FAQ

No. However, membership has many financial benefits including discounts on targets, ammunition and gun rentals as well as additional benefits within the Junior Program. For targets alone, if you shoot more then six and a quarter times over the year (100 targets each time), your membership will pay for itself. There are also other non financial benefits of being a member including special events.

Please check the pricing page to see the price differences for members/non-members.
Due to the need to closely supervise beginning shooters, we do not accept 'drop-ins'. We do have a number of scheduled beginner's sessions that you can sign up for - please check our getting started page.

We do highly recommend that you attend firearms safety courses - they are offered by the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation.
Yes, SAFETY is our number one concern at The Saskatoon Gun Club. Range officers are on the property to insure safety standards are being adhered to. If safety standards are not met individuals will be asked to leave the premises. For everyone's safety: All gun owners in Canada will have taken a firearms safety course to obtain and possess (PAL) or possess only (POL) a firearm. New visitors to the Club are provided an orientation on the Club's Safety Rules. All the gun actions are to be open while on the Clubs property. The only time the gun action is closed and loaded is when it is the shooters turn to shoot (e.g., while standing in the safety-shooting stand on the 5-stand field or sporting clay course or on the shooting position for both the trap and skeet fields). Eye and ear protection are mandatory. When a guide/instructor is provided they stay with each shooter for ultimate gun safety.

Please read over our club rules and safety regulations.
PAL stands for Possession and Acquisition License. It is issued by the federal government to own or purchase a firearm or ammunition in Canada. This license replaced the old firearms acquisition certificate (FAC). POL stands for Possession Only License - it does not allow you to purchase firearms, just own existing ones and purchase ammunition.

The RCMP has full details on PAL/POL licenses here.
The Saskatoon Gun Club does not offer PAL courses. We suggest you look at the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation's web site for courses offered (see under 'Courses'), or look for a Canadian Firearms Safety Course in your area. Cabelas, Extreme Range Outfitters and Back 40 Guns & Gear all offer training courses in Saskatoon.
Yes! We have a number of high-quality shotguns available to rent. Check our selection here. Please note that in order to rent a gun, you need to have a PAL (Possession and Acquisition License).
Yes, however you do need to have a valid PAL.
Yes, if he/she has a valid PAL and is present to supervise.
Yes, if you have a valid PAL or you hire an instructor/guide to go with you. Then the instructor/guide manages and signs out the gun under his PAL. If you come with a group and one person has a PAL, they will be able to rent a gun and then be the supervisor of the gun while at The Saskatoon Gun Club. A valid PAL license must be shown to the staff.

Check our rental guns page for details on the rates and guns available.
The Saskatoon Gun Club carries a variety 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and 410 gauge shotguns including single shot, pump, semi automatic as well as over/under shotguns. Check our rental guns page for details on the rates and guns available.
Check our rental guns page for details on the rates and guns available.
Yes. All shotguns in the rental pool may be purchased by members after they are used for one season.
Our range is set up for shotgun sports only - we do not have rifle and pistol ranges. Check with the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation - they do have rifle and pistol ranges.
Youth in possession of a Minor's license (subject to conditions placed on the license) may be permitted to borrow (rent) non-restricted firearms (e.g., shotguns) as well as acquire ammunition.

If you do not have a Minor's license, you may still use a shotgun, providing you are under the direct and immediate supervision of someone who has a PAL. This generally means that the licensed person must be close enough to them to take immediate action to prevent any unsafe or illegal use of the firearm.
Yes, as long as you have a valid PAL/POL or Minor's license. We sell shells in boxes of 25 - check here for pricing.
Yes - the shot size should not be larger than 7.5 gauge, and no more than 3-1/4 dram equiv.
It depends on the shells and shotgun used:

Shells
  • Heavy target loads kick more than light target loads
  • Decreased recoil are reduced from 12ga to 20ga to 28 to 410

    Guns
  • Heavy guns kick less than light guns
  • Semi autos kick less than pump, single shot, or over/under
  • Recoil reduction pads help reduce recoil by up to 70%
  • Yes, we recommend that an experienced shooter go with you the first time, someone with a valid PAL license or a hired guide/instructor.

    Check our Getting Started page for details of beginner sessions.
    The instructor will teach you about gun safety, posture, swing stance and best way to hold the gun. Eye dominance and general gun fit are also covered. Shooting tips (e.g., choke/ammunition selection, aim and shot points and target understanding) to increase your chances of success and ultimately your scores!

    Well that all depends on the discipline you plan on shooting. For most of the games all chokes are acceptable, some just do a better job than others. Open chokes mean you have to be a quicker shot and full chokes will make you look impressive when you hit the target dead center as all that will be there is a black puff of smoke. If all you have is a full choke, then you may want to try one of the rental guns to see the difference that a choke can make.

  • American Skeet & International Skeet – most targets are shot at a distance of less than 21 yards. The most open chokes are the best to use and include cylinder and skeet.
  • Trap 16 yard line – most targets are shot at a distance of 30 to 40 yards. Trap shooters will typically use a modified or improved modified choke. Many believe Full is what should be used, but it is generally a little overkill if you shoot at a reasonable time. If you are hesitant or slow - full helps a bit.
  • Trap doubles – most first targets are shot at a distance of 20 yards and the second target at 30-35 yards. Trap shooters will typically use an light modified/modified choke for the first target and a improved modified/light full or an improved modified first, full choke for the second target setup.
  • Trap Handicap – 16 yard line – modified choke, 22 yard line – modified/improved modified choke, 27 yard line – full choke.
  • International Trap – most targets are shot at 30 yards with a second shot at 40 yards. Semi automatic gun owners will utilize a improved modified choke, while owners of an over/under will use a improved cylinder for the first shot and a full choke on the second shot.
  • 5-Stand & Sporting Clays – sporting clays is the only discipline where there is no consistent distance that a target will fly so therefore there is no consistent recommended breaking point. To complicate things a bit more, there are different targets for which some are easier to break than others. Therefore, you may decide to change chokes from station to station. However, most people do quite well when using an improved cylinder, but both a skeet and modified choke are adequate as well. Of course if you really want to impress people you can shoot your full choke and create a puff of smoke.

  • Well that all depends on the discipline you plan on shooting. For most of the games if not regulated, all loads are acceptable, however, heavier loads are just more punishing and some just do a better job than others.

    • American Skeet – light 1 oz loads create plenty of pattern. select pellet size of #8 or 9
    • International Skeet – regulated by the game and must be 24 grams. select pellet size of #8, 8.5 or 9
    • Trap 16 yard line – light 1 oz loads or 1-1/8 at 1145 fps in pellet size #8 or 7.5
    • Trap doubles – 1-1/8 at 1145 fps in pellet size #8 or 7.5. Some may choose a handicap load for the second shot which is 1-1/8 going 1200 fps in either #7.5 or 8.
    • Trap Handicap – 16 yard line – 1-1/8 at 1145 fps in pellet size #8 or 7.5, 22 yard line – handicap load 1-1/8 going 1200 fps in either #7.5 or 8, 27 yard line –handicap load 1-1/8 going 1200 fps in either #7.5 or 8.
    • International Trap – regulated by the game and must be 24 grams. select pellet size of #7.5 or 8.
    • 5-Stand & Sporting Clays – as with choke selection same is true with shell selections as sporting clays is the only discipline where there is no consistent distance that a target will fly so therefore there is no consistent recommended breaking point. To complicate things a bit more, there are different targets for which some are easier to break than others. Therefore, you may decide to use different shell loads from station to station. However, most people do quite well when using handicap load 1-1/8 going 1200 fps in #8. If you are recoil sensitive you will also do ok with 1-1/8 at 1145 fps in pellet size #8 and for even less recoil you can get away with the light 1 oz loads. Proper choke and shell selection can make a significant difference in successfully breaking targets. Ask one of our experienced shooters and they would be more than happy to pass along some knowledge.

    Recreational and Competitive Shotgun Shooting Sports in Saskatoon and Area