opportunity yet, but I'm sure I'll be placing phone calls to the PGC for some of these people.
As far as round limits, I have no problem with more than 6 in a mag. It's the groups that show up and load every weapon to capacity and then proceed to try and blow the target stand away that I have a problem with. It is clear to me that they have no interest in improvement and get their jollies from hearing the gun go bang.