CPSC Members,
Most of you know I’ve recently taken over the role of RSO coordinator for the club. What follows is my attempt to build upon the great work Mike Bumgarner and many of you who contributed to the development of this very comprehensive, detailed document. I thank Mike and all of you for your hard work and dedication to the club.
The following highlights the more significant updates made to the club’s RSO/OIC notes. RSOs are encouraged to re-read the entire document as a refresh with emphasis on the following revised features. Changes are highlighted in red within the document to make understanding what is different easier.
This updated document will be placed in the RSO binder as well as posted to the online RSO calendar.
Questions and Comments are encouraged, please reach out if you have either. Thanks very much.
v/r Greg, CPSC Vice President
RSO/OIC Notes Revisions:
1. Updates to ‘Part 2’ and ‘Part 3’ of the RSO Training process.
2. Updates to RSO/OIC Duty Commitment.
3. Addition of Greg Bogard to those with permission to revise the online RSO calendar.
4. Addition of a completely new ‘RSO Log’ section. The range binder will be updated with new RSO Log sheets.
5. Revisions to the ‘Opening and Closing’ procedures for the Wobble field removing the unnecessary requirement to ‘unplug’ the trap machine which will eliminate needless wear and tear on the outlet, plug and cord.
6. Other minor typographical updates.
RSO/OIC Notes
September 2025
Note: These are personal notes compiled by CPSC RSOs as a supplement to the training required by Range Control, by the RSO internship at the club, by club SOP (MCAS Cherry Point NC Air Station Order 3574.3A dated 20 Feb 2015), and by other governing documents. These notes do not supersede any official direction in those sources. This is an evolving document and will change as we encounter new situations or see opportunities to improve our RSO practices. Your suggestions for corrections and improvements are invited. Please forward any suggestions to the club vice president.
RSO/OIC Eligibility: RSO training is offered by invitation only to members that have, over time, demonstrated a satisfactory level of maturity, diligence, and knowledge of safe practices.
RSO Training: Initial RSO training is a three-part process.
Part 1: If you have been invited to become a CPSC RSO, the club will send you how-to instructions for taking an online RSO training course developed by the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), and for obtaining reimbursement for the cost of this course. When you have completed this course, email your certificate of completion to the club board members. Please note that the USCCA certificate is only good for one year, but USCCA will renew it yearly for free if you request renewal before it expires. Please remember to renew it yearly so you do not have to take the online course again when your RSO credentials expire with the range control office.
Part 2: The club will send you a copy of these RSO/OIC Notes for review and ask that you assist a scheduled RSO for several club sessions to learn specific CPSC RSO requirements. When the RSOs you have assisted believe you are ready for RSO duty, they will recommend you to the board. We encourage you to assist in as much field operations – opening and closing of all three fields, onboarding new shooters/guests – as you can and until you feel confident you can perform those responsibilities on your own. When you feel ready, contact the club secretary and vice president. Each will arrange to observe and assist while you manage the opening and closing of the range during a live evolution. Once complete, they will recommend you to the board for RSO designation.
Part 3: If the board concurs, they will recommend you to the range control office, and the range control office will arrange to give you their safety brief and then add your name to the RSO database for CPSC. At that time, you will be an official club RSO. The club will provide a key to the new RSO that will unlock the skeet houses, the wobble house, and the conex storage boxes that contain our supply of clay targets. RSO certification with the range control office is good for 3 years and can be renewed every 3 years if you remember to keep your USCCA RSO course certification current.
RSO/OIC Duty Commitment: The club asks that all RSOs serve at least 12 times a year to maintain currency with club operations and personnel.
We each have different schedules and favorite days of the week to shoot. But we encourage RSOs to spread your duties across various days of the week if you can, and we encourage skeet shooters to do RSO duty occasionally on trap days and vice-versa. We also encourage you to include a few Saturdays and Sundays during the year as those are the days most often without a scheduled RSO -especially during the Fall hunting season. Doing this reduces our chances of having no RSO scheduled for a particular date, and it introduces you to club members that you might not otherwise run into.
Not all RSO duties are equal in terms of the level of effort required to perform them. To encourage RSO versatility in duty standing and give credit fairly where credit is due, we have adopted a ‘point weighting’ system for when and how RSO duties are stood ranked below from highest to lowest in point value:
Open and Close for a PME shoot – 3 points
Open and Close for a Saturday or Sunday – 2 points
Open and Close for a Tuesday or Wednesday – 1 point
Open but not Close or Close but not Open – ½ point
We encourage you to sign up for RSO duty by calendar. Members use this online calendar to see if there is an RSO scheduled before they take the trouble to load up and drive in to shoot. If there is no RSO scheduled on a particular day, it does not mean that we aren’t shooting, because historically, there is at least a 50-50 chance that we will have one or more qualified RSOs in attendance and we can draft them to serve.
Signing up by calendar does not obligate you to serve. If you need to cancel, simply do so by requesting your name be removed from the calendar.
RSO Scheduling: Scheduling can be viewed online at https://rso.cherrypointskeetclub.org . Sign up by contacting any of the following and giving them your name and the date you plan to serve. Sign up as far in advance as practical so that you get the dates that you want.
Mike McKenzie, m_e_mckenzie@yahoo.com
Mike Bumgarner, bluesweaterchristmas@gmail.com
Greg Bogard, bogieclassicchevy@gmail.com
Barry Evans, barry.evans@gmail.com
RSO Presence: We prefer to have two RSO on-site to open the range, one acting as RSO and the other as OIC. However, it is permissible to open with one RSO on-site and the OIC within reasonable commuting distance in case they are needed. On-site RSO shall confirm by phone that the OIC is on-call and within reasonable commuting distance before opening the range and providing the RSO and OIC names to Big Rock. RSO phone numbers are in the black 3-ring binder in the range box. In the event the range is opened with one RSO on-site, the following rules apply:
●The single RSO cannot shoot.
●The single RSO can open the skeet and trap range, OR the wobble range. If the wobble range is opened, no other field may be utilized. A single centrally located RSO can monitor all stations on the skeet and trap fields, but he/she cannot observe stations 1 and 2 on the wobble field. Therefore, a second RSO, dedicated to the wobble field, is required to open all 3 fields at once.
●If two RSOs are present, they can both shoot only if a single field is in use. When the first RSO is shooting, the second RSO observes, and vice-versa. If both skeet and trap fields are in use, only one RSO may shoot and the second RSO must act as observer for both fields.
RSO Privileges
The RSO role is a volunteer position and is critical to club safety and continued operation. As compensation for taking on this responsibility, RSOs have permission to open the range outside of scheduled hours. The requirements for opening, operating, and closing the range during unscheduled hours are the same as those for scheduled hours. Please monitor club emails and calendar for any dates and times that the club is closed for station events – no operations are permitted during those times.
Opening the Facility
NOTE: Big Rock coordinates all movement around the gun ranges, runways, etc. If there are construction personnel, hunters, well inspectors, or any other personnel in our drop zone, they are supposed to be registered with Big Rock. Because our drop zones technically extend well beyond the tree lines on 3 sides of the club, we can’t see the entire drop zone, and it is mandatory that we check with Big Rock before allowing any shooting. If there are no personnel or equipment in our drop zone, Big Rock will give us permission to go hot. If there are personnel in our drop zone, Big Rock will tell us that we cannot open, and they may or may not be able to tell us how long it might be before we will be cleared to open. If Big Rock says don’t open, you DO NOT open.
●Do not open club if weather is severe or if there is visible lightning or loud thunder in the area.
●Visually inspect the ranges to ensure there are no signs of people, pets, vehicles, etc. on any of the ranges.
●Call Big Rock via radio (preferred) or phone. Radio is in the high house. If radio is not functioning, call Big Rock at 252.466.2936, using the station phone in the high house or a cell phone. A typical conversation with Big Rock would go something like the dialogue below. Big Rock identifies “skeet range” as the generic term for the entire facility, including skeet, trap, or wobble trap fields.
RSO/OIC: “Big Rock, skeet range.”
Big Rock: “Go ahead skeet range.”
RSO/OIC: “Big Rock, skeet range would like to go hot. We have 4 shooters at present. RSO is John Smith and OIC is Bill Wilson.”
Big Rock: “Big Rock will show skeet range going hot. Call in every hour for radio check.”
RSO/OIC: “Roger, thank you.”
●If Big Rock gives permission to open, raise the flag and open range(s). Set your cell phone alarm to remind you to call in hourly for radio checks. The hourly call-ins should go something like this:
RSO/OIC: “Big Rock, skeet range, radio check.”
Big Rock: “Read you loud and clear.”
RSO/OIC: “Roger. Read you loud and clear also.”
●If Big Rock does not answer the initial call-in (after multiple attempts to raise them), it is permissible to open the range and forego the hourly radio checks. It is not uncommon for Big Rock to be closed on weekends and holidays, but they do work some weekends, so make the initial call-in regardless of whether it is a weekday or weekend.
Once you have received authorization from Big Rock to go hot, or confirmed that Big Rock is not on duty, you can raise the flag and open the ranges. Do not raise the flag before attempting to contact Big Rock.
RSO Log
The RSO Log serves as an official recording for each day of range operations and captures several important fields of information. As such, accuracy is important. Ensure all information is complete and legible. It happens sometimes that the range is not closed by the same RSO/OIC that opened the field. In the event the individual(s) opening the range are not the same individuals closing the range it is important we capture that transference of responsibility from one RSO/OIC to another. The departing RSO/OIC must request another RSO/OIC accept responsibility of range operations and then both should fill in the appropriate columns of the RSO Log. (See example.) In no case should an opening RSO/OIC simply leave the range and assume a remaining RSO/OIC will take responsibility for the range. A positive transfer of responsibility must occur and be recorded via the RSO Log.
Opening Skeet Field
●Open both high and low houses as follows, keeping all body parts a safe distance from the launcher arm and its arc of rotation:
Ensure launcher arm is uncocked.
Open window.
Load launcher if needed.
Step back until you are clear of the launcher arm arc of rotation and turn launcher power switch to “Arm”.
●Take the skeet launcher remote control from the hanger on the low house wall and take the RSO bin from the low house cabinet and carry them to the skeet shelter.
From the bin, remove green logbook and cash box.
Log in the RSO and OIC on the RSO log sheet in the green notebook.
Count money in cash box and record it on RSO log sheet in the “Money at Opening” column.
Get pens and hole punch from cash box and return cash box to bin.
Ensure all shooters log in on the shooter log sheet. First, last name and legibility is important because the club uses the data from the logbook for several purposes, including tracking clay usage and budgeting for bulk clay purchases, recognition of most active shooters at yearly meeting, etc.
Using one of the squadding sheets, start a squad list and check off each shooter as you punch their card or accept their payment for the coming round. Payment or punch are to occur before each round.
Opening Trap Field
Get key to trap house from skeet low house.
Unlock trap house, drop the front door, put key and padlock on ground immediately in front of trap house.
Make sure all personnel are clear of the launcher and the launch path. With the top cover closed, reach in and arm the launcher. If you cannot reach the switch, use two people to open the top cover, arm the launcher, and then close the top cover. Leave the front door open.
Note: The launcher used in this house is capable of both vertical and horizontal movement. For trap, the vertical movement has been disabled. The horizontal movement is enabled. The switches controlling vertical and horizontal movement should be positioned as follows:
Vertical – center position
Horizontal – full up position
Again, making sure all personnel are clear of the launcher and launch path, press the pull cord button once to cock the throwing arm, then a second time to launch a clay to verify proper settings on the launcher. All subsequent pulls will launch a single clay until the machine is again disarmed, and the throwing arm is uncocked.
Unreel the cord and lay the button on the trapper stand behind the shooting stations.
If no other fields have been opened, take the bin to the trap shelter and complete all log-in and punch/pay procedures described above in the “Opening the Skeet Field” section.
Opening Wobble Field
Unlock wobble house.
Ensure launcher arm is uncocked.
Remove wooden bar and open front doors. Latch doors open on both sides.
Make sure no personnel are in front of wobble house.
Proper switch configuration for the wobble trap is:
Arm/Disarm switch - Arm
Vertical – full back position
Horizontal – full back position
Take launcher cord from hook inside house and plug it into port at station 3 on wobble stand. Coil launcher cord and position it so that it is not a trip hazard to shooters moving from station to station.
If no other fields have been opened, take the bin to the skeet shelter and complete all log-in and punch/pay procedures described above in the “Opening the Skeet Field” section.
Loading Targets
If there are insufficient targets in any of the houses, gather what help you can and move targets from the conex storage box. Your RSO key fits those conexes used for target storage. Use the Conex Box with the “Me First” sign on the door. The “Me First” sign allows us to empty the conexes in chronological order to minimize the chance of moisture damage with age.
Please don’t rob targets from other houses when one house is empty. That just burdens someone else with the task of going to the conex. With a few helpers and a pickup truck or SUV, it only takes minutes to load a few cases.
To load targets on any launcher at the club (skeet, trap, or wobble), make sure you do the following:
At all steps of the loading process, keep all body parts clear of the launcher and the arc of the throwing arm.
Turn off power to the launcher.
Make sure all personnel are clear of the launch path and uncock the throwing arm.
Load the stacks to the top of the stack posts. Do not load above the top of the posts because the vibration of the initial target launches can cause the excess clays to fall off launcher and break when they hit the floor.
If shooting is done for the day, leave power off. If additional shooting is planned, turn on
power to the launcher.
New Shooters/Guests
●If you do not recognize a shooter as a current member, speak to them and make sure they are members, or have a current hold harmless form on file with us so they can shoot as a guest. The member’s list is in the front of the black 3-ring binder in the bin. The secretary updates this list approximately monthly. If they are not on the member’s list, check to see if they have a hold harmless form in the 3-ring binder on the bottom shelf of the low house cabinet. It is permissible to shoot as a guest, but no one shoots without a hold harmless form signed by the shooter and by the on-site RSO/OIC. No exceptions. If the individual does not have a hold harmless form on file, have them fill one out and give it to you for signature before shooting. You can find blank hold harmless forms in the black 3-ring binder in the bin. Put the completed form, with your signature, in front of that same black binder and the secretary will take care of filing it.
●Prospective members- Minimum age for any shooter is 12, and a parent/guardian is required on site for minors. For prospective members, there are packages in the black binder containing all info and all forms needed. There is one package for active duty or retired military and a different package for civilians. “Civilians” includes those with no military service and those that served but did not retire from the military. If someone is interested in joining, give them the appropriate package. For more on the process, see Joining or Renewing Membership below.
●Curious visitors- If someone wants info about the club, but isn’t ready for the full paperwork package, give them one of the 2-page handouts in the black binder. It should answer most of their questions, and the secretary’s contact info is on the handout if they have further questions.
●RSO must give safety brief to all new shooters, whether guests or new members. Primary rules are on the large sign above the workbenches, and they are repeated on the hold harmless form.
●Check new shooter’s guns to ensure they meet the shotgun definition in our SOP.
●Check new shooter’s ammo to ensure it is within our legal limits: shot size no larger than #7.5, shot weight no more than 1 1/8 ounce, no steel shot.
Joining or Renewing Membership:
New members can join anytime during the year. Dues are $50/year if you join before 1 July. Dues are $25 if joining 1 July or later. All civilian and retired military memberships expire on 31 December. The process is the same whether you are joining for the first time or renewing. Memberships can be renewed for the coming year anytime, though we typically don’t start the process until early November. At that time, the club secretary will send an email to all hands, containing instructions and all necessary forms. Whether joining for the first time or renewing, here is the process:
For Active Duty: Submit Membership Application and Hold Harmless form to the club. Dues are waived. Both forms are in the active duty/retired military hand-out packages in the black 3-ring binder in the range box, or you can notify the club secretary, and the forms can be emailed to the prospective member.
For Retired Military: Submit Membership Application and Hold Harmless form to the club, along with dues. Both forms are in the active duty/retired military hand-out packages in the black 3-ring binder in the range box, or you can notify the club secretary, and the forms can be emailed to the prospective member.
For Civilians: Submit Membership Application and Hold Harmless form to the club, along with dues. If civilian does not have a base access badge, he/she can apply for one at the Pass and ID office at the front gate AFTER the club has logged their membership and notified the Provost Marshall’s Office (PMO) that this civilian is now an official member of the club. Then the civilian can apply for a base access badge by taking a completed Base Access Request form and a Sponsorship Letter to the Pass and ID Office, along with a driver’s license and their actual social security card. All of the above forms are in the civilian handout packages in the black 3-ring binder in the range box, or you can notify the club secretary, and the forms can be emailed to the prospective member.
For the duty RSO/OIC: If you receive a Membership Application and Hold Harmless form, please do the following:
Membership Application:
Make sure it is legible, complete, and signed by the applicant.
Fill out the RSO/OIC block at the bottom.
Hold Harmless form:
Make sure it is legible, complete, and signed on BOTH pages by applicant.
Make sure applicant has initialed the 11 safety regulations. Check marks not sufficient.
Sign as witness on page 1, and as RSO on page 2.
Place both forms in the sleeve in the front of the black 3-ring binder in the range box. Club secretary will take it from there.
(Professional Military Education (PME) Shoots
The club encourages PME shoots by active-duty units at MCAS Cherry Point. These shoots serve both as training and as fun for the participants and they help promote the club. If approached by someone interested in arranging a group shoot, please forward their contact info to the club president for coordination.
When a PME shoot is scheduled, the club president will send the unit membership applications and hold harmless forms, and info on allowable shotguns and ammo, eye and ear protection, etc. The unit will be advised that they are responsible for bringing ammo and they should start shopping early to find enough for everyone to experience all 3 fields. Club president will ask for several RSO volunteers to coach the shooters, assure safe practices, and make sure they have a good experience.
PME shooters must submit a membership application and hold harmless form before shooting. Most units will complete them in advance and bring them to the shoot. RSO/OIC fill in the box at the bottom of the membership application, and sign both front and back of the hold harmless form. Yearly club dues are always waived for active-duty shooters, and for PME shoots, the fee per round is also waived. The unit is responsible for bringing their own ammo and as many shotguns as they can muster.
All shooters must log in before shooting and log out when finished.
The unit has been advised beforehand about our limits on guns and on shot size and weight, but sometimes the word doesn’t get to everyone. Before shooters go onto the field, make sure all guns fall within our definition of a usable shotgun, and make sure all ammo is within our limits for shot size and weight. If you have brought a gun to loan out to a PME shooter, make sure every shooter that uses your gun uses only new shells --do not let a PME shooter shoot reloads in your gun unless they are your reloads.
When all shooters have arrived and are gathered, brief them on safe practices and on how the shoot will be coordinated so that shooters get to try as many fields as they want depending on how much ammo they have. Make sure all shooters have eye and ear protection.
Some of the safety issues to watch out for as RSO/OIC:
Mandatory hearing and eye protection for all shooters and spectators. For anyone that does not bring protection, there are spare safety glasses in the range bin, and free disposable foam earplugs in the low house cabinet.
All firearms must fall within the following restrictions, which are part of the club SOP: “Wobble, Skeet, and Trap ranges are limited to shotguns only. The shotguns must have a stock and be shoulder-fired. The barrel must be a minimum of 18 inches in length and smoothbore. Detachable magazines are not permitted. Typical shotgun examples are single shot breach loaded, side by side breach loaded, over/under breach loaded, pump action, and semi-automatic.”
Ammo must be #7.5 shot or smaller and cannot exceed 1 1/8 ounce, no steel.
All shotguns will be pointed in a safe direction at all times.
All shotguns will be completely unloaded when the shooter is not on the shooting station and ready to shoot.
On the skeet field, all squad members must stay within 1/3 of the distance to the next station when not shooting. This is for safety reasons, as well as to prevent a visual distraction for the shooter.
In the event of a misfire, shotgun remains pointed downrange until shooter and RSO make sure gun is cleared and empty and safe.
No one goes into any of the launcher houses unless a “cease fire” has been declared and acknowledged by the trapper.
Non-shooters are not permitted on the fields unless they are a club member coaching or pulling targets.
No one is permitted to pass in front of the skeet low house window for any reason unless the window is closed.
If skeet field is in use, do not load trap house unless a cease-fire has been called on the skeet field and the trap loading flag is up.
Experienced shooters are not immune to safety violations, though beginners are a higher risk:
Beware the shooter that wants to load more than two shells in a semi-auto.
Beware the shooter that tries to load before stepping onto the station or fails to unload all shells, expended or not, before stepping off the station.
Beware the skeet shooter that hits both targets of a double with one shot, and then distracted by this unusual situation, tries to walk off the station with one live shell still in the gun.
Beware the action of a shooter, beginner or experienced, in the distracted moment after a misfire or an inadvertent discharge.
Beware the shooter that wants to carry their shotgun over their shoulder with stock forward. That leads to the barrel pointing at shooters behind them – not acceptable.
Beware the shooter that thinks it looks cool to close their over-under or side-by-side with one hand. They don’t have proper control of the shotgun in the event of an inadvertent discharge.
Safe practices are not limited to the fields. Beware of violations in the shelters, in the parking lot, or in walking out to the fields. If shooting at night with the trap or skeet lights on, leave all lights on after shooting is completed until everyone has safely stored their shotguns and ammo in their vehicles.
Safe practices are not limited to gun and ammo handling.
Beware of well-intentioned members or guests that want to help load the launchers before they receive training. No guest should ever be allowed to load a launcher. No member should be allowed to load a launcher until they have received training from a currently qualified RSO. When you have trained a member and you’re confident they can load safely, notify club secretary with name and which field they are qualified on, and club secretary will add name to authorized list.
Beware of well-intentioned members or guests that don’t realize the hazard of walking in front of a launcher, whether it is trap, skeet low-house, or wobble.
Safety Violations
RSO is expected to be courteous and tactful, but without compromise in enforcing safety rules. If a safety violation occurs, immediately eliminate the safety hazard, advise the shooter of correct practices, and ensure that they understand. If the shooter continues to be unsafe and does not appear to be capable of or willing to follow safe practices, RSO must require that shooter to stop shooting, unload their shotgun, and depart the range. As on-site RSO, your judgement is final on what constitutes an unsafe practice at that moment. If you must ask a shooter to leave or if you have ongoing concerns about a particular shooter, notify a club board member and the board will decide on what long-term action to take. Similarly, if you have doubts about the safety of a particular firearm, ammo, or equipment, err on the side of caution at the moment, and contact the board members for a long-term ruling.
Medical Issues
First Aid: First aid kit is in the low house, on the right-hand wall just inside the entry door. If the condition does not require 911 services, make sure the victim is fully capable of driving before allowing him/her to leave the range, and if needed, arrange for a driver to get him/her home or to treatment. Make sure their equipment and vehicle are secure.
Emergencies (see further info below if emergency is a gunshot wound):
Initiate “cease fire” on all ranges. Give emergency aid as required to assist the victim.
Call 911. Use cell phone or phone box on the telephone pole next to the skeet shelter, or the phone on the wall of the skeet high house. Your location is the skeet field, immediately behind the water treatment plant on Roosevelt Boulevard. If you have other members that can assist, send a member to the intersection with Roosevelt Boulevard to direct the ambulance to the skeet club.
Once the victim is under professional care, notify their emergency contact (see club roster in front of black 3-ring binder).
Secure the victim’s equipment and vehicle.
As soon as practical, make notes on date, time, name of victim, symptoms, witnesses, treatment received, and where victim has been transported. Notify club board members of incident.
Gunshot wWounds: In the January 2017 RSO training class, we were told to call 911 in the event of any kind of medical emergency, using any phone available. However, the following is from our SOP document, MCAS Cherry Point NC ASO 3574.3A dated 20 Feb 2015:
“Chapter 6
Emergency Procedures
1. Accidents. Accidents involving gunshot wounds shall be reported as outlined below. In such cases, time is critical. The following procedures are designed to minimize the amount of time taken to get a gunshot victim to the hospital. These procedures apply during all Skeet/Trap Range operations:
a. Anyone identifying a gunshot victim will immediately call “ceasefire."
b. The OIC/RSO will call PMO (Provost Marshall’s Office), via landline or cell phone, at 466- 3615/3616/3617 and the Range Control Facility (RCF), via radio or phone, to notify them of the incident and initiate an emergency response:
(1) Caller's name.
(2) Gunshot wound on the Skeet/Trap Range.
(3) Brief description of the wound and casualty's condition.
(4) Callers are to remain on the line to provide information as needed.
c. The OIC or RSO will then call the RCF via radio or phone to notify them of the incident.
d. Remain on the line until directed to hang up.
e. The RSO will secure the scene until PMO, and ambulance arrive. It is extremely important to leave the injured person's weapon where it lays. RSO will ensure the weapon remains undisturbed. No one is authorized to touch or move the weapon except to point the weapon in a safe direction.
f. Once PMO is on the scene, the RSO will gather all remaining shooters to ensure accessibility for the emergency personnel to gather statements.”
When individual shooters finish for the day
Make sure all rounds have been punched or paid for. Note that we have a few lifetime members that are exempt from the fees per round (these names are highlighted in green at the top of the roster in the 3-ring black binder in the range box).
Make sure all shooters sign out in the logbook with number of rounds and number of shells fired.
Make sure shooters that have left hulls on the range pick them up before departing, unless RSO agrees to wait until closing to pick up hulls to minimize delays between squads.
Make sure departing shooters police up their trash and drink bottles before leaving.
Closing Skeet Field
With launch window open on low house, loudly yell “Clear” and pause to make sure no one is standing outside the window. Then flip the launcher power switch to “DisArm”. This will launch the target that is in the ready position and uncock the launcher. Load the launcher. Sweep up and remove clay fragments and any hulls on the floor. Use a brush to clean debris from the inside of the window and the window hinges. Close and latch the window. Turn off the two skeet light circuit breakers if on. Turn off the house inside light if on.
Repeat for high house (except for skeet light circuit breakers).
Blow off the sidewalks using the battery-powered leaf blower in the low house. A spare battery is located on the charger next to the circuit breaker box in the low house.
Check and empty trashcans and shell casings buckets if they are full. Extra trash bags are in the low house on the floor to the left as you walk in.
Closing Trap Field
With all personnel clear of the launcher and launch path;
With two people, open the upper door.
Disarm the launcher and turn off power switch to launcher.
Coil the pull cord and hang it inside the trap house.
Reload the carousel, then use the tarp to cover the cases of targets on the floor.
With two people, close the upper door, then close the lower door and lock the padlock.
Return the padlock key to the hook just inside the skeet low house door on the right.
Make sure shooters have policed up all hulls and all trash and drink bottles in the area.
If the trap lights are on, turn off trap light circuit breaker in skeet low house.
Check and empty trashcans and shell casings buckets if they are full. Extra trash bags are in the low house on the floor to the left as you walk in.
Closing Wobble Field
Unplug the launch cord from the receptacle on station 3, coil it, and hang it on the right wall inside the wobble house.
Ensure all shooters are clear in front of the carousel. Yell “Clear” and pause to ensure it is clear downrange. Move carousel power switch to “Disarm” position to launch the clay on the throwing arm and uncock the launcher.
The carousel will continue to oscillate until it times out, if the carousel is tilted forward and down when it stops, it will interfere with closing the double doors. Use the vertical and horizontal movement control switches to tilt the trap back and up by pushing them forward to ‘nudge’ the trap position until the desired position is achieved.
An alternative and quicker method is to position the vertical and horizontal movement control switches to the center ‘off’ position before disarming the trap. This will prevent trap movement without having to wait for the time out. You can then use the ‘nudge’ feature by pressing forward on the same two switches until the desired position is achieved.
With carousel uncocked and positioned correctly, it is safe to close the double doors in front of the carousel. It helps to have an assistant push the double doors closed while the RSO inside the house puts the wooden locking bar in place to hold the doors shut.
Notify shooters that it is safe now to pick up hulls in front of the wobble house.
Load the carousel.
Ensure all empty cardboard cases and any other debris are removed from the house, then lock door.
Check and empty trashcan if it is full. Extra trash bags are in the low house on the floor to the left as you walk in.
Closing the Club
Shooter’s log – make sure all shooters are logged out and punched/paid. Note total shooters and total rounds expended in the Remarks column for the last shooter.
RSO log – log closing time, number of shooters, number of rounds expended, and money on hand at closing. Include cash, checks, and coins.
Call Big Rock to report closing. Typical conversation would go something like this:
You: “Big Rock, skeet range”.
Big Rock: “Go ahead, skeet range.”
You: “Big Rock, skeet range is going cold. We had a total of 8 shooters and 425 rounds.”
Big Rock: “Roger, skeet range, we will show you cold. Good afternoon.”
Once the closing call-in to Big Rock is complete, return the radio to the charging station in the high house. Make sure the orange light comes on that indicates that the radio is properly inserted and is charging.
Return following to range bin:
Flag (if dry). If wet, lay it over the stair rail in the low house to dry.
Cash box, containing all pens, hole punchers, money, new punch cards, and expended punch cards.
Green logbook.
Black binder containing club forms.
Squad list and clipboard.
Trap scoresheets and clipboard.
Any borrowed safety glasses.
If shooting in the evening with skeet or trap lights on, leave lights on for good visibility in the parking lot until all shotguns and ammo have been safely stored in vehicles. Then turn off the field lights.
Unplug fan in main shelter. Close the outlet cover.
Stack the plastic chairs to keep them from blowing away in a strong wind.
Remove cardboard debris, either by taking it to a recycle facility or putting it in dumpster near flagpole.
If full, empty hull buckets
If full, empty trash cans. Full bags go into dumpster near flagpole. Put in new liner bag (extras are in the low house).
Make sure trash can lids are secured.
Make sure all houses are locked, and no guns, ammo, or personal property has been left behind.
Turn off shelter lights if they are in use. The lights just above the doors on the skeet high house and low house always remain on.
“Retiring” from RSO Duties
We hate to lose an RSO, but sometimes job responsibilities, relocation, or health issues make it impossible to continue RSO duties. If that happens, please accept the gratitude of the club for your service, and please do the following if you are able:
Notify the club board members.
Ask that your name be removed from the RSO online scheduling calendar if you are listed as RSO for any future dates.
Arrange for your RSO key to be turned into the club vice president.