The new Policies and Procedures are outlined below.
Be sure to check the calendar before you arrive for normal range closures.
Policies and Procedures during COVID-19
All members MUST read and COMPLY TO the following updated RULES while visiting AFGC.
These policies will remain in effect until further notice.
You may not enter the property if you are showing any signs of COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild, including: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, or if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days. PLEASE STAY AT HOME!
All members are required to comply with physical distancing rules by practicing social distancing by keeping six feet (two meters) away from one another.
1 bay per Membership is allowed. A Family Membership is considered 1 membership.
Up to 3 Guests are allowed to accompany a Member (Membership). If social distancing on a bay is not is not possible then wearing a face mask is MANDATORY. Our standard Guest Pass Policy applies. At this time, please do not lick the envelopes closed.
Any sharing of equipment between non-household members must be sanitized between shooters.
Every second bay is closed to allow for social distancing with the exception of Range 5.
Do not gather in parking lots or any other areas of the club. Please pack up and leave immediately to limit the amount of people on the property at one time.
Limit touching as many objects as possible. You must bring your own sanitizer and wear your own gloves when handing target backers, bases, brooms, etc. Gloves are not necessary while shooting.
Face masks are recommended for all members, but not mandatory, unless social distancing is not possible. Face masks will not be provided.
A 1:50 dilution of bleach will be available on every range to spray down tables and shooting areas.
Members are responsible to sanitize their shooting area before and after shooting.
All ranges will be working on specific time slots every 2 hours on the even hour. You must clean up and sanitize at this time, regardless of whether you are continuing to shoot or not.
If there are any members waiting for a bay you must leave and wait for another open spot after all new arrivals have setup. If there are no other members waiting for a bay, you may continue to shoot once the next time slot has started.
When you arrive, if there are no bays available, you must wait in your car until the next time slot or a space becomes available. Please do not arrive early.
Shooting will stop 15 minutes prior to the end time to allow members to clean up and sanitize by the designated end time.
ARCHERY: Limit to 7 on the range at one time with same 2 hour windows. Bring your own target faces and gloves. One person at a particular target butt at a time.
Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in immediate suspension of your membership privileges until all public health orders have been lifted.
NO EXCEPTIONS!
PLEASE NOTE THESE RULES MAY BE UPDATED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST RULES.
I imagine things may be busy at first but if we show up on a quiet day or evening and there’s nobody waiting for the next time slots is it ok to stay longer than the two hours?
The time slots will still be in effect no matter the amount of members at the range. During a changeover, the time must be used to clean and sanitize your area. If there is definitely no one waiting to use the range at that time, then you may continue shooting at the start of the next slot.
@Ron Yeah I imagine that would be reasonable if you just explain it to the AFGC staff.
Thanks for the update. Stay safe!
With the province moving to stage 3 of reopening, will guests be allowed any time soon?
We are discussing how we can open up the range to bringing guests but most likely won’t happen until the range is back fully open and not running at 50%.
Opening the club up more than it is at the moment probably isn’t a good idea yet. Continued vigilance is needed. Look at what is happening south of the border with opening up too soon. Yeah, it sucks a bit right now but the potential consequences are far worse.
Perfect. Thank you. I look forward toi being able to use the facility again while doing the things necessary to keep each other safe and healthy.
To speed things up in the two changeover can we expect the steel target stands and wood frames to be left in place at the 25, 50, and 100 yard positions?
Some of us aren’t as limber as we used to be and hauling those things around takes a few minutes longer.
Of course old targets would be removed.
Perhaps at the 100. We discussed this idea, but having a bunch of target stands left all over the range creates a potentially dangerous situation where another member could easily be hidden behind barriers left out on the range. As such we decided the risk was not worth it. As things progress and we get a feel how the range is being used, rules will likely get updated.
Hi I paid For my membership dues beginning of the April , do I need new card or the Old one still would Work. Thanks for the update. Stay safe and healthy
Your current card will continue to work for range access. We do not issue new cards every year, only new stickers for the cards. If you are a current member, your card will remain active even if the sticker is expired. Stay safe and healthy as well!
If every second bay is closed I hope the tables being left out aren’t those flimsy portable stands on the 100 range. What is the max number of people that can shoot then on the 100?
Thanks!
Dave, the portable tables were an experiment, and they did not work out. There are lots of sturdy benches for the open bays.
There will be five spots on Range 2, four on Range 2B, six on Range 3, four on Range 4 and four on Range 5, for a total maximum allowable shooters at one time of 46.
Ryan, your comments are neither constructive nor inquisitive. The caretakers do not control the website and have nothing to do with comment approval.
This is not the forum for complaining about our staff. If you have an official complaint about staff, I would encourage you to email a board member so you can attend a board meeting to discuss the matter directly.
If you would like to cancel your membership, please send an email to membership to let them know. All emails can be found on our contact us page.
Your comments will continue to be deleted if they are not about our reopening.
Any idea when guests will be allowed? Are we not allowed guests because of the government rules, or is it just a precaution?
Currently it’s just a precaution to help limit the amount of people at the range and lower the amount of contamination points like cash, envelopes, pens, people licking the envelopes, etc.
Thanks for the reply! Hopefully it won’t be too long
Thank you for taking the time to create reasonable and safe precautions. Looking forward to a return.
Some of us have a considerable drive to get to the range, if it’s a first come first serve basis for the time slots, can we consider having some slots as pre registration. Driving all the way to the range to find that range 2 is full For the next 2-4 hrs when all I shoot is my hunting rifle and it’s a close to a 2hr round trip to get to the range and back would Be a disappointment.
We realize it’s going to be a bit on an inconvenience for the next little while. As is everything else right now. We discussed having bay reservations, but with no one at the range to manage and administer it, it really wouldn’t work.
If we could work out a mechanism for bringing a guest (even just one at a time) that would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to prepare someone for hunting with me this fall on their initiation license. It is also a time (politically) where we really need to get as many people on board with responsible firearms ownership, and bringing guests is part of that. I’d be willing to send an EMT to the club for the fee instead of using an envelope, etc. If there is a way we can do this safely and responsibly I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your consideration.
When you arrive at the range do you line up outside the range door or how do you know what your place in line is? I’m just thinking if many people all arrive at 8:00 am or whenever, how do you sort out your relative position to others?
I take it ‘no guests’ includes immediate family members if we do not have a family membership even if we share the same bay? Was hoping to bring my daughter soon. Very excited to get back on the range!
I put my name in for a membership quite some time ago and I am wondering when you might be opening up new member applications again?
Dennis, as things progress we may see some relaxation of the rules, but currently we have to put our members first and allow them every opportunity to shoot.
Charles, depending on how busy it is going to be in the beginning, we will have a signup system in place to make sure everyone gets their fair place. We are also relying on our members to be cordial when it comes to their proper turn.
Clay, single memberships do not include family members, so they would be considered guests and not permitted at this time. Perhaps you should consider upgrading to a family membership.
Ron, we have promised our members that we will not be accepting any new memberships until the PHO is lifted and those who could not afford to renew due to financial difficulties would be given the opportunity once they went back to work.
If we come to the range during one of the time slot, if it’s still empty and no one waiting at the end of the time slot, can we continue shooting until the next time slot ends?
Jason, the time slots will still be in effect no matter the amount of members at the range. During a changeover, the time must be used to clean and sanitize your area. If there is definitely no one waiting to use the range at that time, then you may continue shooting at the start of the next slot.
How fun has the range been since reopening? Are you seeing peak times?
So far it’s been quite manageable. We’ll see how the weekend goes.
Thanks for the reply and for catching my typo. The range is always FUN!
I am a pensioner. Does that qualify me for an early registration?
Zero emails on the topic, I have no trouble getting other emails and previous ones have come through (well, just the ones asking for renewal $$)
To receive the latest news you should subscribe to our newsletter or follow our Facebook page or check out our Instagram page or visit our website. All of which announced the re-opening on May 13th.
I’ll try again, I seem to get renewals no problem but at some point I stopped getting other emails from the club. I don’t use social media so I can’t rely on that for information.
It looks like I got the closure email but that was not a newsletter. I would have expected a similar all-members email about opening, or membership payment deferral, but they never came. It should not be mandatory to sign up to an automated newsletter to receive important information.
Actually, according to the CASL laws put in place by the CRTC it is mandatory that you opt in to receive electronic communications.
Personally..I don’t think that we should be renting out range time until members privileges are reinstated in full..
Rod, all daily rentals were cancelled since mid-March through mid-June, so far. The only rentals happening at the Club right now are ones that are under contract.
Ranges have been quiet most days and we’ve yet to see anyone wait for a spot.
Hi AFGC,
How has the weekend traffic been?
I too have a considerable drive to the range. Do you have a pre-booking/signup system in effect yet?
Thanks
Don’t know about the weekend but I was there last friday evening and it was super quiet.
We won’t be implementing any general range signup system as we have no staff at the club to manage it.
Generally speaking, even on the weekends, we have only seen a small wait time for Ranges 4 and 5. As we are mandating a switchover on every even numbered hour, if you show up at those times, you will get the next spot if they are all full.
If it hasn’t been busy could we reconsider the “no guests” policy? Perhaps only on Monday – Thursday, and limited to one guest at a time? EMT payment to the club to minimize contact?
We have recently updated our policies to allow non-members to attend sub club activities. But for now, the no guests rule will remain in place.
We are discussing how we can open up the range to bringing guests but most likely won’t happen until the range is back fully open and not running at 50%.
I understand the no guest policy. But when are you going to open up renew membership to use the rang. I have been waiting since last year
Ronald, I don’t understand the question. If you have renewed your membership you are free to use the ranges during any open times.
I do not have a membership card and have waited quite a while to get one. I am wondering when I can join officially.?
Ronald, please send an email to our membership coordinator, membership@afgc.ca and request an orientation date. Thanks.
How is the 8am and 10am time slots. Are there alot of people who don’t get a spot and have to wait for the next time slot ?
We have yet to see any line ups or waiting for any of the ranges except for Range 5 as there are only 3 spots on the steel range.
Just curious about the 2 person per household per bay new rule. I have a family membership, how can I have 3-4 there on the premises?
Thx in advance.
If you’re part of the same household and the others are kids, then no issues. You can all share the same bay.
” B.C. premier announces move to Phase 3 of COVID-19 reopening…”
Good morning any timeline/date on when you will be easing the 2hr timing restrictions ? I realize we will all be expected to continue sanitizing, masking, distancing…regardless.
The 2 hour time limit rule has already been relaxed a bit. Shooters may stay longer than the 2 hours so long as there are no other members waiting for a bay. However, a green safe light is still mandatory at 2 hour intervals to ensure that all shooters take the time to sanitize their bay before restarting to shoot.
Club procedures are discussed and re-assessed at every monthly board meeting.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Thank you ! I was concerned with arriving late at 815-35 am due to traffic (35 minute drive) and then having to wait until 10am (assuming a free spot opens) or arrive at 8:35am shoot etc then leave by/at 10am, may be not worth the drive tbo. That is why I asked when the time blocks will not matter anymore…
Jim
” There will be no sharing of equipment between non-household members. ”
What is the club’s definition of equipment can you expand on this please.
Thank you
Equipment being guns and bows mainly.
So you are saying we can’t bring guests and let them use our guns and bows? That really negates the point of bringing guests who want to try shooting.
After some discussion between the BOD, we agree this rule can be modified to better suit bringing guests. We have updated the rule to read:
Any sharing of equipment between non-household members must be sanitized between shooters.
Thanks for your input!
I bring my own equipment, can I still be a guest?