Common Questions & Answers

Q: How much does it cost to shoot at VOMTC?
A: Trap is $3.00 for members and $6.00 for non members, Juniors (17 and under) $2.00. 5 stand sporting clays course available on Sundays from 10am - 2pm or so. $5.00 members, $7.50 non-members, $3.00 juniors (17 and under).

Q: I've never shot trap or sporting clays before, is there someone there that can teach me?
A: There are always VOMTC members available on Sundays that can give you informal instruction. For more formal or technical instruction, we have classes available several times a year with a certified instructor.

Q: If I become a member, can I bring friends out to shoot with me?
A: Certainly. Our trap field is available 7 days a week for members and guests. It costs the member a case of "birds" to shoot and any guests pay a $10.00 per person "guest fee" for the day. Sporting clays, on the other hand, is only available on Sundays when one of our directors is running it for the day.

Q: Do I need a certain type of shotgun to shoot trap or sporting clays?
A: You can shoot any kind of shotgun you are comfortable with, be it a pump, an auto loader, a side by side, an old single shot or an over and under. Only one shell at a time is loaded into the gun and shot, so you won't be needing a fast loading gun. Most "serious" trap shooters use special guns setup just for trap. Some of these guns can get quite expensive the more elaborate they are. Sporting clays is an entirely different story. Contrary to what some people think, trap shooting does not and will not help a hunter shoot game better, that's why sporting clays was invented, to mimic hunting. Being that sporting clays is a lot like most hunting situations, your favorite hunting gun can be used. Most "trap" guns do not work well for sporting clays, yet there are a lot of sporting clays guns that work well with trap.

Q: What are the club hours?
A: The club has Summer hours and Winter hours for shooting times. During the Summer, shooting times are between 8 am and 7 pm. Winter hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, weather permitting.

Q: Who do I call if I have a question or need to set up a time to come out and work my hours?
A: Our bookkeeper is available most days and she can get you the phone number of the person you need, You can call Janet at 996-4331. You can also call John Ginocchio between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm at 996-3043. Most questions can be answered by e-mail as well by going to our contact us page.

Q: How do I join the club?
A: If you know a member, you can ask him/her to sponsor you and get you an application, otherwise you can call Charlie Marino and he'll be glad to help you get set up to join. (707) 933-9536

Q: Where is the club located?
A: For directions and a map, you can click here.

Q: What if I’m not an NRA member, can I still join?
A: ALL new members are asked to be NRA members before they can join our club. The NRA is THE ONLY reason our shooting sports and our rights to keep and bear arms is even still available to us. If you don’t support them, (the NRA) then you aren't supporting us, and we don't need that.

Q: What do I do if I'm on the shooting line and my gun jams or I have a misfire?
A: Stay calm and stay still. Keep your bolt (or breech) closed for at least 30 seconds before opening it, as it could be a rare "hangfire" and could go off when the shell is ejected. Simply stop and tell the puller and/or scorer that there is a problem and they will help you with it in a safe manner.

Q: What if I have a "Squib"?
A: For those that don’t know, a squib is a shotgun shell that apparently had no powder in it when it was loaded, either at the factory or by someone reloading it. The primer goes-off which pushes the shot out of the barrel only a few short feet and most of the time leaves the plastic wad stuck in the barrel. If this happens, DO NOT reload your gun. STOP and tell the puller and/or scoring person and they will help you. We always keep a wooden dowel made specifically for clearing stuck wads out of barrels. If you try to shoot the wad out with another shell, you WILL have an explosion in your face which could result in serious injury and or death to yourself and others standing near you. ALWAYS practice safety!

Q: What if I forget my shells or don’t have any ear plugs?
A: We have a components room stocked with an assortment of shot shells, reloading supplies and even ear plugs. This room is available to members during most shoots.