Retama Gun Club - FAQ
The Retama Gun Club, Inc., is a Texas Not-for-profit organization. We have a board of directors, a checking account and carry insurance. The Retama Gun Club (RGC) sets the rules and regulations. We lease the range property from Bentsen Palm Development.
The range is actually in the Rio Grande flood plain and cannot be developed. As a result, with excess rainfalls the range will flood as the water levels increase/decrease.
Where do I check on range activities? The gun range calendar contains all our activities. Check it often, many activities are last minute – based on weather.
Who can shoot at the range? Residents of Retama Village are permitted to use the Retama Gun Club facilities; however, residency does not confer membership. Membership in the Retama Gun Club is a separate privilege and is not affiliated with, or automatically granted through, residency in Retama Village. All members are required to be registered and watch a safety video. Border Patrol and Law Enforcement Officers are also allowed to shoot. Friends and family of the LEO/CBP are not permitted to shoot at our range
Who cannot shoot at the range? The range is private. The general public is not permitted to shoot here. If they do not have a range badge you can politely ask them to leave. If trespassers refuse to leave, you can call 911.
Family members and friends of range members may shoot as a guest for a 10-day period, following the viewing of our safety video. Associate members and LEO’s family members and friends are NOT permitted to shoot.
Why do I have to pay to shoot there? You are not paying to shoot, you are paying an annual fee to MAINTAIN the gun range. Your maintenance fee pays for the paper targets, steel targets, target stands, shooting benches, porta potty, the on-line calendar and email subscriptions, the name badges, and so on. Our range may be considered one of the better equipped outdoor shooting facilities — especially for the fee charge. RGC offers some of the most diversified shooting opportunities available. We offer classes and training, and shooting events throughout the season. We welcome volunteers to offer their expertise for further expansion.
Who pays? Everyone pays. No exceptions. The maintenance fee is about the same cost as 100 rounds of center fire ammo. Our annual fee is about the same as two trips to a public gun range.
Who holds the maintenance money? Our RGC treasurer handles the funds for the club. Monthly cash flow reports are distributed. Dues are paid to our Membership chairs.
Who gets paid? People who provide our treasurer a receipt for supplies get reimbursed. Purchases need pre-approval. All the labor at the range is volunteer. No one gets paid for their time.
Why do I have to watch the safety video every year? Our number one goal is to provide a safe shooting environment at the range. You do not want to shoot next to a person who carelessly handles a gun. You do not want to be that careless person. We have not had an accidental discharge at the range that we are aware of. We have very safe shooters. Thirty minutes of safety training a year is not too much to ask. Everyone watches the video every year. No exceptions.
How many people shoot at the range? We send out approximately 200 addresses. A safe guess is about 150 shooters use the range.
Who mows the grass? The Rhodes crew mows the large areas of grass with their tractor mower. If we are lucky, they mow around the target stands with their lawn mowers. Volunteers mow and use a weed eater from time to time. To volunteer contact our board members.
Is there a Range committee or management group? How can I volunteer? With all the shooting opportunities available at the range, we always need people to organize and coordinate activities. For example, we need an individual or a group of people to handle the pistol steel. They would coordinate practice times and shooting dates – pretty simple, and we will help get you started.
When does the range offer shotgun shooting? The range has an organized clay target shoot on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. The shotgun shooting does not affect other range activities that morning.
When is the range open for shooting? The range is open seven days a week, during daylight hours. The Rhodes mowing crew mows our fields, their time is limited. When they arrive shooters are asked to stop shooting and allow the crew to mow.
Is the range ever closed? Yes, the range is closed occasionally for safety reasons if there are other activities close by. Notice is posted when the range is closed. A white flag is raised when the range is closed.
What is the purpose of the orange flag? Please raise the orange flag when you come to the range and lower the flag if no one is at the range when you leave. The purpose of the flag is to notify Border Patrol agents and others in the vicinity that the range is in use.
What about helicopters? Border Patrol helicopters fly along the river and over the range on a daily basis. Please call a cease fire when aircraft are down range.
What is the location of the gun range? The Border Patrol and 911 operators know the gun range as “Hardwick Farms”. GPS coordinates and emergency information is posted outside on "Mabel". The nearest intersection is Old Military Road and Inspiration Road. Refer to the BP tower at Inspiration.
What is in the orange bag in Mabel (Storage Container)? The orange bag contains a trauma kit for gun shot wounds. The box does not contain band aides for minor cuts.
If there is an accident, please contact a board member asap.
All activities can be found on the calendar.