Lincoln County Sports Club—promoting safety, conservation, and family-friendly activities

The mission statement of the Lincoln County Sports Club (LCSC) is to promote conservation, the responsible uses and handling of firearms, shooting sports, and participation in outdoor activities; and to educate youth and adults in the wise use of our natural resources. In keeping with this, LCSC holds Hunter Safety classes each year, offers a summer “Learn to Shoot Trap” series, and much more. Two of the spring hunter safety classes are now complete, with another offered in September. Interested participants should register on the Wisconsin DNR website.
Club members love being part of the community in Lincoln County, and three of the Club’s Directors are trained as instructors and volunteer time to teach archery at Trinity School for two weeks each year. Just last month, four students from Trinity demonstrated the skills they had learned at the Club’s monthly meeting. This year, LCSC also participated in the Children’s Festival held at the MARC on April 5, with furs and pelts to touch and a giant teddy bear to win!
On Opening Day for the ranges—April 26—the LCSC will continue with this commitment to developing family-friendly activities, with the inclusion of events like the Teddy Bear Hunt for 3-12 year olds, which kicks off at 9 a.m. Equipped with wooden “rifles” and accompanied by a mentor, children will scour the 240-acre LCSC property looking for their very own trophy—a teddy bear. Once found, it will be registered with a warden and the hunt will be complete. The Teddy Bear hunting season will end at 11:00 a.m. to make way for more events for all family members.
From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., an equipment swap will take place inside the Clubhouse. While no guns will be sold, there will be something for everyone! The LCSC will have at least nine vendors selling new or gently-used equipment, including hunting clothes, decoys, and stands, as well as archery and fishing equipment. Also at 11:30 a.m., the shooting range will open for the year. There will be several demonstrations of RimFire events, including the opportunity for anyone to try it for themselves. Firearms and ammo will be provided by the Club. If you haven’t yet seen the new pistol range with a multi-station shooting house or the new RSO (Range Safety Officer) building, this is a great day to check it out. The shooting range closes at 3 p.m., but is open again on Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. From then through fall, the regular range schedule will be 12-4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, and 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Fridays. Additional hours will be added in September.
The Lincoln County Sports Club was recognized by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF) as the Wisconsin Conservation Club of the Year, receiving this award based on all the programs and support given to the communities in Lincoln County. President Mike Honerlaw accepted the award on behalf of the LCSC at the WWF’s annual convention on April 12.
The last general LCSC meeting of the year will be April 24 and will feature a presentation by Operation Horses Heal. As always, the public is invited and a light meal will be served. Monthly meetings will then end until September, but there is still a lot going on for the summer. LCSC will participate with a booth at Food-A-Palooza in May, hold the annual learn-to-shoot-trap Tuesday evenings in June, and partner with Merrill Parks and Recreation to offer Hunter Safety for special needs youth. They are excited to host and provide volunteers for the special needs youth—a Learn To Shoot/Hunt program focusing on hunter safety with bows, crossbows, shotguns, and rifles, emphasizing safety while learning shooting and hunting techniques for deer and turkeys.
Later in the summer, the annual LCSC Open House Day will be held on Sunday, Aug. 3, with activities for the entire family. Visit the Lincoln County Sports Club, check it out, and get involved.